Saving Susan Ministry | Q1 2026 Impact Update

Written by Adam Reiley

A Strong Start to 2026

Atlanta, GA — April 1st, 2026 

2026 is here—and God is already moving in powerful ways through Saving Susan Ministry. We are stepping into this year with momentum, expectancy, and deep gratitude for all He is doing in the lives of the children we serve.

Here are some exciting updates and opportunities ahead:

A New Partnership for Greater Impact

We are thrilled to officially announce our partnership with Hope for the Heart!

This collaboration strengthens our Emotional Care Program, equipping us with biblically grounded resources to better serve vulnerable children who have experienced trauma. We believe God will use this partnership in mighty ways to bring healing, hope, and transformation.

📖 This April, we will begin launching small-group topical studies with our students—creating safe spaces for deeper emotional and spiritual growth.

👉 Read more about this partnership in our full press release.

Music Academy: Where Healing Meets Purpose

The Saving Susan Ministry Music Academy continues to flourish as a vital expression of our mission.

This year marks an important transition: the Academy now operates under our Emotional Care Program.

Why? Because we’ve seen it firsthand—
music is not just an activity; it is a pathway to healing.

For children who have experienced trauma, music provides:

• A safe outlet for emotional expression

• A way to build confidence and identity

• An opportunity to encounter the presence of God

Growing Globally

While our Music Director, Oliver, prepares to return in May following his recent marriage, the Academy continues to expand:

• Guatemala Expansion: 41 additional children now receiving weekly music instruction

• Cambodia: Continued investment in long-term discipleship and development

This growth reinforces how deeply aligned music education is with emotional and spiritual care.

Saving Susan Ministry believes this partnership will significantly strengthen its ability to provide compassionate, biblically grounded emotional care to the students it serves.

A beautiful wedding - Oliver & his bride, Leah

Stories of Transformation

The impact is real—and it’s personal:

• Elias – Once reserved, now expressing his heart through music

• Lexus – Discovering joy in worship through singing

• Sophia – Filled with renewed purpose as she learns piano

• Mercedes – Gaining confidence through a gift she now knows she has

These are not just music lessons.
These are stories of identity, healing, and hope.

🙏 A special thank you to the Betty Scalice Foundation—your generosity makes this life-changing work possible.

Upcoming Team Trips – Join Us!

Our 2026 trips are just around the corner, and we would love for you to be part of what God is doing on the ground:

• 🌎 June: Manos de Compasión – Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

• 🌎 July: Casa Bernabé – Guatemala

• 🌎 Summer Finale: Cambodia

  • Celebrate Vichika’s high school graduation

  • Spend time with our growing group of Next Steps college students

✨ These trips are more than travel—they are opportunities to serve, connect, and witness transformation firsthand.

👉 Spots are limited—click “Apply” to reserve your place.

Save the Date: Rally for Susan 🎾

📅 August 13, 2026
📍 Marietta Country Club

Our annual ladies-only Tennis & Pickleball fundraiser is back!

• Open to all skill levels

• Includes a luncheon open to everyone (fan passes available!)

Together, we will:

• Play

• Gather

• Be inspired

• Encounter God

• Help orphaned children experience the love of family and a brighter future

👉 Secure your spot now

Coming Soon: Championship Ball Gala ⚾

Get ready for an unforgettable evening!

This year’s annual Gala—our “Championship Ball”—will be hosted at Truist Park.

🎟️ Tickets will go fast—stay tuned for the official release!

Stewardship You Can Trust

We are honored to share that Saving Susan Ministry has:

🏆 Achieved Platinum Status on Candid for the 7th consecutive year
(less than 1% of nonprofits earn this distinction)

✅ Renewed certification with the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)

These recognitions reflect our unwavering commitment to transparency, integrity, and faithful stewardship.

When you give, you can give with confidence—knowing every dollar is handled with care and purpose.

Thank You

None of this is possible without you—your prayers, your generosity, and your heart for vulnerable children around the world.

