Rebecca Davis

AFA Journal staff writer

September 2016 – Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.-- James 1:27 (HCSB)

Feeling deeply called to live out the biblical mandate in James 1:27, Jason and Shannon Stoker began Reclaimed Project (RP), a nonprofit ministry focused on serving orphans. Friends shared their vision and were instrumental in birthing the ministry that now serves the needy in Lesotho, Africa; Zimbabwe, Africa; and Marks, Mississippi.

“We want to overcome problems in these communities with God-centered solutions that bring about changes in all aspects of life,” Jason Stoker told AFA Journal.

Plans
Specifically, RP seeks to exalt Christ by providing adoption grants, community development in the Mississippi Delta, orphan care centers in Sub-Saharan Africa, and jobs for local artisans in Africa.

“Taking a wholistic approach ensures that our work will grow and inspire all aspects of the community,” Stoker explained.

The ministry works with local churches where strong leadership is already in place and partners with the International Mission Board (Southern Baptist Convention) to utilize its church planting strategy. In each area where RP ministers, team leaders are on location to host teams, evangelize and disciple locals, write lesson plans for the orphan care centers, and build relationships.

“Each community has specific needs that we want to meet,” Stoker said. “We don’t have a cut-and-dried solution for each city. We want to meet practical and spiritual needs.”

The project’s approach is four-fold – to maintain a kingdom focus, embrace a relational approach to poverty, avoid creating dependency, and pursue high impact research and training. RP is not a short-term fix for long-term problems. The ministry seeks to provide permanent solutions to poverty by investing in the poverty-stricken area and teaching locals to become self-sufficient while relying on God, His work, and His provision in their lives.

Provisions
Stoker has experienced God’s provision in his own life and in the life of RP through an unexpected partnership turned friendship with Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze and his wife Jill. The Freeze Foundation has supported RP financially, and the Freeze family has served hands-on at the orphan care center in Lesotho.

“Jill is firmly convinced that we need to remain [at work] there … [because] the work that is being done is overwhelming,” Freeze told AFA Journal.

Stoker and his team have witnessed people with life-threatening illnesses healed and have seen approximately 80 people come to know Christ as their Savior in the last 12 months.

“There are no words at seeing the hand of God move in miraculous ways,” Stoker said. “And there is nothing more satisfying than seeing a child of God deeply in love with the Father.

“That is so much greater than RP.”  

How to support RP
▶ Host a trunk show to offer products made by African artisans. Minimal preparation is required.
▶ If you own a business, participate in the 1:27 initiative which asks customers for an extra 27 cents at checkout. The money is then given to RP. This initiative also creates opportunities to share James 1:27 with customers and create awareness about orphan care.

For more information about both initiatives, visit reclaimedproject.org.