Interview & edits by Paula Hemphill
Sarah, you had a really unique start as a CA-- making this ministry totally your own and partnering with local small businesses! What inspired you to connect to your business owner friends? It all started when I partnered with my younger sister, Rachel, and her cupcake business that just started last year, called Sprinkle of Kindness Bakery in my home state of Maryland. Both of us have a strong passion for loving people well and giving hope and light to the people around us-- especially those who most people would consider the least of these. Looking back on it, I really feel that God ordained the year (2017) when I would be come an ambassador for World Vision, and my sister would start her cupcake business so that we could work together in a special way. It goes far beyond just giving people cupcakes but it's allowing people to be a part of something much bigger than themselves. You partnered with a few different businesses. How did you approach them? My first approach like I said before was with my sister Rachel. God had already been working in her spirit about using her small business for more than just pretty cakes and cupcakes. So when we actually spoke about partnering together we both were really excited to see how God would use us even though we are living in two different states. She ended up sponsoring a little boy from the Philippines through this! I'm hoping she will become a Child Ambassador one day! The second small business (Artean Creations) that I partnered with actually approached me and asked about the possibility of collaborating in order to get the children I had at the time sponsorsed. This collaboration was really cool, and looking back again was totally a God thing! At the time I ordered folders for only babies in Armenia for the simple fact that the Middle East has always had a special place in my heart. I'm not sure why but God has put a love and a compassion in my heart for the people in the Middle East that I can't explain. After talking to my friend who owns Artean Creations, she told me that she, too, is Armenian and would love to give back in this way. How cool is that?!? I had no clue that she was Armenian but her connection to the country made everything much more special. My most recent collaboration was with Little Miss Sassy Children's Boutique. The owner and I are friends so I asked her one day if she would be interested in partnering with me in order to get kids sponsored? I told her not only will it get her business out there to more people but it also changes the life of a child in need. She hopped right on board! She created angel earrings for those who chose to sponsor a child. She loves kids and has three little ones of her own. I know you had some really cool promotions during these partnerships. What did you do as promotions? My first promo was with Sprinkle of Kindness Bakery. To those who sponsor a child in the DC metro area they got a half a dozen cupcakes for FREE as our thank you for giving hope to a child in need. The second promo was with Artean Creations. She makes beautiful, luxurious handmade soaps and lotions. Whoever sponsorsed one of my Armenian babies would get samples of her handmade lotions and soap! My mother sponsorsed a little girl from Armenia and she got goodies from Artean Creations and she loved them! Little Miss Sassy Children's Boutique promo, I mentioned it above. She made beautiful handmade angel earrings for those who choose to sponsor. I thought it was a very fitting gift. Those are some really incredible partnerships you created! How did they help fill a void in your ministry and your friends' businesses? For my ministry, I want everyone to know that they are appreciated. Even though it's a small gift, I want people who sponsor a child to know how thankful I am that they would step up and be there for a child in need. The gifts offered by these businesses were a token of that appreciation. As for how it helped my friends businesses, you would have to ask them. But I certainly hope and trust that it was a blessing to each business and that God uses what they did and are doing to grow their businesses and to make them flourish! Throughout this journey as a CA you've also recruited at least two new CAs, your husband Andrew, and a friend, Keylee. I'd love to ask you some questions about how those connections happened, as well! How did your ministry impact Andrew's heart? And what made him choose to become a CA himself? Andrew said my care and love for the kids impacted his heart. We went to the CA conference together in October and what he saw and learned opened up his eyes to what we as the body of Christ need to be doing. He was truly inspired after the conference. You've also recruited a friend, what did that conversation look like and how did you know she might just be a CA in waiting? My friend Keylee is a student at our local college here in East Tennessee. She lived with Andrew and I over the summer. We spent a lot of time together and I would share my passions with her and I would listen to the passions God placed on her heart. She cares about people, and I know she will do a good job as she continues to grow as a CA! She was one of the first few people I was able to connect with a child. Shortly after she sponsorsed a child she became an ambassador. How does being CAs together impact your marriage? I really hoped Andrew would jump on board and become a child ambassador with me. I was stoked when he did! We started our relationship/marriage off very passionate about doing whatever God calls us to do. We hope to go overseas one day to do missions work. Being able to do this ministry here in the USA while he finishes serving in our military and as a civilian firefighter is great! It's given us more of a vision and purpose in our marriage. He also is everything I'm not. He's brave and funny and can light up any room he walks into. I'm thankful to be able to have him by my side. Is there anything else you'd like us to know? Feel free to share openly! I'm so so so thankful to be able to be apart of a group of like-minded people. You all inspire me daily! I can't wait to continue to grow with all of you! I would encourage everyone to ask friends and family members who have small businesses if they would be interested in partnering with you in changing the world! Not only are you helping them grow their businesses but you are also allowing them to be a part of something bigger than themselves! I believe every soul longs to make a difference and leave a lasting mark on this world and this would be a perfect way to do that together! Comments are closed.
|
AuthorsGreater Together is a collaborative blog written by volunteer Child Ambassadors for World Vision. Categories
All
Archives
November 2020
|