Cindy and Mike Jones first sponsored a child with their daughter Cassie in the early 2000s. They loved the experience, and since then the Jones family has enthusiastically sponsored 20 other children!
“We just want to fill these children’s lives with the blessing of sponsorship, they’re so close to our hearts,” Cindy Jones says, longtime Holt sponsor.
In the last 15 years, Cindy, her husband Mike and their daughter Cassie have sponsored 20 children. They have prayed over each one, seeing each child as a chosen family member.
“We see it as an ongoing parental thing, just like with our own children,” Cindy says.
The Jones’ First Sponsored Child
The Jones family first learned about Holt sponsorship at a concert. There, they chose to sponsor Xiang Gui, a little girl from China.
“Cassie chose her because she was in foster care and her mom and dad both died,” Cindy says. “That drew Cassie to her.”
Cindy remembers Cassie looking up at her and saying, “Mom, she’s all by herself!” So, the Jones family signed up to sponsor Xiang Gui right away. They went home and put her picture on their fridge. Today, 15 years and 20 sponsored children later, it’s still there.
The Jones family has a special place in their hearts for children with disabilities, because Cassie was born with spina bifida and has spent her life in a wheelchair.
Cassie’s disability hasn’t stopped her from wanting to influence the world for good! This is in large part what led them to sponsoring a child in the first place. Cassie lives with a focus on helping others, like sending out cards of encouragement to friends and family. So sponsoring a child fit perfectly with what she already cared so deeply about. She loves getting regular updates about their family’s sponsored children — and says it makes her feel like she’s doing something good!
“We look forward to the updates so much!” Cindy says, smiling. “The drawings in particular are so uplifting. We love knowing that halfway around the world there’s a program where a little one is receiving education and love.”
Going Above and Beyond
Through the years, the Jones family has enjoyed going above and beyond for their sponsored children. They have sent Christmas gifts over the holidays and birthday presents for International Day of the Child, along with encouragements and prayers throughout the year.
“Extra things we give through sponsorship can uplift them, to support their livelihood and education,” Cindy says. “And then there’s Christmastime and their birthday celebrations… I can’t even imagine being a little one without having someone recognize and celebrate these important times in their lives. Being able to assist in blessing their little lives, especially during holidays and birthdays, to give them something they wouldn’t normally get — that’s a huge blessing for us!”
“Giving to these kids is so important to us, to be able to pass the blessing of sponsorship on to another little one,” Cindy says. “For us, as long as we’re financially able, we just want to continue blessing as many as we can because it just blesses us back. We love doing our part to raise these children up to accomplish whatever God has intended in their lives.”
Cindy Jones, Holt sponsor
Part of why it’s felt so impactful for the Jones family is because year after year, sponsored child after sponsored child, they’ve seen the difference their gifts make.
“Cassie loves the blessing of sponsorship because she just really sees the impact!” Cindy says. “It fulfills her spirit. We’re blessed by this opportunity to bless others, because our Cassie has been so blessed.”
Always Another Child
So as the Jones family has received news about some of their children graduating or leaving Holt’s sponsorship program, they’ve always decided to sponsor another child — because of the impact and blessing they’ve seen time and time again.
When a child graduates and becomes an adult, moves to a new location with their family or has to leave sponsorship for various different reasons, their sponsor has the opportunity to continue their sponsorship with another child. It can be sad to say goodbye to the child a sponsor has been connected to for so long. But children leaving sponsorship is often something to celebrate — because it means that they have completed their education or their family has become self-reliant and has overcome poverty.
But, because of Cassie, the Jones family has never questioned whether or not they want to sponsor another child.
“Giving to these kids is so important to us, to be able to pass the blessing of sponsorship on to another little one,” Cindy says. “For us, as long as we’re financially able, we just want to continue blessing as many as we can because it just blesses us back. We love doing our part to raise these children up to accomplish whatever God has intended in their lives.”
The Jones family has made it possible for 20 children to attend school, receive nourishing food and have access to the resources they need to thrive. Their faithful devotion to sponsorship has immeasurably impacted each of these little lives. And it’s all thanks to Cassie’s selfless desire to sponsor Xiang Gui.
“We’ve had our world opened up, with Cassie,” Cindy says. “Once you get a taste of the reality of life with disabilities, it just tenderizes your heart and you want to help as much as you can. Like the Lord says, it is more blessed to give than to receive. That’s what fuels Cassie and us to help children to have a little brightness in their days! That’s why these kids are so close to our hearts.”
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