Showing posts with label Compassion International. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Compassion International. Show all posts
#GivingTuesday
Tomato. Tomate.
Thought I would throw out a quick post since I have not posted in forever. I was in Solola last summer and these greenhouses make a real difference in this community, but you don't have to take my work for it.
If you are interested in supporting Compassion, there is a link in the top right of this blog. Click Away!
If you are interested in supporting Compassion, there is a link in the top right of this blog. Click Away!
Post Giving Tuesday Post
Happy Post #GivingTuesday - It has been said that giving is better than receiving. It has been my experience this statement is true. I want to let my readers know this season is about giving. #itsaboutgiving I have never felt bad in giving something to someone else in need. There has been a new "faux" holiday added to the calendar, after black Friday, after Cyber Monday, there is a new day, Giving Tuesday. In the event that some of you missed out on the excitement yesterday, I will catch you up.
Yesterday charities, families, businesses and individuals came together to transform the way people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. Most of the charities participating allow donations for any amount and each of the over 2000 charities or organizations is responsible for their own initiative, so go to the website and check them out, I doubt it is ever too late to give.
Don't have the time to look through the list? Not a problem! I have done the research for you by using third party organizations that ensure your money is going where it is supposed to go. Of the many legitimate and trustworthy participants, below are just my recommendations from the Giving Tuesday participants:
Happy Post Giving Tuesday!!
Yesterday charities, families, businesses and individuals came together to transform the way people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. Most of the charities participating allow donations for any amount and each of the over 2000 charities or organizations is responsible for their own initiative, so go to the website and check them out, I doubt it is ever too late to give.
Don't have the time to look through the list? Not a problem! I have done the research for you by using third party organizations that ensure your money is going where it is supposed to go. Of the many legitimate and trustworthy participants, below are just my recommendations from the Giving Tuesday participants:
- Convoy of Hope - Provides help and hope to people in need in the United States and around world through our children’s feeding initiatives, community outreaches, disaster response and partner resourcing.
- Opportunity International - Provides financial products and strategies to over four million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in more than 20 countries can use these services to expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbors and build a safety net for the future.
- Grassroot Soccer - Uses the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize communities to stop the spread of HIV.
- Gift of Compassion - Your gift will help provide clean drinking water, medical treatment, disaster relief, food supplies and much more for Compassion-assisted children and their families. Meet real needs and bring real joy with a Gift of Compassion, then get family and friends involved by giving gifts in their honor.
- Scarves - Your purchase of a fashionABLE scarf creates sustainable business for women in Africa. Our commitment as a non-profit is to the development of people — fashionABLE works with women who have been exploited due to the effects of poverty. So, when you purchase a scarf you are providing jobs, and then we send the profits back to holistically rehabilitate more women.
- Soccer Balls - The One World Futbol is now available online at a price comparable to that of standard soccer balls. And for every ball you buy, another ball will be donated to a non-governmental organization working with deserving children, communities, recreation programs, or soccer teams.
Happy Post Giving Tuesday!!
She Is Totally Famous
Wow, I remember a time when I used to blog. It most definitely has not been recent. I pray you are all doing well today. I have not stopped blogging because I have nothing more to say but because I haven't had the time to type it out. I need to invent a thought dictation machine then is waterproof so I can use in in the shower each morning. Of course then I would have to edit out the random thoughts like, "man I need to trim my nose hairs." But seriously, I do have something to blog about today that I should have said a few months back.
My awesome wife has been published! This may be old news to some but I happen to still think it is awesome and we just did a message on Providential Relationships at church and that is what this book is all about. What Book? Wess Stafford has published a book called Just a Minute. If you look at the photos on the top of this blog (sorry if your viewing in a reader or email) you will see the pictures of people in my life that had an impact on me. Most had more than a minute but some of the wisdom and humor that was imparted took just a minute to for me to digest. That moment when you all of a sudden "get it." I have heard it referred to as the "Ah Ha moment." So in Wess' book, my wife was chosen to be published and share her story about a person who had an impact in her life. I hope you will get a copy and read it. Oh yeah, the other stories are great as well.
