The Morning Star Children’s Centre in Welkom celebrated a 25-year milestone in January.
To celebrate its establishment in 2000, a special thanksgiving ceremony was held on 24 January, the day on which Morning Star opened its doors to admit its first eight children, all born and suffering the symptoms of HIV/Aids.
“For the first few years, Morning Star was more like a hospice, looking after children who were dying from the disease. Despite the losses, with up to 30 children dying per annum, we noted with true amazement that 70% of them could be rehabilitated, purely as a result of good nutrition.
“In fact, two of those children admitted on the very first day are still alive today,” says Joan Adams, founder and ambassador of the centre.
Over the intervening years, hundreds of children have been cared for, many have been saved from dying, countless family members helped and supported, and the Gospel shared on numerous occasions. All-in-all, Morning Star has 580 children on its register, ranging in age from two to 20 years and older. Adams says 120 of the youngest ones attend the centre on a daily basis.
“Most of them are affected by HIV, rather than infected with it themselves.”
Morning Star boasts 40 staff members, with Adams and two of the initial staff members, Merriam Moreboli and Joyce Monyane, still on the payroll.
“The most vulnerable group of children these days are our teenagers and young adults, the very ones we saved from certain death in our early years.
“Three youth care workers have been appointed to befriend, counsel and share the Gospel with them, and point them to Christ. Morning Star is unashamedly a Christian organisation, and our greatest desire is to see our children and young adults turning to Christ and finding eternal hope in Him,” says Adams.
“Our thanksgiving service was wonderful. In addition to Joshua Bolaji, our board chairman, sharing from God’s Word, we also offered our gratitude to God in song, prayers, and testimonies to His faithfulness over a quarter of a century. The service was concluded by singing the beautiful hymn, ‘Great is Thy faithfulness,’ the words of which say it all,” she says.
Afterwards, the staff were given a commemorative mug, and a delicious lunch was served. There was also a jumping castle, ice-cream, cake, and balloons for the children.
“God’s goodness and grace are overwhelming when we reflect on all that has happened over the past 25 years. We marvel at how He is able to use broken and sinful people like us to do His work,” says Adams.
