The ABC's of Compassion - Explorer

When we first became Compassion sponsors, we wanted to learn as much as we could about the country where our sponsored child lived.

If you have your own young children at home, Compassion has made it really easy for you and your family to learn about the country where your Compassion child lives.

In my ABC’s of Compassion series, E is for Explorer!

Compassion has an online magazine available for families with children ages 6-10 (there is a print version available for subscription for USA sponsors and donors).

The online magazine is divided into quite a few sections: activities, stories, devotions, recipes, explorers, and world map.

My favorite part of the web site has to be the world map section!

From here you can find a printable about each country where Compassion is partnering with local churches to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

The printable provides some fun facts and key descriptions about the country where you sponsored child lives. If your family keeps all of your sponsored child’s letter in a binder, this printable would be a great addition to that binder!

Make sure you take the time to explore all there is to discover on the Compassion Explorer web site! Things you learn on this web site might encourage some new letter writing topics between you and your sponsored child.

Have you and your family explored the Compassion Explorer web site yet? If so, what is your favorite part?

Compassion and The Great Commission

There are a lot of non-profit organizations doing a lot of good things in our world. 

Our world needs people doing good things.

But just doing good things is not enough.

The reason I continue to support Compassion International is because of their commitment to partner with local churches in the 25 countries where they are working to release children from poverty in Jesus' name.

A couple of years ago, I read a book called Mission Drift by Chris Horst and Peter Greer. There are many non-profit organizations that started as Christian organizations. But over the years, many have drifted from their initial mission to become more 'politically correct'.

This is unfortunate.

Any organization can go somewhere and give people clothing, food, clean water, etc.

But without the hope of Jesus, people have no eternal hope.

If a Compassion child leaves the program, the local church is still there.

If Compassion has to pull its resources from a particular project, the local church is still there.

If Compassion has to pull its resources from a country, the local churches are still there.

The local church is a pivotal part of a sponsored child's participation in Compassion's program.

We have had children leave the program.

We have had children at centers that have had to close.

We have had children in India where Compassion had to stop working.

In each of these cases, I have found comfort knowing that the local church is still there, sharing the Gospel with each and every child, family member, and community member.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." - Matthew 28:19-20

Will you share the hope of Jesus by sponsoring a child today?

Short and Sweet

When was the last time you received a note in the mail? In and amongst the junk mail and bills, our mail boxes rarely are filled with notes and letters from friends and relatives. We live in a world where encouragement and praise can be received on a daily basis by those who we live life with.

But imagine you live in a world where you have no mail box.

Imagine you live in a world where there are no house numbers and street names.

Imagine you live in a world where no one gives you encouragement and praise.

Many of our Compassion sponsored children live in areas where it is very rare for them to receive mail of any kind.

But you can change all that!

Just yesterday, reading the Compassion blog, I was reminded how simple it is for me to set aside time to write a short and sweet note to the children we sponsor.

Here is what I wrote to Lina yesterday:

Hello Lina, 

I hope you are doing well! I was thinking about you today, so I decided to write to you to remind you how special you are to God. He loves you and is always watching over you.

Here is a question for you: If you could invent one thing to make life easier, what would it be?

I encourage you to spend time reading your Bible every day, learning more about God and His plan for you. Matthew 5:16 would be a good verse to read.

Love and hugs to you!

Short and sweet, and it didn't take much time for me to write this to her either.

Since I know the kids love receiving photos, I included this with the letter:

Click on the link here to download and add this image to your next letter

So what are you waiting for? Will you write a short and sweet letter to your Compassion children right now?

Book List for Compassion Sponsors

Over the past five and a half years, books on my reading list have changed quite a bit. I have always loved to read, but the topic of global poverty and the injustices of this world have made their way into my list of books that I now read on a regular basis. It all started when I became more involved as a Compassion International volunteer.

The first book I read in this area was "Too Small to Ignore" by Wess Stafford. At the time I read this book, Wess Stafford was still the CEO and President of Compassion International. The book shares a lot of his childhood growing up in Africa as a child of missionary parents. Wess is a champion to millions of children around the world, and this book shares his heart for children. He encourages adults to invest in children, be available for them, and love them.

Since reading that book, I have read many others that encourage me to continue being an advocate for Compassion children.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch
• The 4/14 Window by Luis Bush
• When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
• Mission Drift by Peter Greer and Chris Horst
• Small Matters by Greg Nettle and Jimmy Mellado
• One Million Arrows by Julie Ferwerda
• Just a Minute by Wess Stafford
• The Locust Effect by Gary Haugen

What books have you read on this topic that you would add to this list?

The Impact of Our Words

I have mentioned before, that when we first became sponsors with Compassion, we really didn't understand the importance of letter writing to our sponsored child.

It wasn't until our first child's family moved away, and we chose another child, that we made more of an effort at writing letters on a regular basis.

We followed the suggestions, shared some of our favorite things, talked about the seasons, added a Bible verse, attached a photo or two, and sent some encouraging words.

But it wasn't until I met Lina on my Compassion sponsor trip to Colombia that I learned about the impact of our words.

When I learned that my letters to Lina made a positive impact, how could I not want to continue to do this?

Sponsoring a Compassion child and writing letters seems like such a small sacrifice.

But the impact is much bigger than I may ever know.

So many Compassion kids are learning about Jesus, because lots of people have decided to spend $38 a month on a child living in extreme poverty.

So many Compassion kids are staying out of gangs, because lots of people are sending letters with Bible verses to these kids.

So many Compassion kids are making a difference in their communities, because the impact of our words are making a difference to these kids.