Frequently Asked Questions


By scrolling through the information below you can find out some answers to questions we are frequently asked concerning the ministry and ministry areas of FGCI.  Below is an overview of what you will find:


- Is the orphan situation in Romania improving?

- Does FGCI assist with international adoptions?

- How do I apply to go on a short-term missions trip?

  1. -Do I need a passport before I apply for a

   short-term missions trip?

- How is FGCI funded?

- Is FGCI a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization?

- Can I receive a tax receipt for a gift in kind (GIK)?

- What kinds of “things” does FGCI need for children?

  1. -I would like to sponsor Bibles for children.  What is

  the best way to do that?


Is the orphan situation in Romania improving?

In many ways, the answer is yes.  Certainly, we’re not seeing the dramatic abuse and neglect of babies and children that was seen in childcare institutions shortly after the fall of communism in the late 1980s and early ‘90s.  The number of government-run institutions caring for children has been reduced (in large part due to European Union regulations and requirements that enabled Romania to join the EU in 1997).  In 2002, Romania adopted a law prohibiting children two years of age and under from being placed in institutions, unless they were suffering from a mental or physical handicap.  Children under three years of age must now be placed in foster homes.  Orphanage (Children’s Placement Centers) populations have been reduced and capped to create a better worker-to-child ratio.  The buildings where the children live have been renovated and beautified.   There is better nutrition for the children.  Administrators and Child Placement Center workers are better trained.  And, in general, the overall situation for the children has improved.  These are all good developments.


Unfortunately, there are still over 40,000 (as of March 2011) children still in “the system” and more children who, daily and at alarming rates, continue to be abandoned or “found missing.” You can imagine the financial and political strain this places on a new democratic government digging out of the rubble of decades of socialism.  Poverty is still very prevalent in Eastern Europe, and many families feeling this burden are placing their children into the government’s childcare system or simply abandoning them to the streets.  Also, due to the waning value of the euro and huge budget cuts for government programs after the financial crisis of 2009, all government welfare programs’ diminished budgets have resulted in staff reductions and operational expense cutbacks.  This financial unrest is exacerbating the issue of child abandonment.  Romania still appears to be a long way from seeing a workable solution to their child abandonment problems.


Does FGCI assist with international adoptions?

Not at this time.  We strongly support adoption anywhere, but Romania no longer permits international adoptions.  If you would like to sponsor a foster child or a national adoption within Romania, we may be able to help you.  FGCI is sponsoring a foster parent search campaign, seeking Christians in Romania who desire to take in a foster child.  Contact FGCI if you are interested in sponsoring a foster child in Romania.


How do I apply to go on a short-term missions trip?

Go to the homepage and click on the “Apply for a missions trip or internship” button in the “How you can partner with Fagucci” column on the right side of the page.  Follow directions to download the application packet.


Or, contact John Woodward, FGCI Teams Coordinator, through our “contact” link.  Tell John that you’d like to travel on a team to Romania, Moldova, the Lakota Reservations or to Camp of the Good Shepherd (Louisville, Nebraska).  John can inform you about upcoming trips (locations, dates, costs, requirements, etc.) and other FGCI ministry opportunities.


Do I need a passport before I apply for a short-term missions trip?

No.  But, by all means, start the application process for a passport as soon as you make a personal commitment to travel overseas.  Of course, you will have to be accepted as an FGCI team member before you can travel on an FGCI trip, but you will save yourself a great deal of anxiety if you don’t have to rush to get a passport quickly after being accepted to an FGCI short-term missions team.  For more information about FGCI short-term missions trips, go to the homepage and click on the “Apply for a missions trip or internship” button in the “How you can partner with Fagucci” column on the right side of the page.


How is FGCI funded?

For God’s Children International is funded almost entirely by freewill gifts from individuals and churches who support our ministry goals.  FGCI does not have a Foundation, nor does it receive any government support for its work.  Occasionally, FGCI receives support from grants or like-minded partners from other ministries or organizations.  FGCI would like to add your church or group as a ministry partner.  Contact FGCI for more information about becoming a ministry partner.


Is FGCI a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization?