Check out the book and video below and I hope you will take a minute to share your wisdom with a child in your life. Even if you only get a minute.
My awesome wife has been published! This may be old news to some but I happen to still think it is awesome and we just did a message on Providential Relationships at church and that is what this book is all about. What Book? Wess Stafford has published a book called Just a Minute. If you look at the photos on the top of this blog (sorry if your viewing in a reader or email) you will see the pictures of people in my life that had an impact on me. Most had more than a minute but some of the wisdom and humor that was imparted took just a minute to for me to digest. That moment when you all of a sudden "get it." I have heard it referred to as the "Ah Ha moment." So in Wess' book, my wife was chosen to be published and share her story about a person who had an impact in her life. I hope you will get a copy and read it. Oh yeah, the other stories are great as well.
Check out the book and video below and I hope you will take a minute to share your wisdom with a child in your life. Even if you only get a minute.
Holiday Gift Guide
What do you get the person who seemingly has everything!? I used to struggle with this question every Christmas. The easy answer for me was just don't get them anything. But after wise council, it turns out that option is not a viable one. So here are two more thoughts on this: 1) Buy them something that helps someone else. This way, even if they have it, you have helped someone else who doesn't. 2) Buy someone else something they don't have in their name. This way you have at least given them the feeling that they care and are part of something bigger. Now I know you are thinking, "I love it! How do you do this sort of thing?" I have prepared this easy guide for you to help you out.
Option 2 (My Favorite Option)
Option 2 (My Favorite Option)
- Gift of Compassion - Your gift will help provide clean drinking water, medical treatment, disaster relief, food supplies and much more for Compassion-assisted children and their families. Meet real needs and bring real joy with a Gift of Compassion, then get family and friends involved by giving gifts in their honor.
- World Vision Gift Catalog - Choose a gift to donate in honor of someone special. You can choose to have a card mailed to you, send an e-card, or download a beautiful card to print. Your gift will bring urgent help and lasting hope for a child in need.
- "Hope Gift Book" - 100% of the profit for items found in this catalog go toward funding for helping children at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
- Neem Products - JustNeem envisions a flourishing African continent. We believe that all human beings have the right to support themselves and their families through work. Therefore, we are partnering with like-minded NGOs (non-governmental organizations) that work with villagers in Mauritania, West Africa, to discover local resources and to establish economic opportunities for the local people.
- Hammocks - Yellow Leaf aims to engineer a turnaround in which marginalized ethnic groups such as the Mlabri apply their artisan talents towards creating a micro-economy that will elevate them from their former state and maintain their cultural identity, with the added benefit of eradicating toxic farming methods within the communities they partner with.
- Scarves - Your purchase of a fashionABLE scarf creates sustainable business for women in Africa. Our commitment as a non-profit is to the development of people — fashionABLE works with women who have been exploited due to the effects of poverty. So, when you purchase a scarf you are providing jobs, and then we send the profits back to holistically rehabilitate more women.
- Soccer Balls - The One World Futbol is now available online at a price comparable to that of standard soccer balls. And for every ball you buy, another ball will be donated to a non-governmental organization working with deserving children, communities, recreation programs, or soccer teams.
- Artisan Crafts - Chaka MarketBridge is a fair trade market for high-quality and unique gifts, home décor, and coffee that are handmade by undiscovered producers in the developing world.
- T-Shirts - Tees at Risk distributes a portion of every t-shirt sale to a charity (often chosen by the young designer of that t-shirt), and every t-shirt design is accompanied by a description by its designer of the brief background and motivation of his or her design. Every shirt has a QR code, so anyone with a data-connected, QR-enabled device can easily find out the "story" behind your cool shirt.
Compassion in the Phillipines
You may have wondered why there has not been new posts to this blog for a while. I can't begin to finish processing my trip to Guatemala to see how Compassion works. I posted details about my trip on my personal blog but still have not attempted to even summarize the experience. Here is a video made by Missions In Action I hope you will enjoy. You can check out more of their videos using the link below.