Together, we are bringing healing, restoring identity, and sharing the love of Christ—one child at a time.

💚 We’re just getting started.

Footprints Update - Hope for the Heart Partnership

Written by Adam Reiley

Saving Susan Ministry Announces Partnership with Hope for the Heart to Strengthen Emotional Care Program

Atlanta, GA — March 9, 2026 

Saving Susan Ministry is pleased to announce a new partnership with Hope for the Heart, a global biblical counseling and discipleship ministry, to support the recently launched Emotional Care Program.

The Emotional Care Program is designed to provide Christ-centered emotional support, mentorship, and practical resources for students navigating life’s challenges. Through this new partnership, Hope for the Heart will play a key role in the mentorship and equipping components of the program by providing biblical resources and topical studies that address a wide range of emotional and spiritual needs.

Saving Susan’s facilitator team—led by Emotional Care Coordinator Heather Canup—will guide students through these topical studies in small group settings. The studies are designed to foster meaningful conversations, encourage personal growth, and equip students with biblically grounded tools for navigating emotional struggles.

Hope for the Heart, founded by June Hunt, is known for its extensive library of counseling resources and training materials used by ministries, churches, and leaders worldwide. The organization’s mission is to equip people with biblical principles so they can offer God’s truth and compassion to those facing life’s difficulties.

“Our team at Hope for the Heart is inspired and encouraged by the heart and mission of Saving Susan Ministry,” said Haley Scully, Senior Vice President of Ministry Operations at Hope for the Heart. “It is an honor to be a part of equipping and training their teams to love those they serve well. On behalf of June Hunt and our entire staff, thank you for helping us fulfill our mission to bring hope to others.”

Saving Susan Ministry believes this partnership will significantly strengthen its ability to provide compassionate, biblically grounded emotional care to the students it serves.

Program Facilitators meeting to plan our topic study rollout using Hope for the Heart resources

A few of the students in Cambodia and Guatemala who will benefit from the program

About Saving Susan Ministry
Saving Susan Ministry is dedicated to providing Christ-centered support and care to orphaned and vulnerable children in countries closed to adoption. Through programs like the Emotional Care Program, the ministry seeks to help students find hope, healing, and purpose.

About Hope for the Heart
Hope for the Heart is an international ministry committed to equipping individuals with biblical truth and practical tools to address life’s challenges. Through resources, training, and counseling materials developed under the leadership of June Hunt, the organization helps churches, ministries, and individuals offer compassionate, biblically based care to those in need.

2025 Impact Report

Our 2025 Impact Report is written like a championship playbook, featuring a few of the Champions who made this season possible.

Founders' Trip to Cambodia: UNEXPECTED

Written by Tracy Arntzen

There is one word that describes our Christmas trip to Cambodia - UNEXPECTED. I’m convinced God placed the desire in my heart years ago to celebrate the birth of Christ with our friends and students in Cambodia. And wow, God met us there through unplanned circumstances.  As I looked forward to this trip, there were also people, traditions, and comforts I chose to lay aside for Christmas 2025. And, if I’m being honest, just prior to our departure I was longing for all of what we were leaving behind. 

Unfortunately, a few days into our extended stay, a war broke out. Through the harsh attacks of F-16 bombings and a heavy military power, Thailand began invading a helpless Cambodia. The country, 95% Buddhist and with a limited military, felt frightened, oppressed and even hopeless. I have never been in a war-torn country during escalation, and to say it was frightening was an understatement. Imparting Smiles Children’s Home was forced to evacuate and relocate twice because of heavy bombing.  As someone who values security, calm surroundings, and peace, I’ll confess on more than one occasion I was checking in with the US Embassy, State Department, and airlines, considering an early departure. Sleep eluded me for several consecutive days as I tossed and turned in the decision to stay or return home early. I am embarrassed to even speak that now. 

