By Rodney Richey, Herald Bulletin Feature Writer
ANDERSON, Ind. — Vicky Creamer works as a sponsorship associate in the offices of Children of Promise, an international aid service operated by the Church of God.
An Anderson native, Creamer graduated in 1977 from Alexandria-Monroe High School and attended Anderson University. She and her husband, Joe, a specialist tech at SMC Corporation in Noblesville, have two West Highland white terriers, Elvis and Ridley.
In her office on the AU campus, Creamer, 51, helps link potential sponsors to children in need in countries all over the world. She has held the position since August 2007.
Q. What is Children of Promise? “It is an organization that works in developing countries through the Church of God congregations there. For children in those countries, through committed sponsors, we help out with their education, their school needs, physical needs and spiritual growth.”
Q. What are your duties? “When a sponsor contacts us online by our Web site or calls in, I send them out information about sponsoring a child. I also find out if they have a preference as far as a country; we are in 23 countries. And I get them started in the program with the child.”
Q. What do you like least about your job? “With the economic times being as they are, we’ve had some sponsors that have had to drop out. So Children of Promise maintains that, once a child is sponsored, they remain sponsored.
“We do have people who just give to the program, and that helps keep those children going in the program until another sponsor contacts us.
“That does hurt. A lot of times, we’ll get people calling in crying, and you hurt for them, because they have genuine love for these children.”
Q. What do you like best?
Creamer: “That I’m making a small difference in the world, in the lives of others.”
Q. What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened?
Creamer: “Spelling ‘Colombia’ the country with a U. I have to laugh at myself in those situations.”
Q. What’s the most serious thing that’s ever happened?
Creamer: “I got to go to Ecuador to interview children there. That was life-changing for me, to meet these little children, because I see their little faces come across my desk every day.”
Q. What other jobs have you held?
Creamer: “For 20 years prior to coming here, I worked in health benefits, from paying claims up to working in middle management. And I made more than double what I’m making in ministry. But the rewards from this job far exceed anything monetary.”
Q. What would be your perfect job?
Creamer: “I found it! I know what I want to be when I grow up! And I hope I get to retire from here, and then I’ll probably volunteer.”
Q. What would you do if you didn’t have to work for a living?
Creamer: “My husband and I would be trying to go to these countries that get hit with devastation, to go see what we could do to help. Even if it’s an hour a week, I would encourage anyone to be part of some organization, to help make a difference for others. It’s very rewarding.”
Q. How do you spend your hard-earned money?
Creamer: “Paying bills, of course. And I try to give extra to those that need it.”
Q. What are your hobbies?
Creamer: “We go to movies and go to dinner with friends. I make silver jewelry, when I have the time.”
Q. What kind of training did you need for your job?
Creamer: “I guess just clerical work, even doing time studies on how long something might take, to streamline procedures, to be more effective.”
Q. Is there a misconception about your job?
Creamer: “No, not really. Sometimes people do wonder if their money is going where they’re told it’s going. The children are interviewed every other year, and we make sure those things are happening.”
Q. What jobs, what actions does this county need?
Creamer: “I know that, growing up in the county, most of it has been General Motors. I think there needs to be a stronger drive toward unity and working toward a common goal. ... We need to band together as much as possible.”
Children of Promise
What: Organization that provides financial assistance for programs to aid needy children in ministries of the Church of God outside the United States. The organization desires to have a program in every developing country where the Church of God has functioning congregations.
Countries served: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indochina, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malawi, Nepal, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda and Zambia
Location: 1201 E. Fifth St., Suite 10, Anderson
Information: 648-2190, (800) 848-2464, ext. 2190, www.echildrenofpromise.org, cop@echildrenofpromise.org
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About this series
In this weekly Monday series, The Herald Bulletin engages local workers in a question-and-answer format.
Would you like to have your job profiled? If so, contact Associate Editor Stephen Dick at 640-4863 or steve.dick@heraldbulletin.com.
Contact Rodney Richey, 640-4861, rodney.richey@heraldbulletin.com.
