Rebecca Grace

AFA Journal staff writer

October 2007 – About three years ago, 10-year-old Ilyssa Claxton began dropping spare change into a jar under the kitchen counter. By the time she rolled it and cashed it in at the bank, the change totaled $286.

Oh, the things a child could buy with almost $300.

“My 8-year-old son buys plastic dinosaurs that are extinct in an hour, stupid thermometer souvenirs that always read 80 degrees, and golf balls at garage sales even though neither of us golfs,” wrote David Yochum in the Orlando Business Journal. “My neighbor’s son even bought a bike with a broken frame from another kid who used the money to buy a large container of Gak.”

But not Ilyssa, whose name (first three letters) stands for “I love you.” There is a purpose behind this Mississippi fifth-grader’s pennies.

Coins with a cause
She saves this money for American Family Radio (AFR), the 190-station network of AFA.

“We think it’s good for kids to have something decent to listen to that’s not all rap and violence,” said Ilyssa’s mother Rebecca Claxton.

“And [that’s not] all bumpity, jumpity stuff,” Ilyssa added.

Ilyssa and parents are faithful listeners of AFR, which has a special place in their hearts.

“We did it [saved money for AFR] once before, and I thought it would be good to do it again,” Ilyssa said. “My parents got me started on it, and I thought, ‘Oh, that is so great! I should do that, too.’”

Money matters expert and best-selling author Dave Ramsey would be proud to hear of the example the Claxtons have set for their daughter.

“Our job as parents is to accentuate the strengths of our children, and to stretch them in their weaknesses,” Ramsey wrote in a 2004 column for WorldNetDaily.

Ilyssa’s father leaves his pocket change around the house for her to collect.

“He’s a truck driver,” Rebecca said, “and when he comes in … her daddy empties his pockets out, and she’ll find it [the change] here and there. … The thing is [for her] to clean it up and put it in the jar.”

Ilyssa is sure to do it. In fact, she not only contributes her daddy’s change to the jar, she also puts in a percentage of the money she receives for her birthday or any other occasion.

When it’s time, Ilyssa personally delivers the money to Don Wildmon, founder and chairman of AFA, at the ministry’s headquarters in Tupelo, Mississippi. According to Rebecca, Ilyssa wants the money to be used for “whatever Bro. Don thinks best.”

“What a special gift, especially coming from the hands and heart of a child,” Wildmon said about Ilyssa’s donation. “Her name says it all – I love you.

“If America had a million more girls just like her, our country would be in much better shape,” he added. “I can’t thank her enough.”

“She’s a good kid,” her mom added. “Everything she does, she tries to consider God first,” which is evident in Ilyssa’s actions.

A mission worth much
In addition to giving to AFR, Ilyssa, who became a Christian when she was four years old, is also considering giving her hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to under-privileged children who suffer from long-term medically-related hair loss (www.locksoflove.org).

Ilyssa has been letting her hair grow since she was in kindergarten, and she has only cut it once in her life. When it’s not braided, it reaches the back of her knees.

She is still not sure if she’ll cut off her long blonde locks for charity, but she is thinking seriously about it. Her mother, who also has long hair, has offered to donate hers alongside Ilyssa’s.

Ilyssa and her mom and dad also work together to support a Filipino child they sponsor through Compassion International, a Christian child advocacy ministry (www.compassion.com).

The child’s name is Camille, and she became an extended member of the Claxton family fours years ago when Ilyssa’s dad heard about her on the radio.

“She has the same birthday as my husband, but she was born the same year as Ilyssa,” Rebecca explained.

Ilyssa and Camille exchange letters about every six months.

“[But] what I really want to do is go over there and meet her,” Ilyssa said.

Ilyssa might just get the chance one day, especially since she wants to be a missionary dentist when she grows up.

“When I was really young, before I even knew what a dentist was, I just felt this tugging in my heart saying, ‘Be a missionary to different places,’” Ilyssa explained.

The first of many places for her to minister was AFR.

“And for that, we are so very thankful,” Wildmon said. “And to think that it all began with just a jar full of pocket change.”