Small Group Missions Restoring Childhoods in Christ

Frequently Asked Questions

Warm Blankets Orphan Care
Who is WBOCI?
Does WBOCI have a religious affiliation?
What is a Church Orphan Home?

Small Group Missions
What is Small Group Missions(SGM)?
What does Small Group Missions do?
How do I become Small Group Missions Leader?
As Small Group Missions Leader, what will I do?
How do I start Small Group Missions?
How much of a time commitment is this?
What resources will be available to me?
Do I get to choose a Church Orphan Home to support?
What is our actual involvement with Church Orphan Home we support?
Can our Small Group Missions visit the home we are supporting?
What does the monthly support provide?
How should I set our monthly financial goal?
What if we don’t meet our monthly goal?
What if our Small Group Missions raises more than our goal?
What if the financial situation of my family or another group member changes and we need to change our giving or can no longer give?

Financial
Are the contributions tax-deductible?
What does the monthly support provide?
How should I set our monthly goal?
What if we don’t meet our monthly goal?
What if our Small Group Missions raises more than our goal?
What if the financial situation of my family or another group member changes and we can no longer give?

Church Orphan Homes
What is a Church Orphan Home?
Do I get to choose a Church Orphan Home to support?
What is our actual involvement with Church Orphan Home we support?
Can our Group visit the home we are supporting?
How many children are in a home?
Who are these kids?
Where do the children go when they are over 18?

“What if…?”
What if we don’t meet our monthly goal?
What if our Small Group Missions(SGM) raises more than our goal?
What if the financial situation of my family or another group member changes and we need to change our giving or can no longer give?
What if there’s a special need or an emergency at our Church Orphan Home?
What if I don’t have much time to dedicate to my Small Group Missions?
What if one of my Group Members wants to form their own Small Group Missions?
What if I need to step down as Group Leader?

Warm Blankets Orphan Care, Intl.

Who is WBOCI?
Warm Blankets Orphan Care, Intl.is a non-profit Christian mission, dedicated to the rescue and care of orphans and widows in the developing world. Our mission is to restore the lives of orphans in partnership with churches, corporations, organizations, and individuals who have a passion to help needy, parentless children. We provide holistic care to orphans in the context of a family environment; through our effective Church/Home Model, they are raised to be disciples of Christ and leaders in their generation.
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Does WBOCI have a religious affiliation?
WBOCI is a distinctly Christian organization, yet non-denominational. WBOCI works with many different churches and denominations. The organization is grounded in the scripture verse of James 1:27, stating that, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: To look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Our emphasis is on working with organizations that plant churches to be used both as a church and an orphan home.
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What is a Church Orphan Home?
Church Orphan Homes are a response to the typical orphanage. Rather than a sprawling, dingy, isolated institution, WBOCI Church Orphan Homes are designed to develop a family atmosphere.
The buildings are planned for multiple purposes. As the name suggests, each building serves as both a church and a home. The children’s safety is our main concern, so sleeping and privacy quarters for the children and caregivers are strictly separated from the public areas. Usually, the church operates on the first floor, while the children live upstairs. The public area is not limited to church services. At times, it serves the community as a training center and temporary medical treatment facility. Back to Top

Small Group Missions

What are Small Group Missions(SGM)?
Small Group Missions are circles of individuals with a joint passion to serve and care for the poor. They take seriously the mandate set forth in James to “care for orphans and widows in their distress.” As SGM's, you will sustain an entire home of orphaned children. Your Small Group Missions will act as a support network to restore childhoods, facilitate success stories in the making, and share a message of love and hope with up to 45 children living in your particular orphan home.
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What does Small Group Missions do?
Small Group Missions care for orphans in a specific Church Orphan Home through monthly financial support, prayer, and community advocacy. Your involvement can be as deep as you’d like to make it.
Once you have formed your Small Group Missions, you will:

Establish your monthly financial support goal and make monthly pledges;
Stay informed about your home through SGM Advisor;
Pray for the children and caregivers in your home.

