Heartcry for Change

In 2023 Heartcry for Change continued its mandate to facilitate churches and individuals through teaching, training and resources to connect with their communities and carry an encouraging Christian message of hope with a generous, practical demonstration of kindness towards the poor and broken in our communities. This year there was a full schedule of travel and the resumption of in person speaking and resourcing of conferences, training events, leadership mentoring programs and social outreach projects. Rachel Hickson and Helen Azer have travelled extensively on behalf of the Organization delivering training and engaging supporters with updates on the Organizations programs notably the relief work in Moldova and Ukraine. In person visits and online mentoring have taken place across the United States. The ministry also served other nations around the world including Canada, UK, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Europe (including Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Austria, Moldova and Ukraine) and Australia. Heartcry for Change has also continued to offer online teaching and training material for use through the Organizations social media platforms, notably Facebook and YouTube. These resources have been provided free of charge in line with Heartcrys charitable purposes and have attracted donations from those who have wanted to partner with the ministry to further its public benefit at this time. Rachel Hickson and Helen Azer have also continued to offer leadership mentoring, training and seminars via zoom at the request of churches and other organisations. Heartcry for Change also continues to support social action programs in the nations. Our main area of social action investment has been through a continuation of the work into some of the poorest communities in Eastern Europe, notably our partnerships in Moldova, where we were able to provide practical resources as well as leadership training and mentoring support to workers on the ground there. Over the winter months of 2023, the Trust was able to contribute to the support of around 700 families through the provision of coal and food parcels. Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022, the Organization has been able to support the humanitarian relief effort among refugees fleeing Ukraine into Moldova. Due to the ministrys extensive network of partners in Moldova and their links into multiple cities across Ukraine, Heartcry has been in a position to get aid and donations directly to the frontline as well as supply practical provisions to centres in Moldova who are housing refugees. The Organization has supported at three key stages: rescue, relief and relocation. Voluntary financial contributions from supporters towards this aid have supported this work this financial year. In January 2023 the Organizations key partners from Moldova were able to come over to an event in the UK and meet supporters face to face and bring updates on the situation first hand. The level of engagement at this event was encouraging and was followed up in November 2023 with a site visit to Moldova by Rachel Hickson. It was so encouraging to see the completion of the church and community centre in Riscani, Moldova, and the development of several entrepreneurial initiatives such as cafes and a sowing business, giving jobs to vulnerable women. Rachel Hickson was able to invest in mentoring the leaders of these programs and spend time helping with strategic development.We continue to develop our website and marketing information to enable people to connect with us. Our social media platforms (Facebook, YouTube & Instagram) have sustained interest and engagement and provided regular updates on our programs. This has given donors a greater sense of partnership. Prayer information and ministry reports were supplied regularly throughout the year by email newsletter and online via the ministrys website and there has also been a dedicated programs page with updates on the social projects such as the work in Moldova and the London Prayer project.