Two years before Bethlehem Christian Academy welcomed its first students, it existed only as a vision: a vision that children living in poverty could experience both a quality Christian education and the transforming hope of the Gospel.

One of those children was Gift.

Gift’s story began in unimaginable tragedy. Before he ever took his first breath, both of his parents lost their lives on the very same day. His mother was nine months pregnant when she was struck by a vehicle while traveling near her village. Although she did not survive, those nearby were able to deliver her baby into the world.

Later that same day, after learning what had happened, Gift’s father was also killed in a separate car accident while traveling to find his family.

Orphaned on the day he was born, Gift was raised by his grandmother in extreme poverty. When our team first met him in 2010, he was severely malnourished and in desperate need of care.

At that time, Bethlehem Christian Academy had not yet opened its doors. There were no classrooms, no teachers, and no sponsors. There was only a vision.

When our founder returned home and began sharing stories from Zambia, one person was especially moved by Gift’s story and committed to sponsoring him. That act of generosity made Gift the very first child to be sponsored through Bethlehem Christian Academy, even before the school officially launched.

When BCA officially opened in 2011, Gift was there on the very first day.

Over the years, Gift experienced even more loss. After the death of his grandmother, he moved in with his aunt, where he continues to live today. Yet through every hardship, God remained faithful.

At 14 years old, Gift placed his faith in Jesus Christ. The little boy who once faced a future marked by poverty and loss discovered a new identity and a new purpose through the Gospel.

In 2025, Gift graduated from Bethlehem Christian Academy, marking an incredible milestone in a journey that began with unimaginable hardship. Later that same year, he attended The Nations Initiative’s pastors conference, where he continued to grow in his faith and calling.

Today, Gift is an active member of his local church and desires to become a church planter so he can share the hope of Jesus with others. As an organization, we have remained committed to walking alongside him, encouraging and investing in the calling God has placed on his life.

Gift’s story is a powerful reminder that child sponsorship is about so much more than meeting physical needs. It’s about introducing children to Jesus, surrounding them with a Christ-centered community, and creating opportunities that can transform the trajectory of an entire life.

Today, you can help write the next chapter of a child’s story.

One child. One sponsor. Eternal impact.