MissionsInAction.tv
MissionsInAction.tv
Re-Post: We Have Six Things to Say to Water.org
Water.org’s 432,000 Twitter followers represent a whole new audience for us. An audience that may not know what we do, why we do it or who we do it for.
We’ve asked you to vote and to encourage others to vote. And it will provide at least one million gallons of clean drinking water, enough clean, safe drinking water for 68 people to drink 64 ounces a day for 80 years.
And we need you to keep doing that so we can tell nearly half a million people that:
- Our Water of Life system is a simple, cost effective and proven solution for providing clean water to families in need.
- The system effectively eliminates parasites and bacterial contaminants that cause cholera, typhoid, E. coli, amoebic dysentery and many other devastating diseases.
- And it will provide at least one million gallons of clean drinking water, enough clean, safe drinking water for 68 people to drink 64 ounces a day for 80 years.
- What makes us distinct from other organizations is we’re about Jesus and always will be. We are Christ centered. We “release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.”
- Unlike other organizations which fight poverty in the developing world, we’re child focused. We develop children, who in turn develop their communities. We give children in poverty opportunities to succeed. Each child we serve is ministered to personally, spiritually, economically, socially and physically.
- We do all of our work through the local church. The Church is the great hope for the world and is God’s instrument to advance His kingdom. We mobilize and connect the global Body of Christ to fulfill her mandate to care for the poor.
- We are 100 percent donor supported. We do not take any funds from any government.
- We are more than a child sponsorship organization. We are a child development organization. And we’re not just working for the children in our programs, we’re working for all children in poverty.
- Our programs are personal, individualized and relational. They’re tailored to age, gender, health, culture and family situation.
- Our commitment is long term because children have long term needs.
- And our commitment is to eradicate extreme poverty from the face of the earth by 2035.
That’s what we’re fighting for. Thanks for your help in this.
Our Water of Life system is a simple, cost effective and proven solution for providing clean water to families in need.
We Have Six Things to Say to Water.org
¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!
I remember when I was younger and my parents did not make a lot of money even for that time. I often had to borrow money from family or others to do things like field trips or even play sports. I never had the sports equipment the other kids had, mine was always a off brand or never fit properly. I realize, today, those things really did not matter. You had to have the right equipment for the right job but a truly skilled person could make the wrong equipment work. So a couple days ago I read a blog post about a girl that has the opportunity to compete in the 2011 Special Olympics. She earned this honor in 2009 by winning gold and silver medals in her country. The problem is she lives in the Philippines and the government cannot financially support athletes competing in the Special Olympics and so help must come from elsewhere. This is where I hope you come in and help out. Emilda lost her chance to compete in one international competition because her family did not have the money and nobody backed her up.
The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games are being held in Athens, Greece. For the geographically challenged that is about 5,986 miles. Although the student center and the church can shoulder Emilda’s local and national competition expenses (also a lot considering their income), it’s beyond their ability to help her compete internationally.
You should know by now that I enjoy providing you with opportunities to be part of something bigger. So today I want to simply let you know that Emilda's parents are unable to pay her way to Greece and neither is the Philippine government. Her need is $19,857.You can help her out by clicking this link and giving a one time donation.
Buy a Soccer Ball for Me!?
As you decide what to give this holiday season, please consider giving just one gift to someone you don't know but someone who will appreciate it most of all. Compassion has a catalog of gifts you can give to those who need it most and those whom you could be a real blessing this holiday season. So I ask you all to please buy at least a soccer ball for me and if you do let me know by commenting below. I guarentee your heart will have more joy this Christmas by buying one of these items than buying yet another game system or another video game that will sit on the shelf and gather dust after a couple months of use. Here are some more details about the catalog:
WHAT IS THE GIFTS OF COMPASSION CATALOG?
An on-line catalog of gift alternatives for friends, family and clients. No crowds, no lines, no stress - just a gift that will help make a difference in the life of a child living in one of the poorest communities of the world. These gifts help provide clean drinking water, medical treatment, disaster relief, food supplies and much, much more for Compassion-assisted children and their families. Meet real needs and bring real joy with a Gift of Compassion.
