EDUCATING RESILIENT CHILDREN IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA

On August 6th, we raised over $8,000 on our Online Day of Giving for the Elementary Scholarship Campaign. This amount will cover the financial gap for at least 3 children! We still need to raise $70,000 in order for 50% of our families to afford the yearly tuition. Will you help us meet this goal?

Ambria, a rising 6th grader, has been attending Spring Garden Academy since she was in Kindergarten. Ambria is praying about becoming a missionary. She loves to give when people ask for help, make friends, and travel for new experiences. At Spring Garden Academy, Ambria has been given opportunities to lead classmates and younger children in daily school activities, chapel, and ministry.

Spring Garden Academy is an engaging environment that has nurtured Ambria’s interests and giftings and challenged her to follow the Lord where he leads. Partner with us to ensure children like Ambria have access to an education that prepares them to lead in the church and city.

SPONSOR A CHILD

70% of our schools’ families can not afford to fully cover their child’s tuition. On average they contribute between $1200- 2500, leaving a $3000 financial gap. Join a team to cosponsor a child. Your gift will help close the financial gap for a child to ensure they achieve academically, pursue Christ passionately, and lead boldly!

NGM SCHOLARSHIP AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

Do you have a passion for storytelling? Do you get excited about giving or sharing about giving opportunities? Do you have compassion for resilient children who find Jesus and a loving community? Become a Scholarship Ambassador for Spring Garden Academy. Ambassadors meet bi-weekly via Zoom. Call: 215-226-1000 OR Email: dtillery@nextgenministries.us for the Zoom link.

Meet Shamaya, Youth Intern Summer 2020

Here is what Shamaya shared about her love for the school and ministry: “Spring Garden Academy opened me to what love outside of my family felt like. Looking back I really can’t imagine not being a part of their school family. When I attended another school, I noticed the lack of family and closeness with teachers.

I now want to be a teacher and show kids the love that I felt from SGA at a young age. I want to show future generations how important they are, and how loved they are from me and from God. I want to become an English teacher to do just that.

This Fall, Shamaya will be attending Penn State
Abington to major in English. We are very proud of Shamaya.
Let us pray for Shamaya as she transitions to college!

Our community has faced an abundance of uncertainty, stress and anxiety on a daily basis during this pandemic season. As a small Christian organization, we have worked diligently to stay connected with our students and the community at large during this time of uncertainty and unrest. We quickly made the following adjustments to our programming:

• Virtual academic instruction 3 days a week and social support for our PreK-8th classrooms
• Wellness check-ins for families offering community resource referrals via phone and video 
• Twice daily prayer calls open to all our families, staff and online networks
• Adult Bible Study offered once a week via Zoom
• Daily Bible initiatives for PreK-8^th grade classrooms

Growing Students in Faith,
Leadership, and Opportunity

Scholarship organizations in Philadelphia are few, yet 80% of Spring Garden Academy elementary students need financial assistance to attend our school. Families should not have to sacrifice high-quality, Christian education because of financial hardship. The Next Generation Ministries scholarship fund supports families in our community and is an investment in future leaders. Give today so a student can learn tomorrow. Your gift helps students grow in Faith, Leadership, and Opportunity.

Virtual Vacation Bible School

The mission must go on! This summer, we will be connecting to families through virtual sessions and weekly Bible Power Bags and meals. If your team would like to participate in virtual Bible activities or in the supply and delivery of Bible Power Bags and food, email bible@sgaphilly.org. This is a great short term mission opportunity for all.

We are updating our databases. Please email us with your updated contact information. Also, include if you prefer to receive information via email or direct mail. All updates can be emailed to info@nextgenministries.org Or message us directly on social media!

Summer Ministries

Our full-day summer camp is in full swing! We have also opened our doors to children in the community who otherwise are hanging outside on the playground or wandering idle around the neighborhood; they enjoy a free lunch with our camp children and stay for Bible Exploration. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve. Next Generation Ministries and Spring Garden Academy are on the mission to reach children and youth through the Gospel!

July Missions Teams

Thank you to Bellerose Assembly and The Dream Center for serving our children, youth and families this month! The children enjoyed engaging in fun activities and Bible Exploration. We love working
alongside other ministries to advance the Kingdom of God.

Short-Term Missions Opportunities

Is your church or ministry interested in a missions project for this year? Partner with us! We have various ministry opportunities that focus on children and youth ministry, evangelism and community outreach, as well as facilities and outdoor work projects.

Contact our team or sign-up online!

Leading with Compassion

Helen is a teacher-leader at Spring Garden Academy. She commutes two hours every day to invest in urban children and youth. With a childhood marked with trauma, Helen knows first-hand the impact caring adults can have. Her family was not devoted church goers, but because a church group drove around the neighborhood taking the children to church, Helen’s family eventually gave their life to Lord and were all baptized together. In high school, Helen’s track coach was a positive role model by taking her to church, supporting her on the field, and teaching her to respect her body and empower her mind.

Here is what Helen shared about her first year teaching: “I am teaching children who were me…. I can easily put myself in their shoes. I was homeless, I didn’t always have food to eat, I witnessed and experienced abuse in my home. I feel blessed that there is freedom to talk about God and His love for our children. The Christian values we teach at Spring Garden Academy—love, honesty, compassion, forgiveness; I see the difference we are making in the lives of our students and we’re a witness to their spiritual growth.”

I feel God using my pain and my past to do good, and to bring children and their families closer to Him.

– Helen Gillman-Hanna

Helen came into teaching blindly but the Lord has given her so much direction since then. She leads her classroom with a heart of compassion.

While teaching a lesson about Jesus’ sacrificial love for us, one child politely raised his hand and asked if he could shout Hallelujah. This was the highlight of the year for Helen!

Bible Power Hour

Focusing on our core mission, we are launching the Kids Bible Power Hour for our PHLpreK students. During the same time every day, we will provide 150 children with Bible instruction for one hour. Stay tuned for more details of how you can get involved!

We are praying for committed interns and volunteers to serve in the Bible Power Hour, each day for 1-2 hours, as we present Jesus
to over 150 kids five days a week during the school year. Details will be coming soon about this intensive launch of God’s word
to our community. If you would like to do an internship (with possible payment) or volunteer at least one afternoon a week, please reach out to Candace Wegner at candace@nextgenministries.us. We will be interviewing and training during the month of August for a September launch!

VBS Extras

Now that your VBS is over…do you have leftovers (crafts, music, student books, gifts) that you would like to donate to our ministry? Next Generation Ministries offers free Bible programming all year for children in our community and helps secure materials for teaching Bible at Spring Garden Academy. We will make sure your extras are used to share the love of Jesus with our Philadelphia children. Candace Wegner at candace@nextgenministries.us.