Program Founders
Pastor Francis and Dorothy Mutabazi
Pastor Francis Mutabazi and his wife Dorothy grew up in Uganda but returned to their native land of Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide. Seeing the devastation and the need for hope among the survivors, they started Christ Gospel Fellowship Church of Rwanda in 2001.
In 2002, members of Christ Gospel Fellowship Church of Rwanda came together to help provide tuition and school supplies to the needy children in their community. Under the direction of Pastor Francis, the program initially supported 40 children, either orphaned or living in extreme poverty.
A small team of missionaries from La Habra, California had ventured to Rwanda in 2005 and had the opportunity to meet many children in need of support as the country still struggled to recover from a devastating genocide. At the same time, Pastor Francis and his community were praying for an answer, as they were struggling to meet the needs of the children being supported by their small church.
The team from La Habra came back with a burden to share this need with others and partner with the church in Rwanda. Within months of coordinating with Pastor Francis the team was not only able to continue to support the 40 original children, but it has grown to nearly 300.
With over 1 million orphans and over 100,000 child-headed households in Rwanda, there is a continual need that you can help meet by sponsoring one of these children.
In 2002, members of Christ Gospel Fellowship Church of Rwanda came together to help provide tuition and school supplies to the needy children in their community. Under the direction of Pastor Francis, the program initially supported 40 children, either orphaned or living in extreme poverty.
A small team of missionaries from La Habra, California had ventured to Rwanda in 2005 and had the opportunity to meet many children in need of support as the country still struggled to recover from a devastating genocide. At the same time, Pastor Francis and his community were praying for an answer, as they were struggling to meet the needs of the children being supported by their small church.
The team from La Habra came back with a burden to share this need with others and partner with the church in Rwanda. Within months of coordinating with Pastor Francis the team was not only able to continue to support the 40 original children, but it has grown to nearly 300.
With over 1 million orphans and over 100,000 child-headed households in Rwanda, there is a continual need that you can help meet by sponsoring one of these children.
Program Administrator
Karalyn Meeh
Karalyn has been part of ABC Kids since its beginning in 2005. She and one other were on a missions trip to Rwanda in 2005 when they both had the same idea of a child sponsorhship program. When they returned to the U.S., they presented the idea to their church leadership and soon after ABC Kids (short for Abana B'umwami Children) began. Initially 40 children were chosen to be sponsored, but that number quickly grew to nearly 300 children. In 2007, Karalyn and the other founder moved to Rwanda for seven months to help develop the program and train staff to run the program on that end.
Since then, Karalyn has returned to Rwanda annually to visit with the kids and work with the staff. In 2015, ABC Kids reformed under Great Harvest Missions (GHM), Inc. Karalyn serves as Treasurer on the Board of GHM, and continues to oversee the sponsorship program in the U.S.
Her favorite part about ABC Kids is visiting with the kids, seeing them grow, and sharing the love of God with them.
Since then, Karalyn has returned to Rwanda annually to visit with the kids and work with the staff. In 2015, ABC Kids reformed under Great Harvest Missions (GHM), Inc. Karalyn serves as Treasurer on the Board of GHM, and continues to oversee the sponsorship program in the U.S.
Her favorite part about ABC Kids is visiting with the kids, seeing them grow, and sharing the love of God with them.
Program Assistant
Bill Corry
Bill Corry was first involved with the ABC Kids program when he went on a missions trip to Rwanda in 2006 and since then he has been to Rwanda three more times. From 2006 until 2015 he assisted where he could with preparations for missions trips to Rwanda, focusing on programs for the ABC Kids and outreaches to the local community and church members in Rwanda. Bill also assisted with processing correspondence between the sponsors and the ABC Kids and participated in fundraisers and events to help promote the ABC Kids program.
In 2015, Great Harvest Missions, Inc. (GHM) was formed to not only enable the transfer of the administration of the ABC Kids program but to also establish an organization focusing on the needs of women and communities in Rwanda. The ABC Kids program has helped over 300 youth with spiritual, physical and intellectual development since it began in 2005. Bill has served on Great Harvest Missions’ Board of Directors since its founding in 2015.
In 2015, Great Harvest Missions, Inc. (GHM) was formed to not only enable the transfer of the administration of the ABC Kids program but to also establish an organization focusing on the needs of women and communities in Rwanda. The ABC Kids program has helped over 300 youth with spiritual, physical and intellectual development since it began in 2005. Bill has served on Great Harvest Missions’ Board of Directors since its founding in 2015.