“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.”
– Matthew 18:10
A little angel has captured our hearts here at the ACT office: a four-month-old baby named Jephthah, from Zambia. This December 25 will be Jephthah’s first Christmas. It was to be a joyous occasion for first time parents Liness and Richard. But Jephthah will have to spend the holidays without his parents this year since tragedy struck in his family.
Liness and her older brother, Martin, were both supported by ACT in 2002, after losing their father. Liness was eight and Martin was eleven. Liness went on to obtain a degree in clinical medicine, with a view to go on to medical school and then she met her husband Richard. They had barely just celebrated their first anniversary when Liness passed away unexpectedly, on 18 September, aged 25. Her passing was possibly due to post-partum complications. Jephthah was only two months old. His dad, Richard, also 25 years old and is currently unemployed.
Jephthah now lives with his grandmother, who, after struggling to support her child, is now struggling to support her grandchild. She is unemployed and with no means of her own is helped by Martin and her other daughter Linda. On a recent trip to Mufulira by ACT care leaders in Zambia, they found Jephthah to be unwell and arranged for his aunt and grandmother to take him to a children’s hospital in Ndola, 100km away, for a full medical check-up. Although medical examination is free, prescription costs as well as CTC scan and X-ray, all of which will be required are not free. His grandmother would be unable to bear the costs. ACT is a family and families support and protect each other. At ACT we recognise that It is our duty to do all we can to ensure that Jephthah is able to grow up in good health and to enjoy a full life. It is for this purpose that ACT has set up the Jephthah Fund, to enable us to raise funds for the future needs of this child.
Jephthah Fund
As Jephthah celebrates his first Christmas, he will be without a mother and his father does not have the financial means to bring him up. ACT supported his grandmother to bring up his mother and uncle, and at her age is not able to support him financially. Jephthah’s life does not have to be a tragedy, with your help and support his life can be turned around for good.
This Christmas spare a thought for Jephthah and let your donation be a Christmas present to support his medical needs and to ensure his future is full of learning, laughter, and love. Click here to donate today.