7 Areas of Outreach
Education Enrichment and Literacy Development
Vocational Training
Nutrition
Medical Assistance
Secure Housing
Financial Literacy
Discipleship
Why the Name?
Global
Psalm 82:3
Psalm 82:4-5
Why the Puzzle pieces?
Miriam Webster defines a puzzle as a problem designed to test ingenuity (knowledge). In the verb form one attempts a solution by guesswork or experiment.
Puzzle pieces were intentionally chosen to represent our 7 Areas of Outreach because a unique and ‘wide’ ministry such as Global 8235 tests the ingenuity of its leaders.
Sometimes progress takes guesswork, but it always requires hearing from the Lord. According to ‘Uncle Google’ as the search engine is fondly called by some in Zambia, “an interlocking puzzle has parts that hold the rest together, the parts are mutually supporting.’ A bigger picture is formed by connecting small pieces to other pieces. So goes it as G8235 reaches out to touch the lives of those served.
The six interlocking pieces which form a circle-Educational Enrichment and Literacy Development, Vocational Training, Medical and Therapeutic Assistance, Secure Housing, Nutrition, and Financial Literacy- are each touched by the center piece representing Discipleship. If what is done through Global 8235 does not impact lives for eternity our labor is in vain. If a person does not see and/or experience Jesus in some way when they come in contact with the ministry, the ministry has failed.
Global 8235’s founder, Tracy Murray, is an Occupational Therapist by training. She loves using puzzles as learning tools. She believes there are many enriching lessons to be learned through puzzle making. A visitor who comes to one of the Global 8235 Learning Centers will likely see children, and maybe teens and adults, making puzzles. Most have never made a puzzle before. Thanks to Global 8235 they are developing memory and planning skills. They are testing ideas, developing strategies and mastering problem solving skills that will have a lifelong impact.
Our History
2007
Tracy Murray moves to Zambia with her family of 9
2008
New Creations Ministry is founded by Tracy to help the struggling family of her national pastor and his wife-Saul and MauldrineMwailenge.
2008
God literally sent widows, unemployed, and impoverished women
to the Murray home with an amazing variety of stories describing
how they learned about the unpublicized ministry.
The core group of women ranged in age from 16-65.
Tracy and other members teach the' Artisans crocheting skills
using plastic grocery bags, glass beads, and wooden beads to
make bracelets.
2008
A formal Zambian-sponsored launch of the ministry is held at a western style Zambian shopping centre. New Creations Ministry Website is created
2008
The first microloan was given to the Mwailenge family to start raising broiler chickens.
The first efforts to promote education started by empowering the Mwailenge young adults to go to university, learn sewing skills, and earn pocket money.
2008
The first children in the community are helped with Educational Enrichment opportunities in Murray's home by giving them access to puzzles, learning toys, math flashcards, library books, and computers.
2008
The first children in the community are helped with Educational Enrichment opportunities in Murray's home by giving them access to puzzles, learning toys, math flashcards, library books, and computers.
2008
The first venture into financial literacy begins by teaching the artisans
how to save a portion of their earnings in a simple 'bank' run by the
Murrays.
2009
The first medical project is sponsored for a member, Mary Daka. She receives an artificial leg after a bus accident in her past.
2009
The first products are exported and sold in the US with promotion about the ministry in local US newspapers.
2009
The first 'Ambassador,' Pati Frey from Lancaster, PA sells the $10,000 worth of products after traveling to Zambia and seeing the need and the impact.
Ambassadors Pati Frey and Ruth Ann Vaughn, from Louisville, KY, meet with Tracy to begin standardization for the products.
2009
Tracy's missionary friend in Zambia sends a group of 30 women and men people to learn how to crochet and make bags, the group grows to 40. The first sling bags are created on a sewing machine in Tracy's home.1
2010
The new name RecycloCraftz is adopted after God seemingly puts the fitting name into Tracy's head while she is out for a bike ride A nativity set, designed by member, Kelvin Mwansa, is added to the product line.
2010
The first RecycloCraftz YouTube video is published
2011
The Murray family moves back to the US Sewing machines, fabric scraps, and supplies are stored at Pastor Mwailenge's church so the women are able to fulfil orders sent from the US.
2011
Tracy travels back to Zambia
where God encourages her that there is a future for the ministry with words from the song, Greater Things. "Greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in the city."2011
The RecycloCraftz artisans make products to go to the US with Tracy.
2013
The first official fundraising dinner, 'A Taste of Zambia,' is held in the US celebrating 5 years of ministry
2013
Tracy travels to Zambia and begins teaching computer skills to RecycloCraftz members
2014
The ministry is featured in a Louisville based magazine- Today's Woman
Irene Chilangwa is given a machine after it was donated to a randomly chosen member of the group.
2014
Educational Enrichment opportunities are held in Kamanga Compound during one of Tracy's visit to Zambia
2015
Marissa Knoll, an American missionary, moves to Zambia and begins overseeing Zambian operations.
A ministry center is rented as a base for product production,outreach and an eventual library and educational enrichment outreach. RecycloCraftz
becomes an official 501 C3 non Profit.
2016
Marissa oversees the transformation of a donated 40' shipping container into a functioning RecycloCraftz sewing workshop
2016
Several members learn basic sewing skills to create a wider variety of items
2016
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RecycloCraftz applies for and receives a significant grant from the Prospect/Goshen Rotary Club allowing the shipping container project to be completed.
2016
A patchwork apron and knapsack are created by Barnabas Mwindula and added to the product line.
Tracy travels to Zambia to oversee the progress.
RecycloCraftz offers a beginning sewing class and funds 1/2 of the cost of a sewing machine for each participant after the members complete the course.
Barnabas Mwindula becomes the Project Manager and takes over Zambian operations.
RecycloCraftz begins a partnership in Zambia sewing for a company called Mommies & Munchkins started
by abigail Mwallenge, daughter to...
2018
RecycloCraftz hires a staff member in Louisville, KY to help with sales and administration needs.
Tracy and two short-term missionaries serve in Zambia for two weeks.
2018
The first glasses were given out as a part of the medical outreach in a nearby village. Even the Chief received glasses- actually two pairs!
2019
One of the RecycloCraftz families with 5 children is sponsored making it possible for the youngsters to return to school.
2020
COVID Strikes even Zambia.
RecycloCraftz sent bonus monies to help the artisans in their time of great need.
Artisans still made products to export to the US to be sold in outdoor vending events, sending two orders in 2020.
The garden spaces at the Chelston Ministry Center are revitalized-everyone benefits.
2020
RecycloCraftz opens a boutique in Louisville, KY. Volunteer teams grow in involvement in the US.
2021
Product production continues despite COVID restrictions.
2021
Products are successfully sold in the US in open-air settings.A second shipping container is relocated at the Chelston Ministry Centre. A community library is set up inside and Alex Museka comes on staff to oversee the operations.
2021
RecycloCraftz sponsors a Zambian pastor's mission trip to Mozambique
2022
A RecycloCraftz family is helped to build secure housing whilst living in a house destroyed by fire.
Tracy finally visits Zambia after the borders open again. A short-term missionary goes along.
2022
The ministry rebrands as Global 8235 and RecycloCraftz continues as a ministry of Global 8235.
Ministry Founder, Tracy Murray, moves back to Zambia full time.