Touched by Love International is a non-profit humanitarian aid organization which seeks to provide assistance for orphans, widows, and the forgotten poor across the globe. TBLI comes alongside local agencies, ministries, and individuals within vulnerable communities in order to partner with them in the name of Jesus to work toward establishing self-sustaining access to food, education, healthcare, and other necessary resources.
Our God is passionate about orphans. His passion and love for the fatherless and those neglected are central to our understanding of God’s character. In Psalm 68:5-6, our LORD speaks of himself as “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows.” Throughout Scripture, God calls believers to take on his character, to be like him in caring for those he holds closest to his heart.
The Bible is full of commands to care for the “fatherless.” Orphans and vulnerable children fall within this definition. Even if their earthly fathers are still alive in this world, they are functional orphans in need of love and care.
The women and children TBLI serves all carry within their hearts a deep father-wound. Many of these fragile individuals have been robbed of knowing the heart of our heavenly father, our “Abba,” as Jesus calls him. Their wounded hearts will not heal on their own. Simply telling them that Jesus loves them is often not enough – they need to be shown what real love is.
Who do we serve?
TBLI aims to serve as a bridge of hope and healing to destitute and devalued women, orphans, and vulnerable children in the name of Jesus. We partner with existing NGOs and ministries who have a proven track record demonstrating compassion and commitment to those in their care but do not have enough resources to affect the changes so desperately needed. Our partners are transparent, reliable, and accountable. They endeavor to find and use resources available in their own communities before reaching out to Westerners for assistance. They are hard-working, tireless lovers of Jesus, faithful to teaching his Word and reaching the suffering with the love of God. By partnering with these faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, our goal and vision is to improve the lives of women and children physically as well as spiritually, bring healing and hope to hearts, create opportunities for self-sustenance in families and communities, and to help in some small way to break the cycle of poverty, HIV/AIDS, and fatherlessness among these impoverished peoples.
How Do We Work?
With such a critically urgent need, how does TBLI determine its focus in any given situation? We strive to follow the lead of our local partners, who are most knowledgeable about the people they serve. We look to them to tell us how we can best support the children in their care. The needs of these children are physical, developmental, emotional, and spiritual. In most African countries, students need uniforms to attend school as well as school supplies, registration fees, and books. They need education and training, but first they must have proper nutrition so their brains and bodies can grow, learn, and develop. They need good food, clean water, and a warm, dry, safe place to sleep. They need a roof over their heads and a loving family to care for them who will understand their unique needs as children who have experienced severe trauma.
TBLI has shifted its original broad focus of building schools and establishing group homes to empowering uniquely gifted widows and impoverished women who can work within family settings to care for these children instead. These caretakers need tools and training to care for abused and abandoned children. It is vital to offer them trauma-care training as well as vocational training to ease their financial burdens. We seek to bring self-sufficiency to families, particularly those who are caring for orphans (in addition to their own children). We provide nutrient-rich food and supply seeds to help families grow their own. We distribute clothing through the help of other organizations (see Connected Ministries Page). We bring clean water filters to schools and homes, especially to immune-compromised families affected by HIV/AIDS. We support growing ventures that foster community togetherness and unity.
Though the needs are pressing, our giving continually carries the long-range goal of creating self-sustainability among families and communities. We do not offer endless handouts but work to identify the tools individuals need to improve their lives and become good stewards. We uncover hidden abilities and foster a sense of ownership, self-worth, and responsibility. We never do this work alone, but alongside our local partners, who share this vision. Faithful men and women of God bless us with rewarding partnerships as they selflessly love those in their care. They constantly teach us ways we can become better equipped for this ministry. TBLI looks forward to many more years of ministry, many more partnerships made, and a wealth of opportunities to learn how to grow.