Yes.  Financial partners who receive no goods or services for their gift to For God’s Children International receive a tax receipt for their contribution.  Usually, within a month after FGCI has received a gift, a receipt letter will be sent to the giver indicating their gift date, gift amount and designation.  At the beginning of each calendar year (by January 15), each contributor will receive a contribution receipt letter (for tax purposes) indicating the cumulative total of all financial gifts given to FGCI or Camp of the Good Shepherd by him/her during the previous year.


Can I receive a tax receipt for a gift in kind (GIK)?

Upon request, gift-in-kind (GIK) contributions (e.g., clothing, shoes, school supplies, equipment, materials, etc.) are receipted with a letter indicating the date and nature of the gift, but no dollar amounts are declared on the receipt.  The value of the GIK is to be determined by the giver and his/her tax preparer.  FGCI cannot receipt volunteers for their donated time, but we can provide their lunch!


Frequently Asked Questions:


What kinds of “things” does FGCI need for children?

In past years, FGCI regularly sent sea containers to Romania filled with donated clothing and other useful and needed items for children and poor families.  New laws and regulations have made it very difficult, time-consuming and expensive to send sea containers.  But we DO continue to gather and send supplies with short-term missions team members who fly overseas or drive to the Lakota Reservations.


Items that we regularly need are:  new underwear and socks of all sizes for boys and girls; new or good used blue jeans for all sizes of boys and girls; new fleece wear (sweatshirts, sweatpants, jackets); new pajamas, bathrobes and slippers; new flip-flops and swimming suits (all sizes for girls and boys); mittens, gloves and winter hats for children of all ages; new shoe laces; craft supplies, scissors, construction paper, necklace beads, clasps and string/cord, craft foam cutouts, pipe cleaners (chenille craft stems), colored and natural wood popsicle sticks, yarn, fabric glue, tacky (craft) glue, glitter, invisible tape, sticky notes, felt squares, craft googly eyes, large drawing pads (11” x 14” and larger:  watercolor paper, drawing paper or newsprint), watercolor paints/brushes sets, colored pencils and markers, dry erase markers, stickers, etc.; bubble gum, hard candy/suckers; feminine hygiene products; disposable razors and deodorant; toothbrushes; new or used family-rated movies on DVD; assortments of toys as awards/prizes for us to use at camps, Bible clubs and at the hospital playroom (check online at Oriental Trading Co. and Nobbies); seasonal decorations for our hospital rooms and ministry venues throughout Romania and Moldova; craft leather, leather craft tools and accessories, wood burning and cutting sets.


I would like to sponsor Bibles for children.  What is the best way to do that?

The best way to provide Bibles for children in Romania and Moldova is to send a check to FGCI and let us know you’d like to sponsor Bibles.  It is difficult to find Bibles in the Romanian language here in the USA, and it is very expensive to carry over Bibles as excess baggage when flying.  We purchase Bibles in Moldova and Romania for distribution to the children and adults we serve in those countries.  Bibles in Romanian cost between $4 and $8 depending on the quality of the printing.


In 2004, For God’s Children International, in cooperation with World Bible Translation Center of Fort Worth, Texas, published Noul Testament Pentru Copii Editia Bilingva (New Testament for Children:  Bilingual Edition), an easy-to-read Romanian and English New Testament.  By using simple language they can understand, this valuable tool allows us to teach children who have had very little exposure to the Word of God.  Having both Romanian and English translations on the same page makes it a wonderful resource for FGCI team members who don’t speak Romanian well.  It also is a way for Romanians to learn English.  [These bi-lingual New Testaments are available for purchase from FGCI in paperback or hardbound editions.]


FGCI needs Bibles in English for giving to children we serve at Camp of the Good Shepherd near Louisville, Nebraska.  Because of its popularity and ubiquity, we use the NIV translation as our common translation for Bible study and memorization.  [We believe that it is helpful if all of the children can recite Scripture verses in unison from the same translation.]  If you would like to donate NIV Bibles, we would appreciate having them.


On the Lakota Indian Reservations, we have found that English Bible translations are the best for children there.  Most of the young people speak little to no Lakota language.  We can use Bibles (paperback or hardback) to give away there, as well.