Once your Small Group Missions has reached your financial goal, you may consider getting more involved in these ways:

Taking a trip to your Small Group Mission’s Church Orphan Home to meet the children for whom you are caring;
Service projects, such as a book or toy drive, to provide for extra needs of the children;
Sharing the vision with others who may want to develop Small Group Missions of their own.

How do I become a Group Leader?
Now that you’ve visited http://www.smallgroupmissions.org, you’re already on the right track! If you have not yet contacted an SGM(Small Group Missions)Advisor, be sure to get in touch with one as soon as possible. Email SGMAdvisor@warmblankets.org or call 877.577.1070 and get started today!
Once you’ve spoken with an Advisor, download an application. This brief form shouldn’t take very long to finish, but it gives us a chance to get to know you a bit better. Our primary interest is in guarding the safety and privacy of the children with whom we work and this application is designed to prevent unacceptable access to the children in our Church Orphan Homes.
Your Advisor will walk you through the next steps. Remember: You are not alone in creating your Orphan Mission Group! Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.
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As the Group Leader, what will I do?
The Group Leader acts as an organizer. You will recruit Group Members and operate as the first point of contact with WBOCI, sharing with your Small Group Missions any messages, updates, or new opportunities.
You’ll have a lot of help. See What resources will be available to me? for more details.
The Group Leader’s role is important, but don’t forget that this is a team effort! Small Group Missions are designed to bring your Group closer together through the hope you are sharing with orphans; responsibility is not upon the Group Leader alone!
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How do I start my Small Group Mission ?
You’re probably already part of some sort of group, so that’s the best place to start. It may be your family, a circle of friends, a church small group, a professional organization, or some combination of all of these! It’s as simple as calling or e-mailing anyone you know who wants to both deepen their personal spiritual walk and serve children in need. You won’t be alone in this! You’ll have access to your WBOCI SGM Advisor and resources to help you all along the way. One of the most effective tools with which we can equip you is your Small Group Missions’s customized website.
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How much of a time commitment is this?
The bulk of the time invested will be on the front end. Once you and your SGM Advisor have designed your Small Group Missions’s website and you have recruited Group Members, the set-up work is complete. Following this, the time you put in will be determined by what you want to get out of the experience. This can be as low-maintenance as sending in your monthly contribution and praying for the orphans with your Group. Or, it can include service projects, mission trips to visit your Group’s home, and beyond! We’ll give you the starting point and work with you along the way, but it’s up to you to determine how far you want to take this!
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What resources will be available to me?
You will certainly not be alone in building your Small Group Missions. Your SGM Advisor from WBOCI will be with you every step of the way and will provide you with as many resources as possible. This includes:

Customized Small Group Missions website to show to prospective Group Members your Church Orphan Home and the children you will be supporting. The website also will act as a communications hub, keeping your Small Group Missions informed with updates about the home and your monthly financial goal.
Introductory video to help introduce the Small Group Missions concept to your family, friends, and others .It’s Small Group Missions Made Easy!
Testimonials and reports from current Small Group Missions Leaders so that you may hear directly from those who have formed Small Group Missions and are now reaching their goals and together helping to restore childhoods in Christ.
Easy access to your WBOCI SGM Advisor to answer questions, build your Small Group Missions, plan Group activities, and update you on pertinent situations regarding your Small Group Missions’s home.

Do I get to choose my Church Orphan Home?
Yes! The purpose of Orphan Mission Groups is to give to you and your circle of friends and family an opportunity to engage with God’s work with orphans on a personal level. If you have a particular region in mind, tell your SGM Advisor and we will do our best to find something that suits your Group’s interests.
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What is our actual involvement with Church Orphan Home we support?
Your involvement can be as deep as you like! Your Small Group Missions can limit your commitment to financial and prayer support, or you can choose to go further. Talk with your Advisor about travel opportunities to visit the home you sustain, service projects to provide for special needs, and other occasions for deeper involvement.
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Can our Group visit the home we are supporting?
Certainly! Right now, we are giving mission trip priority to those who are involved in Small Group Missions. Taking a trip to meet the children in your orphan home is a great way to further engage your Small Group Missions. The kids love meeting their “extended family” of supporters! WBOCI will help with everything from travel to translators, so let us know if you’re interested in visiting your home.
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What does the monthly support provide?
It is vital that you understand and are confident that 100% of the money you send is going directly to the Church Orphan Home you are supporting. None of it goes to cover overhead costs; your contributions are purely dedicated to your Small Group Missions’s Church Orphan Home.
Your monthly support provides:

