P.R.A.Y. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity corporation headquartered in Wamego, Kansas.  The Corp. was founded in 1998 by caring northeast Kansans to serve children in tremendous need of basic care.

MISSION STATEMENT:

P.R.A.Y. exists to provide a safe bed, nutritious meal, soothing bath, loving hand, healing heart and guiding spirit for children in a situation of risk.

VISION STATEMENT:

In exercising our Mission, we (P.R.A.Y.) will:

1.      Establish, without discrimination, autonomous care centers for children and youth who are orphaned, abused, neglected, abandoned, living in extreme poverty, or otherwise in a situation of risk.

2.      Provide for those in the care center concentrating our efforts on seeking physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual stability for each individual.

3.      Actively seek the successful reintegration of the individual into the local society.

4.      Work among the people of the Communities where P.R.A.Y. operates as encouragers and consultants in the continuing ministry of P.R.A.Y.

5.      Be open to opportunities to establish care centers where needs are maximum, being respectful and mindful of local culture and customs.

STATEMENT OF FAITH:

P.R.A.Y. is a not-for-profit Charitable Organization consisting of persons with love for God in their hearts, and a desire to help the children for whom God has created the P.R.A.Y. mission to serve.  The people involved in the P.R.A.Y. mission are committed to collaborating together as disciples of Christ in the common goal of serving children who are abandoned, abused, neglected, orphaned, or otherwise in need.

The Directors, volunteers, and others involved with the P.R.A.Y. mission are committed to treating each other and those we serve with respect and love, in a spirit of humility and patience, forbearing one another in love, and eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.  Our prayer to the Holy Spirit is for the grace to be genuinely self-denying, humble, gentle in the service of others, and to have an attitude of brotherly generosity, without judging or discriminating in regards to race, creed, color, or religion.

MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION:

The management consists of a Board of Directors of up to 15 Kansas residents.  The Board is responsible for fund raising, and providing guidance and direction to the mission.  The Board of Directors sustains with donated funds newly established care centers, until the center can be effectively administrated and sustained by local communities where the center is located.  The Board of Directors is committed to continuing assistance by providing volunteers, encouragement, material donations (clothing, medicine, etc.) and other support when necessary. 

General Coordinator:  The Gen. Coordinator of P.R.A.Y., has the following duties:

Ø      Communicating and working together with the Board of Directors in the United States, as well as the employees, volunteers, and Administrators of Care Centers in a spirit of prayer and teamwork, providing vision and oversight. 

Ø      Assesses the needs of the mission, communicates those needs with all involved in the P.R.A.Y. mission, and works together with them to evaluate and implement those needs.

Ø      Fund-raising and public relations, which includes speaking and giving presentations.

Ø      Prepares newsletters and other reports to keep the Directors and financial supporters informed of new and continuing activities of the mission.

Ø      Acts as a Representative of the supporters and Directors of the United states, always striving to treat all people with respect and love. 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Detailed financial reports are available upon request.

At the present time the fund-raising activities are centered in north-east Kansas.  Activities include:

Ø      Yearly garage sale in Wamego, Kansas.

Ø      Quarterly newsletter sent out to supporters of the mission.

Ø      A support base of approximately 350 individuals, including several Churches.

OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

P.R.A.Y. is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit charity corporation registered in the State of Kansas.  All donations to P.R.A.Y. are tax deductible.

CONTACTS:

Mail:  P.R.A.Y.

           1006 8^th St.

           Wamego, KS  66547

Telephone:  785-456-1677

Web-site:  www.praymission.com

President:  John Hageman, 785-468-3661, sandihageman@hotmail.com

Vice President:  Shane Neel, 785-293-5812, shaneneel@hotmail.com

Treasurer:  Mary Mertz, 785-456-9201, rcfrm@wamego.net

Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator:  Helena Kilian, 785-256-6214,           

                                                               bkilian@networksplus.net

General Coordinator:  Sally Savery, 785-456-1677, sallysavery@hotmail.com

CARE CENTER MISSION LOCATIONS

Jacunda, Para, Brazil:

P.R.A.Y. (Projeto de Salvamento das Criancas da Amazonia)

The city of Jacunda (jaw-coon-DAH), has approximately 50,000 inhabitants and is located in the northern state of Para.  The P.R.A.Y. Care Center is located on approximately 5 acres on the edge of the city, and was established in January of 1999.  The Care Center has a house that is used as a shelter for children, and has the capacity to house 25 children.  A medical clinic was built in 2001 that serves our children and the many nearby children and adults who live in poverty.

The Care Center provides literacy and reinforcement classes, fabric painting and other crafts, and is preparing to begin a sewing project that will not only teach a profession, but also produce clothing items to be sold to help sustain the Care Center.

The Care Center is Administered and staffed by local individuals from the Jacunda community, with additional assistance provided by American volunteers who make short term mission trips to the Care Center.

Food, cleaning products, some hygiene products, medicines, clinic supplies, financial donations, and other items are received from donors in the local Community of Jacunda.  A portion of the expenses, as well as clothing, medical supplies, hygiene products, school supplies, toys, and other items are received from donors in the USA, and transported by volunteers.

The children in the Care Center are provided with a loving and prayerful family environment, nutritious meals, and opportunities for learning.  The goals of the P.R.A.Y. mission are to provide a sense of family, educational preparation corresponding to age and ability with an equivalent of a High School diploma, acquisition of essential life skills, emotional stability, spiritual maturity, and sound physical health.

P.R.A.Y. is registered in Brazil as a not-for-profit Charity Association, and has a Board of Directors consisting of individuals in the Jacunda Community.