CHICAGO, IL (June 5, 2019) — North Park Theological Seminary professor Soong-Chan Rah and his eighteen-year-old daughter, Annah, plan to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, this July in an effort to encourage people to sponsor children through Covenant Kids Congo.
Covenant Kids Congo partners with World Vision, the Covenant Church of Congo and local churches in the DR Congo to aid in long-term community development.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, reaching 19,340 feet, and often referred to as the roof of the continent.
With a goal of sponsoring 60 children, Soong-Chan and Annah have taken to social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to report their progress while training for the climb. They also plan to post updates during their ascent and descent.
“The main thing is that folks can click on the link and sponsor a child,” Soong-Chan said. “It is a commitment, but at the same time I don’t know of a more effective multiplier of funds than child sponsorship.”
According to Catherine Knarr, Covenant Kids Congo manager, the pair’s goal is part of Covenant Kids Congo’s larger goal to get 1,000 kids sponsored this year.
She emphasizes that child sponsorship supports the long-term development of their community. “It’s not just addressing a short-term need, it’s building long-term development for an entire community that’s going to totally change the future,” she said.
“It’s not just giving bottled water to that one child,” Soong-Chan said. “It’s digging wells so that the whole community can have water.”
Soong-Chan, who is a former World Vision board member, said, “Because of my long-term relationship with World Vision and because of my Covenant family, this is such a great convergence of my heart for the poor and I can do this with my denomination through an organization I know and trust.”
The professor said he has lost 30 pounds since he began his training regimen seven months ago. His preparation has included using a StairMaster and hiking around Chicago. He has even climbed a mountain in Colorado Springs.
