Hands of Kindness Children’s Ministry in a non-profit organization that seeks to be a witness of God’s love to orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda by providing for their basic physical, medical, educational and spiritual needs.
Our story began and continues to be all about children! Several years ago the need was overwhelming in several of the remote communities of Uganda. When asked what could be done, the list was extensive and overwhelming. After much discussion, the first step was to address the need for child sponsorship. Though there are other much larger child sponsorship organizations, none of them were reaching out to the communities of Koreng and Apac, Uganda. Our organization stands in that gap to impact lives in Uganda. Since that first vision of impacting children’s lives began several years ago, our focus has remained on those same children. However, our opportunities continue to expand as a result of the amazing team members who have served in these communities with us.
We are still committed to that first vision of child sponsorship, we are seeing so much more than that accomplished today. Through medical and vision clinics, construction projects, providing food for the children, pastor training, and outreach into the communities, we are experiencing a real blessing in the growth of Hands of Kindness Children’s Ministry.
The Hands of Kindness Board of Directors serves to facilitate and make decisions related to HOKCM’s mission. Alongside the Ministry Director, they provide a level of interaction and decision-making that ensures that every event and ministry maintains the original purpose of HOKCM. As part of the board’s role, they review and approve items such as annual budget proposals, new country ministry opportunities, and building projects.
Our HOKCM board members join through invitation and interview. They are approved by the existing board members and serve on a rotational basis. Board members can be asked and are eligible for consecutive terms if they are willing to do so. The officers are elected by the existing board members and can serve consecutive terms.
Pray for our HOKCM board as they seek to lighten the load on our Ministry Director!
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KATHIE BURGESS
MINISTRY DIRECTOR
At the outset of Hands of Kindness Children’s Ministry, Director Kathie invited a team of individuals to join her in carrying out the work of the ministry. Since its early beginnings, she set out to include others for ministerial accountability and to have others enjoy the blessings of the ministry. We are blessed to have Kathie as our ministry director and have her with us guiding our work and service.
STEVE BURGESS
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Steve is a lifelong native of Greenville, SC, and is the husband of our ministry director, Kathleen Burgess. Together, they enjoy their seven children and eleven grandchildren. When he’s not involved with his family, you might find Steve at Berea First Baptist Church where he has served their community in a variety of fellowship and leadership roles. Steve’s passion for serving Christ has allowed him to participate in mission trips to Tanzania, Uganda, Nicaragua, and Kentucky.
DARRELL REESE
BOARD CHAIR
Darrell is a North Carolina native and US Navy veteran. His service to our country spans several wars, serving in Vietnam and more recently with deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. Darrell enjoys being active and traveling both in the US and abroad. He has participated in many mission trips to Kentucky, Central America, and Uganda. He is a member of Berea First Baptist, where he sings in the choir and has served in leadership and fellowship roles. We are thankful to have Darrell’s service as our board chair for Hands of Kindness.
JIM CAGLE
BOARD MEMBER
Jim is seventy-three years old and is married with two children and six grandchildren. He owned and operated his own lighting business for 35 years. Jim worked with our construction team on the Hands of Kindness Children’s Center in Uganda in 2016 and plans to return. Jim enjoys church, golf, and fishing.
ALICE PEACE
FUNDRAISING CHAIR
Alice enjoys traveling and going on mission trips and has been to different countries all over the world. She has been to Uganda with Hands of Kindness several times and plans to return. Alice enjoys art and face painting and has a heart for children. She even designed a coloring book to share the Gospel with the Ugandan children which was translated into their language.
BRAXTON EDWARDS
BOARD MEMBER
Braxton is a graduate of North Greenville University and is currently working on his Master of Divinity through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is serving at First Baptist Church Walterboro as the NextGen pastor for students. Braxton is passionate about discipleship with future hopes of becoming a foreign missionary. He is married to his wife Gracie, and they both enjoy time spent with family and their rescue dog Bash.
GRACIE EDWARDS
BOARD MEMBER
Gracie is a graduate of Florence-Darlington Technical College with an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology. She is currently earning her bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology at Liberty University. She is also currently working as a kindergarten assistant at a local school in Walterboro. She is passionate about children and family science. In her free time, Gracie enjoys painting, photography, plants, baking, and hiking with Braxton and their dog, Bash.