Food for the children and caregivers
Education, including school fees and supplies
Operational costs related to the home, including repairs, maintenance, etc.
Routine medical and dental care
Bible education
Vocational training

How should I set our monthly financial goal?
Talk with your Advisor as you determine your goal. You’ll want to consider exactly what you’d like to provide for the children and what you see as feasible for sustained giving. Pray about it!
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What if our Small Group Missions raises more than our goal?
What a great "problem" to have! If your group exceeds your financial goal, we can certainly help you put those funds towards a good purpose. You’ll want to discuss your options with your SGM Advisor, but here’s an idea of potential options:

Take on a second home or project to support.
Discuss the special needs of your current Church Orphan Home and dedicate your excess funds toward those.
Create a discretionary fund for your Church Orphan Home. Ask your Advisor about this exciting option!

What if we don’t meet our monthly goal?
You are encouraged to meet your goal every month, but you are under no contract. Group Leaders and Members are never under any legal obligation for money. If you are unable to reach your goal during a month, funding from WBOCI will help cover the expenses of your home for that month.
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What if the financial situation of my family or another group member changes and we can no longer give?
We understand that circumstances arise and, sometimes, changes in your financial situation are out of your control. In this case, contact your SGM Advisor to press the “pause” button on your monthly giving. You’ll still be a part of your Small Group Missions and you can press the “play” button to resume your giving when you’re ready.
If you need to stop supporting the home altogether, we will look for another Orphan Mission Group.Back to Top

Financial

Are the contributions tax-deductible?
Yes, every dollar you contribute to your Orphan Mission Group is 100% tax-deductible.
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What does the monthly support provide?
It is vital that you understand and are confident that 100% of the money you send is going directly to the Church Orphan Home you are supporting. None of it goes to cover overhead costs; you contributions are purely dedicated to your Small Group Missions’s Church Orphan Home.
Your monthly support provides:

Food for the children and caregivers
Education, including school fees and supplies
Operational costs related to the home, including repairs, maintenance, etc.
Routine medical and dental care
Bible education
Vocational training

What if our Small Group Missions raises more than our goal?
What a great “problem” to have! If your group exceeds your financial goal, we can certainly help you put those funds towards a good purpose. You’ll want to discuss your options with your Advisor, but here’s an idea of potential options:

Take on a second home to support.
Discuss the special needs of your current Church Orphan Home and dedicate your excess funds toward those.
Create a discretionary fund for your Church Orphan Home. WBOCI will consult with you before spending the money and it will all still go to the home you are supporting.

What if the financial situation of my family or another group member changes and we need to change our giving or can no longer give?
We understand that circumstances arise and, sometimes, changes in your financial situation are out of your control. In this case, contact your SGM Advisor to press the “pause” button on your monthly giving. You’ll still be a part of your Small Group Missions and you can press the “play” button to resume your giving when you’re ready.
Back to Top

Church Orphan Homes

What is a Church Orphan Home?
Church Orphan Homes are a response to the typical orphanage. Rather than a sprawling, dingy, isolated institution, WBOCI Church Orphan Homes are designed to develop a family atmosphere.
The buildings are planned for multiple purposes. As the name suggests, each building serves as both a church and a home. The children’s safety is our main concern, so sleeping and privacy quarters for the children and caretakers are strictly separated from the public areas. Usually, the church operates on the first floor, while the children live upstairs. The public area is not limited to church services. At times, it serves the community as a training center and temporary medical treatment facility.
Back to Top

