True Rest for the Weary

Investing in women to free orphans from poverty

Celebrating 20 Years

Sweet Sleep is proud to celebrate 20 years of ministry this summer! For two decades our mission has been to share God’s love and hope in Christ to the world’s orphaned and vulnerable children. This mission was born in August of 2003 and started with one bed in an orphanage in Moldova. Our efforts to provide “a bed for every head” eventually took us to Uganda, Haiti, South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Russia, and the United States. To date, we’ve provided 33,207 beds, funded by the passion and love of more than 8146 champions like you!

While the mission of Sweet Sleep remains unchanged, we have learned better and more sustainable ways to care for these children. In response to governmental changes in Eastern Europe, Sweet Sleep initiated a seven-country campaign to engage the local church in the indigenous adoption of children aging out of these institutions. And in Uganda, we created economic development programs aimed at empowering local individuals to join together in a united purpose of building self-sufficient, thriving cooperative businesses and savings groups called CO•OPs.

Join us, as we prayerfully begin the next 20 years of incredible work this summer. We hope to see you at the celebrations, praise and worship events, and on our 20th Anniversary Mission Journey in October. We could not have done any of this without the prayers, time, leadership, and financial support of each and every one of you. Thank you for believing in the work God has done, and continues to do through this ministry.

TRUE
REST

BIBLES: SPIRITUAL REST

CO-OPS: ECONOMIC REST

BEDS: PHYSICAL REST

The Pillars of Rest

Since 2003, we have been working for and alongside vulnerable communities in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, The Caribbean and The Americas to equip the needy with beds, Bibles, and the means to achieve economic independence.

141 CO•OPs

3,121 businesses launched

1,490 CO•OP members

8,820 total impacted

33,207 beds distributed

1,242 decisions for Christ since 2019

BIBLES

We believe that God’s love is what cultivates true resilience and strength in the face of adversity, so we make it our priority to share His Word and hope in Christ to underserved communities. By turning to the Bible, the grandmothers, single mothers, and widows who have taken it upon themselves to care for the vulnerable children of their communities are comforted and empowered to live a life full of purpose.

CO•OPS

We provide Christ-centered business training and startup capital to develop and nurture local cooperative businesses and savings groups in impoverished communities. In doing so, individuals are empowered to generate sustainable income that helps them afford food, clothing, medical care, and school fees for their families. So far, we’ve created over 90 CO•OPs and financed over 990 businesses.

BEDS

Over the years, we’ve distributed over 32,000 beds to those most in need of physical rest. In Northern Uganda, many of the children we serve are HIV+, and nearly all of them have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS or the brutality of civil war. To them, having a bed to sleep on means protection against cold, insects, and disease. It also means hope for better tomorrows, as a good night’s sleep helps them feel healthy, rested, and worthy.

Join our Mission

THE PEOPLE. THEIR STORIES.

Balbina’s strength carried her through hardship.

When she thought that her hardships were finally over, Balbina’s strength was once again tested by a series of misfortunes and obstacles. Now a grandmother, Balbina was divorced by her husband and left to single-handedly raise her four children. Because of poverty, she could not pay for their school fees, leaving them dependent on her as adults. When Balbina was asked to care for her brother’s orphaned kids, after he had succumbed to HIV/AIDS, she initially resisted adding to her burden. However, after joining the CO•OP, not only was she able to support her growing family, but her heart was softened to God’s call and she agreed to adopt her brother’s children.

Doreen’s perseverance helped her overcome poverty.

Poverty was a state of being for Doreen. As many other Ugandan women, she grew up impoverished and had no access to education. A simple trip to visit her sick mother changed the course of her life for the worse when she was abducted by rebel soldiers during the war, and was horrifically beaten and tortured to the point that she could no longer bear children. As a result, her husband rejected her, and her marriage failed. She was left alone to care for her daughter and her grandson. She joined the CO•OP, and she now crafts and sells papyrus mats. The loan she received from the CO•OP helped her grow her business, and the equity she had in the savings group sustained her family through the pandemic lockdown.

Rita’s commitment to faith led her to a new path.

Rita’s is a story of faith and endurance. Upon finding out about her teenage pregnancy, her parents refused to pay for her school fees. Her dream of becoming a midwife was laid to rest with their decision. In spite of hardships, she kept the baby and married. Rita’s husband abused alcohol and was involved in a satanic cult that worshiped the dead. Her small attempts at generating an income were rejected by him, as he felt his position within the community was threatened by her actions. When she finally joined the CO•OP, she was engulfed by a sense of belonging and community. She was counseled and trained by our staff, and grew spiritually through Bible studies and discipleship. Due to her positive influence, her husband has left his satanic worship behind and is now a follower of Christ. She now sells vegetables and cooking goods, and dreams of opening her own restaurant.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE. GET INVOLVED.

Our mission is made possible by the grace of God and by caring, committed champions like you. Together, there is nothing we can’t accomplish. Our collective action enables us to help the impoverished find solace and hope. Join us in our mission.