Tell Us Your Story
Wes Stafford of Compassion International has asked for people to tell them a story about a moment when an adult's words or actions shaped your life for the better. I thought instantly about all the people on the header image of this blog. The reason I put them there is because through either their writings, their words, or actions, my spiritual landscape and to some extent how I relate to God have been formed.
During the early 90's I had the opportunity to be part of a small group in the first church of which I was a member. I remember those evenings so well, as four high school boys sat on the floor of a dark room. Dimly lit by an oil burning lamp so that all you could see were the faces of one another and the background drifted off in the darkness. We would start with personal prayer, then at some point we would have to break out in praise choruses to God. Then as the Holy Spirit moved among us we would share how things were going in our lives, often with tears. When all would settle and everyone in the room felt the peace that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give, I clearly remember the words of a young Asbury Seminary graduate impart wisdom to all of our situations. Sometimes it was direct and sometimes just a hint of how we were to handle things through a story of someone else. No story ever came out of his mouth, that I remember, that was not purposeful or to make a point to us. Thank you Michael Mudge for that.
Although there were a lot of serious things said over our time in that group, I remember some funny ones as well that I often find myself repeating even today. I was inquiring over what I should do about a certain situation and the words that came back were, "It is always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." This statement in many situations could be taken the wrong way but in the situation I was in, it was dead on. Over the years, especially working in project/program management, I have come to realize it is true more often than not, so long as you are not compromising your faith or integrity. It is how good ideas get turned into useful tools and reality.
Well, that is my story. Wes and I want to hear from you as well. There is a group of people that will be reading this post and will be looking at the comments to find out what you have to say so please take a few moments to share by adding a comment below. Thanks in advance for your stories.
During the early 90's I had the opportunity to be part of a small group in the first church of which I was a member. I remember those evenings so well, as four high school boys sat on the floor of a dark room. Dimly lit by an oil burning lamp so that all you could see were the faces of one another and the background drifted off in the darkness. We would start with personal prayer, then at some point we would have to break out in praise choruses to God. Then as the Holy Spirit moved among us we would share how things were going in our lives, often with tears. When all would settle and everyone in the room felt the peace that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give, I clearly remember the words of a young Asbury Seminary graduate impart wisdom to all of our situations. Sometimes it was direct and sometimes just a hint of how we were to handle things through a story of someone else. No story ever came out of his mouth, that I remember, that was not purposeful or to make a point to us. Thank you Michael Mudge for that.
Although there were a lot of serious things said over our time in that group, I remember some funny ones as well that I often find myself repeating even today. I was inquiring over what I should do about a certain situation and the words that came back were, "It is always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." This statement in many situations could be taken the wrong way but in the situation I was in, it was dead on. Over the years, especially working in project/program management, I have come to realize it is true more often than not, so long as you are not compromising your faith or integrity. It is how good ideas get turned into useful tools and reality.
Well, that is my story. Wes and I want to hear from you as well. There is a group of people that will be reading this post and will be looking at the comments to find out what you have to say so please take a few moments to share by adding a comment below. Thanks in advance for your stories.
She Left Me
Yes, it is true. My wife left me and for good reason to. She went to Peru with Compassion International on an advocates tour. Have I mentioned Compassion before on my blog? You know the child development organization I correspond with my child Jeremias through. Well she has went to visit her child in Peru and we couldn't be happier for the opportunity. Here is the update she has sent from her first day:
Perhaps one day I will visit Jeremias as well. Happy Monday.
We visited our first child development sponsorship center today for church services. They greeted us so lovingly - singing, confetti, balloons, whistles, etc. - and the kids! Oh, I can´t tell you how many kisses on my cheeks I received today or how many genuine hugs. I got so emotional at how unworthy we were to receive such a grand reception. We sat through their youth service, which is completely lead by the high schoolers for the children, before they have Sunday school. They had singing, a sermon, human videos, dancing. The teenagers really touched my heart, because I see their lives in the lives of the teens we work with. Even though it is a different culture, we are all so the same. The little boys were joking with one another, the little girls were using their noisemakers and had to be quieted during the sermon.
