Jamisyn's Dream: From Pocket Change to Lasting Change
Two servant leaders, Jamisyn Fleming with Ted Embry, recently retired Director of Northeast Alabama
Playing football, doing math, and learning about God through Bible stories, such as the story of Jonah, are just a few of 7-year-old Jamisyn Fleming’s favorite things. Added to that list, though, is something you don’t find on the list of most kids his age. In his short seven years, Jamisyn has also enjoyed helping other kids, and he’s done that by raising awareness and gifts totaling over $7,000 for children in need!
I had the joy of meeting Jamisyn at last year’s Christmas Open House event in Oxford, where I was placed in the same group as him and his family, touring the Friendship House. During our first tour stop, Ted Embry, recently retired ABCH Director of Northeast Alabama, shared an introduction about a new playroom at the Friendship House with our group. At the end of his introduction, this blonde-haired, brown-eyed, confident little boy stepped forward to present Ted with a check that was a year in the making.
Presenting his check to Ted at Open House with his mom, siblings, and Sunday School teacher
I soon learned that, starting two years before, Jamisyn had been raising money to help kids in need, and it all started with a Bible verse, a dream, and some pennies.
LITTLE IS MUCH
Jamisyn’s mom, Christy, told us that he came to her one day with pennies in a sandwich bag and Luke 6:38 (Give and it will be given to you . . .) from Zondervan’s Adventure Bible. He also said that he’d had a dream that Jesus wanted him to help orphans and this was his start.
“We took the bag of pennies to church, and when he was walking in, he dropped the money, and it went everywhere,” said Christy.
Well, that led to a conversation and further inspiration. One of his teachers, Mrs. Barbara Owen, was there to help him pick them up and asked him what it was for. Moved by his answer “to help orphans and kids in need because God told me to,” she suggested they call his efforts, “Jamisyn’s Dream.”
From that point on, his church family at Edwardsville Baptist Church rallied around his dream to help others and began bringing their change weekly, with a first-year $1,000 goal in mind to present to ABCH at Christmas Open House. That goal was met and exceeded, as nearly $1,200 was raised.
DREAMING BIG AND TRUSTING GOD
When he thought about the goal for 2015, he set it for $5,000—and that was exceeded as well! In that year, Jamisyn worked hard and sold lemonade, encouraged church members to collect change, and (with his parents) organized a cardboard boat race for the community, which got the attention of the area Kohl’s store, and they in turn donated $500 towards his efforts.
His goal for 2016? An eye-widening, $1 million dollars. Being good at math, he realizes that’s a lot of money and said to me, “And if I don't make it, it doesn't matter. It just matters that I helped.”
A lemonade stand is one of many fundraisers Jamisyn and family have created and worked to help our kids
Jamisyn also said, “I want people to know that if it wasn't for God, there wouldn't be Jamisyn's Dream. And He was the one who told me that I should do it. Sometimes I just want people to know you shouldn’t be scared of nothing because God is always with you.”
As Christy said, “We're proud of him. We really are.” And we would echo that wholeheartedly!
If you’d like to be a part of Jamisyn’s Dream in 2016, there is a “Pancakes and Pajamas” fundraising dinner planned for October 1 at 6:00 PM in Heflin. They will be accepting donations of new pajamas in any size for the children in our care as well monetary donations for ABCH through the pancake dinner.