Twins, 7, Send Encouragement the Old-Fashioned Way

Flowers sprout on a landscape of white paper, the petals made from glittery foam and decorated with purple, pink and blue rhinestones.

Stems of flowers lope around the petals, and below one pink blossom, the leaves have been usurped by smiley faces.

This whimsical collage is the creation of 7-year-old fraternal twins Jayden and Carsen Forté, but they will not be keep the project for themselves. Instead, they plan on shipping it out this week to an 86-year-old widow in Wisconsin who was just diagnosed with diabetes.

It’s all part of a new ministry the girls who live with their family in Lake in the Hills started because, as Carsen Forte put it, “We believe we’re here for a purpose, and it involves serving others.”

Launched over the past month, the girls’ service idea, which they call the Encouragement & Care Ministry, already has a website, business cards and T-shirts, as well as a purpose.

“Children are not usually empowered to serve on their own or have their own thing to do for others,” said Shelly Forté, the girls’ mother. “Usually, it falls under their parents. But it’s been really great to watch them steward this ministry.”

Employing Creativity For Compassion

The girls, who are homeschooled using the curriculum for Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights, were first inspired to employ creativity for compassion when their grandfather was dying of cancer.

When they visited their grandpa, Grant Hessel, who passed away last month, Jayden and Carsen would tote along handmade posters.

“They just really brought him a lot of joy,” Shelly said. “That they can share that with strangers —though we’re all here on the same planet — and just seeing their having a heart for this, I’m just very pleased.”

Jayden and Carsen learned of the first two people they’re serving through word-of-mouth referrals, but the idea is that people will contact them through the Encouragement & Care Ministry website and then fill out survey about who they would like served and how often.

People can ask for encouragement for themselves or they can ask the girls to send their crafts and cards to a relative or friend in need.

Mother Helps Girls With Their Mission

Shelly has helped with the girls’ project by using her Web design skills and by purchasing some of the necessary materials -- though the girls have been using their allowance to buy craft items, too. 

She added that the whole family, which includes brothers Marshall, 17, and Joshua, 14, as well as dad Will, 41, support the girls. Shelly Forte would like to see the effort  one day become a nonprofit organization.

For now, the girls, who also lead worship in their kids’ class at the McHenry County campus of Willow Creek Community Church, say their project has brought the sisters even closer to each other. 

“We really hope the ministry will just be an encouragement to people and let them know that someone cares,” Jayden said. “We just want to spread a little joy and love.”