My first young friend I made was Marco who was 8. I wish my Spanish was better. I get frustrated not being to communicate without a translator. The kids come up to me and just start talking a mile a minute! I must have said "No Entiendo" (I don´t understand) 25 times! But a smile and a hug goes a long way with my broken (very broken) Spanish. We left and were told that we had to stop waving because the kids would just keep running after the bus and it would not be safe. It has been an emotional day. I feel like I have to fight back tears even thinking of it now. It is a good thing that the Peruvians are very comfortable with hugs and other displays of affection, because that was the only way we could communicate and we all wanted to tell them just how much they all meant to us.
We also got to meet all the staff. They are all such dedicated workers and they were so loving as well. One of the advocates ended up sponsoring a boy there today, even though she has another child at another project she will meet later in the week. He was able to sit on her lap the rest of the morning and the sweetness of the moment with them matched permeated the group.
We then went and toured the city and the Catacombs and the St. Francis monastery and Basilica, ending at the "Garden of Love" on the Pacific Ocean and then a market place. We only had a half hour and I was freezing and between bartering and figuring out the exchange rate, etc., all I ended up getting was an Alpaca sweater. We are supposed to be able to go back to the market on another day... And we have eaten - way too much. Peruvians show love through food and we have felt much love. It is still tricky knowing what is okay and what is not. So far, none of us have gotten sick. There are so many other things I want to talk about, but we will soon meet to put gift packages together for the programs we will visit in the next few days. Please keep us in your prayers.
Perhaps one day I will visit Jeremias as well. Happy Monday.
Despicable Me
Another reason I loved this movie was because of the relationship factor. POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT! So you have this group of people that nobody wants and everyone overlooks. But because of their connections they can get you something you need. In an attempt to use them for your own good, they take an interest in your cause and you find allies in those you have written off. WOW! If I am honest, this is how I approached my first Compassion sponsored child.
You see, My wife and I chose to sponsor her but I was only doing it because I was being a "good steward" and helping the poor as I was commanded in the Bible to do because I wanted to, not that I had to. As the letters came in, and my wife and I went through many life transitions of our own, the child we were supposed to be supporting was continually praying for us, based on the letters, and quite often for specific things. Most of these prayers were answered and as she grew, we grew, and no matter how the situation ended up. That relationship was special and she was taking up our cause or at least taking an interest in it and in a sense we were the ones actually being supported. I think in most cases when sponsoring a child, this will tend to be true, you will gain more that you could ever give if you are open and honest about it.
Compassion has more than 1 million children in 26 countries that are in the situation where nobody is taking up their cause and they have little hope and not enough to sustain them to live even into adulthood. You can offer them hope and the opportunity to have enough as despicable as you are, as we are. Find out more by clicking the link to the right or the one below.
Sponsor A Child Today
I Am Not Asking
Blogging is tough to keep up with at times as any blogger will tell you. The other day and person from work stopped by and said, "Hey, I saw your blog. That is cool that you are asking for money for that kid." I just said thanks but my mind was going crazy because I never looked at it as asking for money. Looking back through my posts, money seems to be requested quit often but let me assure you, "I am not asking!"
I write and post about the things that are dear to my heart and one of those things happens to be helping the majority of the world's population that live in poverty every day and specifically helping develop the children in those areas to be future leaders that can lead their countries out of poverty in the future.
So if you are reading this, trust me, I have not made a single penny on this blog and don't intend to. If I do receive a check for a referrer or affiliate account it will promptly be placed in the hands of one of the causes listed on this site. Further, I am not asking for money, I am providing you with an opportunity to help me fight poverty or whatever may be the need at the time. It is up to you to decide to give or not.
Now that the debate is settled, I want to give you an update and tell you THANK YOU! for taking advantage of the recent opportunity I provided. I wrote about a little boy named Achile that needed surgery. Generously. More money was raised than needed. I don’t have an official total number but it’s at least $26,000 that was raised/given and only $20,449 was requested for the surgery. The excess will go into Compassion’s medical assistance fund to heal other children in need. Thank you for giving!