Do I get to choose my Church Orphan Home?
Yes! The purpose of Orphan Mission Groups is to give to you and your circle of friends and family an opportunity to engage with God’s work with orphans on a personal level. If you have a particular region in mind, tell your Advisor and we will do our best to find something that suits your Group’s interests.
Back to Top

What is our actual involvement with Church Orphan Home we support?
Your involvement can be as deep as you like! Your Small Group Missions can limit your involvement to financial and prayer support, or you can choose to go further. Talk with your Advisor about travel opportunities to visit the home you sustain, service projects to provide for special needs, and other occasions for deeper involvement.
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How many children are in a home?
It varies from home to home, but generally anywhere between 8 and 40 children live in a Church Orphan Home. We are committed to providing home environments and to keeping the ratio of caregivers to children around 1:5
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Who are these kids?
WBOCI rescues and cares for orphans in some of the most desperate places on earth. War, genocide, natural disasters, and disease claims millions of lives often leaving children behind with no one to care for them. We rescue children from refugee camps, garbage dumps, the streets, disaster areas, - and worse. We provide them with emergency care and stability while we try to reunite them with their families. When there is no family, we welcome them into a Church Orphan Home where we provide permanent care in a family environment.
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Where do the children go when they are over 18?
Just like your children, these kids have different needs and develop at different paces. It puts unnecessary stress on the children and inhibits a family environment if they are forced to leave on their 18th birthday. They need to know this is family committed to them and their individual situation.
In some of our homes, college aged kids still come home to do their laundry on the weekends, or for big holiday celebrations once or twice a year. We have had young adults learn how to fix cars, become seamstresses, go to school for medicine and law, and even start their own Church Orphan Home! Back to Top

“What if…?”

What if we don’t meet our monthly goal?
Although your Small Group Missions will establish a monthly financial goal for the support of your orphan home, there is no contract or minimum term of support. Group Leaders and Members are never under any legal obligation for money. If you are unable to reach your goal during a month, funding from WBOCI will help cover the expenses of your home for that month.
Back to Top

What if our Small Group Missions raises more than our goal?
What a great “problem”! If your group exceeds your financial goal, we can certainly help you put those funds towards a good purpose. You’ll want to discuss your options with your Advisor, but here’s an idea of potential options:

Take on a second home to support.
Discuss the special needs of your current Church Orphan Home and dedicate your excess funds toward those.
Create a discretionary fund for your Church Orphan Home. Talk with your Advisor about this exciting option!

What if there’s a special need or an emergency at our Church Orphan Home?
We want your Small Group Missions to be as connected as possible with your Church Orphan Home. Please let your Advisor know if you want to be updated about special needs and emergency situations at your home. Your Small Group Missions can determine how you want to take action in these circumstances.
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What if I don’t have much time to dedicate to my Small Group Missions?
The bulk of your time commitment as Group Leader will be spent on the front end: building your team, creating your Web site, and setting up a monthly goal. While we encourage you to work through these development steps as quickly as possible, there is no time limit. You can work at your own pace, whenever you have time to spare.
Don’t forget: Your SGM Advisor will be with you throughout the entire process, making each step as simple as possible!
Once you’re finished with the set-up steps, the time commitment will drop dramatically, unless you choose to engage in additional service projects and advocacy opportunities.
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What if one of my Group Members wants to form their own Small Group Missions?
Wow, you must have done a fantastic job explaining and leading your Small Group Missions! This is the ultimate success story: when Small Group Missions birth new Groups. You Group may lose a Member, but your legacy is growing! Please be available to answer questions for this new potential Group Leader and put them in contact with your SGM Advisor. Thanks for inspiring your Group Members to action!
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What if I need to step down as Group Leader?
If, for any reason, you need to step down as Group Leader, be sure to contact your Advisor. Together, you can determine how best to hand off leadership to another Group Member. Back to Top

Current Mission Trip Information