"ZOE means life; absolute fullness of life. This isn't so much about having enough air to breathe and food to eat. Really it is about having everything one needs to thrive: physically, economically, emotionally, and spiritually. It was Jesus' desire that everyone would experience this life."

Our ZOE Partners are bringing this LIFE to women across the world. From leadership initiatives to economic empowerment projects, the gospel of Jesus is being demonstrated and lives are being radically transformed! Here is the amazing part... you can be involved!

cambodia

Partners: Ian and Tiffanie Rowley and a team of local Khmer leaders

Project: Leadership Conference “Women of Blessing”, & Church Planting.

Located in SE Asia, in between Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia is a beautiful nation with the Mekong River running through. The national language is Khmer as over 90% of the population is of the Khmer ethnicity. Cambodia's rich history was tragically marred by the horrific genocide that took place under the Khmer Rouge in the 1970's.

During the genocide, millions of people died, notably political and religious leaders, and the educated. Because of the genocide, the average age of Camodians is very young, at around 26 years old.

Working with young people is a strategic focus to change the future of Cambodia. Ian and Tiffanie Rowley, work with University students through the Global Student Centre and with over 600 children through Child Care Plus.

Selin was a very young Christian when she came to Global Student Centre, and in the 10 years since, she is now on staff, having grown in her faith and in confidence. Just before COVID they sent teams out to start a kids ministry in her home community, and have gained relationships in the community, including Selin's parents, who have become firm supporters. Even though they are not yet believers they let the students use their kitchen yard for the kids ministry,

With the kids ministry established, there is an opportunity to introduce the Flourish Course for the moms. They have outgrown the space available in Selin's parents yard and now need their own building, which will serve the community with a playground, Childcare Plus centre, community development projects like water filtration, and courses for women.

Additionally, Sara (ZOE leadership) worked with local Khmer women who lead and pastor in their communities to develop an ongoing conference in Phnom Penh, “Women of Blessing”. This leadership conference for women started in 2022 and continues to teach women their value, skills for leadership and personal development, and encourage them to be courageous in their leadership.

ZOE Scholarship

Through the Timothy Fund Scholarship Program, an initiative of the PAOC, we offer scholarships to female students who would otherwise not be able to complete a theological education. Women face even greater challenges to accessing education then their male counterparts.  We offer scholarships to high capacity women who are gifted and called into vocational ministry.

arise and build ministry training - india

Our partners in this nation have a passion to reach the millions that don’t know the good news of Jesus. Through their thriving urban church, they started Arise and Build, a discipleship and ministry training school in order to develop more young people to reach their nation. The students receive Bible education, ministry training, healing ministry, and practical hands on ministry experience over their 2-3 years. Many young women have answered the call and have sacrificed much to set this time aside for the Lord. ZOE Network has partnered to buy scooters to help the students go to ministry activities around their city and surrounding villages.

STEVE BOWLER - Llongwe, Malawi                                                                          

A recent survey found that 69% of girls and women in Malawi have experienced some form of sexual assault. Unfortunately, support services available for these victims are very limited.  Steve works with Fountain of Life and their primary goal is to address this gap and find ways to help the many, many girls and women begin a healing process that will help them recover and become survivors.

Fountain of Life provides comfort packs to survivors of abuse when they first arrive for refuge, they offer pyscho-social first aid with follow up sessions and support groups, and provide trained trauma councillors in the communities. victims often come in with torn clothes and underwear and have nothing else to change into so the comfort pack really helps them by making them feel clean and cared for. Underwear is included in the COMFORT PACKS together with tooth paste, soap, tooth brush, face towel and wrap cloth.

Francoise & Yves michaud - thailand

Partnering with partnering with Pastor Bird and the Mae Win church, a mountain congregation of the Karen hill tribe peoples group. For the last 20 years, Pastor Bird has been sheltering Karen women and children experiencing domestic violence in his church. Among the Karen in this area, child marriage is prevalent. Generally, children are married between 14 and 16. Alcoholism and drug use are common among the male population, leading to violence against their families. Women who are new converts are the most vulnerable as they are often rejected by their paternal families because of their faith and for fear of reprisals from angry husbands and their entourage.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, these factors contributed to a severe domestic abuse problem in this community, but the pandemic has exacerbated these issues. This has, in turn, increased the number of women and children in need of safe shelter. In this culture, religious spaces are considered "sacred ground" and protected by God, so husbands will generally not pursue their wives onto its grounds. We are partnering with the Michaud’s and Pastor Bird to build a Family Refuge for women and children in the region.

FOR HER DIGNITY - AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST

For some, menstruation may be an inconvenience they don’t give much thought to. But for millions of others, this most natural of reproductive cycle functions can equate to missed opportunity (skipping school because of pain and/or lack of personal hygiene products); and loss of dignity (lack of supplies and sanitation in humanitarian settings where even basics like soap and water can be scarce or unavailable.)

Period poverty describes the struggle many low-income women and girls face while trying to afford menstrual products. Women and girls face increased economic vulnerability due the financial burden posed by menstrual supplies. These include not only menstrual pads and tampons, but also related costs such as pain medication and underwear.  

Through For Her Dignity, her team develops and distributes culturally appropriate educational materials and provide sustainable feminine hygiene resources, while training an expanding network of resident leaders with how to manage the communities' menstrual health needs.

KIM HODGKISS - Trujilla, Honduras

The Discipleship Training Centre in Trujilla is a program for teen girls at risk.  Kim, with her team, mentor these girls in life skills and teach them practical competencies. As a result, they are employable when they graduate from high school. ZOE Network partners with Kim Hodgekiss and the Trujillo Discipleship School to provide education, life skills training, and biblical discipleship to girls in rural communities. 

Adolescent pregnancy in Hondorus is double the global rate. An estimated 26 percent of Honduran women become mothers before the age of 18, which contributes to the high drop-out rates of Honduran girls. 

Many rural children in Honduras are forced to work at a young age, and girls, in particular, are tasked with taking care of younger siblings, as well as marrying young and starting families of their own.  The Trujillo Discipleship School is determined to end the cycle of poverty and abuse in the lives of their girls.

kathy bowler - children of blessing trust

Children of Blessing Trust provides Malawian children with disabilities and their families hope for the future through rehabilitation services, nutrition support, preschool education and special education. Life can be very difficult for mothers who have children with disabilities in Malawi. They often have to carry their child on their backs due to a lack of equipment and any kind of accessible transportation options. This limits their ability to earn income for their family. Our partnership helps provide funding for these mothers to start their own small business making and selling soap. The sponsorship covers training on soap making and provides the initial supplies to get them started. Earning an income without having to leave home provides them dignity and financial stability for their families.