Achile made the long trip from Brukina Faso in Western Africa to specialists in India and the surgery went off without a hitch. He’s doing great!
I write and post about the things that are dear to my heart and one of those things happens to be helping the majority of the world's population that live in poverty every day and specifically helping develop the children in those areas to be future leaders that can lead their countries out of poverty in the future. So if you are reading this, trust me, I have not made a single penny on this blog and don't intend to. If I do receive a check for a referrer or affiliate account it will promptly be placed in the hands of one of the causes listed on this site. Further, I am not asking for money, I am providing you with an opportunity to help me fight poverty or whatever may be the need at the time. It is up to you to decide to give or not.
Now that the debate is settled, I want to give you an update and tell you THANK YOU! for taking advantage of the recent opportunity I provided. I wrote about a little boy named Achile that needed surgery. Generously. More money was raised than needed. I don’t have an official total number but it’s at least $26,000 that was raised/given and only $20,449 was requested for the surgery. The excess will go into Compassion’s medical assistance fund to heal other children in need. Thank you for giving!
Achile made the long trip from Brukina Faso in Western Africa to specialists in India and the surgery went off without a hitch. He’s doing great!
How Is My Money Used Each Month?
[Re-Post] How Is My Money Used Each Month?
Original By: Chris Giovagnoni
Thirty-eight dollars a month. That’s how much it costs to sponsor a child through Compassion, which is more than the price of sponsorship at other organizations. The difference sometimes leads to questions like these.
I’m not an expert on how other sponsorship programs are run, but what I do know is that some organizations don’t have Christ at the center of what they do. And some allow children to have multiple sponsors.
So two things that Compassion delivers is the Gospel and a one-to-one relationship with your child.
Some child sponsorship programs just focus on one or two areas of a child’s development, rather than being all-encompassing, and others organizations administer their programs on behalf of the community a child lives in, rather than focusing directly on a specific child.
Compassion delivers holistic child development that is child focused. These two posts help show what that means.
And finally, some programs are more localized and less global than our program is. We’re a global holistic child development ministry and we use a one-on-one sponsorship model that encourages you and your child to share your faith with each other. We’re Christ centered, child focused, church based and committed to integrity.
Some programs may have similarities to ours, but none are exactly the same. That’s what we deliver.
As for how we spend your money, no more than 20 percent pays for administration and fundraising. That’s our commitment to you. And for the past several years, we’ve been significantly below that 20 percent, usually two to four percentage points below.
In fiscal year 2009, approximately $31 of your $38 monthly payment paid for development center grants, program services and child advocacy (i.e., educating the Body of Christ about the biblical mandate to care for children and the poor), while a nickel shy of $7 was used for administration ($3.23) and fundraising ($3.72).
Because of how we manage your money we have received eight consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator. Only 1 percent of charities rated by Charity Navigator have been recognized in this way.
So, what does the $31 buy your sponsored child?
The money categorized as development center grants is delivered directly to our church partners to cover the costs of implementing our sponsorship program. The basic elements of these activities include:
More personally, this is where the money comes from for letter translation, postage, taking photos of your child, and updating you on your child’s well-being.
You can consider program services as the funding source for maintaining our program’s integrity and all the things that connect you and your child.
That about sums it up. I hope this explanation is useful to you. If you want additional information about our financial stewardship you can visit compassion.com and charitynavigator.com, as well as call us at (800) 336-7676.
