Twins Create Encouragement Ministry, Blending Compassion and Art

By expressing their gratitude and creativity in their encouragement ministry, Carsen and Jayden Forte are blossoming, says their mother, Shelly. The twins, 7 years old, are home schooled and enjoy a cable-tv-free residence in Lake in the Hills.

Instead of watching television, they’ve decided to invest some of their time reaching out to those who could use a bright message of words or drawings during an illness or other challenging experience.

“We drew pictures for our Grandpa when he was sick and he was so excited to see them,” Carsen said. “I think we are here to serve others so we combined that with our love for arts and crafts.”

Shelly Forte said the new ministry, which the family promoted at their church (Willow Creek) with contact cards communicating their ideas, is a natural extension of her daughters’ interest in the arts, and in bringing cheer to others’ lives.

“If given the time, kids will be creative, and they would often spend an hour at the table coloring and creating, and they really enjoy all art media,” she said. “The ministry is relatively new…so far what they’ve been able to send out so far is in cards. They’re just really exploring and starting out.”

Whether sending encouragement to a child or a senior citizen or someone in between, Carson and Jayden focus on what the person may be experiencing.

“We really encourage the girls to consider what that person might be feeling or going through,” Forte said.

Jayden recently created a pop-up flower and included it, with a note, to an 86-year-old widow.

“We have loving stuff, fun stuff and encouraging stuff in our messages,” Jayden said. “For a 12-year-old I wrote, ‘I hope you feel better,’ and I chose loving and encouraging words.”

The girls have reached people in Wisconsin and in Chicago with their efforts. Their father, Willie Forte, also distributes their contact cards at work, and the family hopes the ministry will grow through their website, at www.encouragement.vpweb.com/default.html.

“On our website, people who are interested can provide as much information as they want to provide, and then the girls can write/draw to their interests,” she said. “The people can choose how much they would like to be encouraged, and based on that, that’s how we dedicate time.”

Carsen said she drew an angel, flowers and butterflies in one of her encouragement cards, and that communicating positive wishes is what they enjoy.

“We like to be thankful,” she said. “We appreciate things.”

As the ministry grows, the girls would like to bring friends in to work on the projects too.

Increasing those they serve is an ideal return, according to Forte.

“This is not to make a profit,” she said. “They are blossoming.”