Like a gentle spring breeze, I sensed God’s leading us to stay.  It was like an invitation to live out what we believe about the Lord. Did I truly trust Him with our circumstances and the timing of us being in Cambodia?  I could not shake the feeling of staying, despite what may happen. I could not imagine telling our loved ones we were leaving them early. So, we stayed and asked friends and family back home to pray with us. Staying was not about us being brave or courageous. Instead it was about working through the tension of fear and obedience. It was about standing firm with God by our side when our security felt threatened.  God had placed us there and entrusted us for such a time. 

Despite the unrest we enjoyed incredible fellowship and precious times of service. We also sensed the deep realization of the impact Saving Susan Ministry and all our champions are making. I often recall a friend sharing that John 15:16 reminds him of the Saving Susan Ministry mission. 

So without further ado, here are some of our trip highlights: 

Day 1 - We rose early, after our 1am bedtime, and joined Pastor Sihok at his dumpsite church. Jay shared a message of love. Gifts and treats were sponsored for the church members, as this was their Christmas celebration.  It was a time filled with beautiful music and lots of children's smiles.  What a beautiful welcome to Cambodia.

Days 2-4   We were blessed to share our days with the children we partner and of course, the Next Steps Students would jump in when their schedules allowed. We hung out, shared meals, went swimming, and we even took a private exercise class that included a boxing lesson. Maybe a boxing bag is needed in the future at the boys’ dorm! So many laughs and also times of important life conversations.  

Days 5-9 Bunny transported us to Bileg and it was wonderful to visit the place where Saving Susan Ministry was born. We treated the Solid Rock Academy teachers to a Christmas luncheon and sweet time of fellowship, there were 60+ present. We took the kids to visit the 2nd oldest temple in Cambodia, even older than Angkor Wat! Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk was a wonder, and we loved sharing this with the students. Sunday worship was in the beautiful church that Dr. Jack Baskin helped plant with Dr. Felipe and Joy Castro so many years ago. 

Days 10-12 We began preparing for Christmas - shopping, decorating, cooking, and attended a sweet Christmas Eve church service in English with many of the Next Steps students. Christmas day was so much fun. Jay even drove a moto and took some of the students for coffee and talk, while I was in the kitchen with some helpers. We ended the day with Christmas carols and hot chocolate, which was a novelty for the students.

Days 13-17 As our trip began to wind down, a cease fire was agreed upon. Although nearly 600k Cambodians were displaced from their homes and villages living in refugee camps, the country saw some relief from the attacks. We were introduced to a Cambodian Pastor and his wife who run a children's home and were invited to visit.  Please pray with us as we explore conversations about working together in the future.

This trip will forever be special in so many ways. I'm certain there are still parts of it to process and discern where God is leading. 

I ask, if you are a Parent Partner reading this, would you please consider joining one of our trips in 2026? The children continue to grow and build resilience, as we have learned…

“Although the world is full of suffering it is also full of overcoming it.”

— Helen Keller

Q3 Ministry Update

Join us for an extraordinary evening of celebration and purpose at the historic Primrose Cottage in downtown Roswell. Our theme, “Forged Together: United in Spirit, Unbreakable in Love,” honors the transformative power of faith in the lives of orphaned children and those who champion them.

Our Team Trips to Guatemala were a huge blessing! Time spent with the children and their care givers is always a central focus of our trip. These moments are worth sharing again and again. Be on the lookout for our 2026 Team Trip dates and mark your calendar to join us!

If you missed the recap of these visits, click below to read all about it from those who participated firsthand:

Tennis and Pickle for Susan 2025 was a huge hit, thanks to so many who champion our children so well. Click here to read the blog post about this fun event!

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Congratulations Mesa!

Mesa graduated last fall, completed his year of giving back and has now joined the Next Steps students in Phnom Phen. He is studying to be a teacher but also loves photography and visual arts. Mesa, we are so proud of you!

Casa Bernabe Update!

Recently we announced that we were ready to add 14 new kids to our Parent Partner Program from Casa Bernabe. We are thrilled to report that we are currently processing 2 applications and have a third in the pipeline. What about you? Is God calling you to partner with one of these adorable children to provide hope and consistency in their life? Find out more here or email us today!