Original By: Chris Giovagnoni
Thirty-eight dollars a month. That’s how much it costs to sponsor a child through Compassion, which is more than the price of sponsorship at other organizations. The difference sometimes leads to questions like these.“When I first starting sponsoring it [the sponsorship rate] was $22 a month; that was 1989, or 1990 I forget, I’m getting old. During college I stopped sponsoring for a few years and then it was I think $26 or $28 a month . . . Other organizations have stayed about $22-24 a month . . . what extra services does Compassion offer for the extra money . . . what does Compassion provide that other organizations do not supply at $22-24 month?” — Dwight“
“I am getting a bit concerned with the cost to sponsor a child. Where is the money going that isn’t going to the children? I would hate to think it is for a glossier overedited over advertising or staff bloat to make sponsors feel better.” — Nancy WhiteAlthough these two questions may seem to be asking the same thing, they’re actually not. Dwight is asking, “What does my child get each month for $38?” (i.e., how are our programs run and what do we deliver?). Nancy is asking, “Where is the money going that isn’t going to the children?” (i.e., how do we spend your money?). They’re both important questions.
I’m not an expert on how other sponsorship programs are run, but what I do know is that some organizations don’t have Christ at the center of what they do. And some allow children to have multiple sponsors.
So two things that Compassion delivers is the Gospel and a one-to-one relationship with your child.
Some child sponsorship programs just focus on one or two areas of a child’s development, rather than being all-encompassing, and others organizations administer their programs on behalf of the community a child lives in, rather than focusing directly on a specific child.
Compassion delivers holistic child development that is child focused. These two posts help show what that means.
- What does holistic child development look like?
- What does my sponsored child learn at the child development center?
And finally, some programs are more localized and less global than our program is. We’re a global holistic child development ministry and we use a one-on-one sponsorship model that encourages you and your child to share your faith with each other. We’re Christ centered, child focused, church based and committed to integrity.
Some programs may have similarities to ours, but none are exactly the same. That’s what we deliver.
As for how we spend your money, no more than 20 percent pays for administration and fundraising. That’s our commitment to you. And for the past several years, we’ve been significantly below that 20 percent, usually two to four percentage points below.
In fiscal year 2009, approximately $31 of your $38 monthly payment paid for development center grants, program services and child advocacy (i.e., educating the Body of Christ about the biblical mandate to care for children and the poor), while a nickel shy of $7 was used for administration ($3.23) and fundraising ($3.72).
Because of how we manage your money we have received eight consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator. Only 1 percent of charities rated by Charity Navigator have been recognized in this way.
So, what does the $31 buy your sponsored child?
The money categorized as development center grants is delivered directly to our church partners to cover the costs of implementing our sponsorship program. The basic elements of these activities include:
- regular Christian training
- learning opportunities (e.g., funding school attendance and/or regular participation in extracurricular educational activities)
- health treatment and training (e.g., regular physical exams, dental care, vaccinations, referral for advance medical care, instruction in physical and dental hygiene, exercise, nutrition and preventive health care)
- socio-emotional development (e.g., learning basic social skills, teamwork, art, drama, dance, etc.)
- materials and supplies including hygiene supplies (e.g., soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste), center supplies (e.g., paper, writing utensils, games, toys), fees or costs associated with field trips, camps, drama, art and dance activities, and snacks, food and supplemental nutrition each child may need
- individualized care and attention (e.g., school progress reports, center attendance records, health records, home visits by social workers and adult supervision while at the development center)
More personally, this is where the money comes from for letter translation, postage, taking photos of your child, and updating you on your child’s well-being.
You can consider program services as the funding source for maintaining our program’s integrity and all the things that connect you and your child.
That about sums it up. I hope this explanation is useful to you. If you want additional information about our financial stewardship you can visit compassion.com and charitynavigator.com, as well as call us at (800) 336-7676.
Heart Matters
It was dinner time and I had just got home from a long day at the office. I was out all last week and away from home and today all the duties and stress were piled upon me. After a long drive home in my un-air-conditioned car, I was a little grumpy for some reason. So I came into the house only to hear my daughter had picked up the habit of saying, "Oh My Gd!" when she was not actually praying to God. Now I know that this is not considered using the Lord's name in vain but to me it represents a dis-respect in the heart. So I sternly corrected her and walked out of the room. Yeah, sometimes my daddy skills need some work. About one second later, she starts crying even though I didn't touch her. I didn't need to because I hurt her where only her dad can, somewhere deep in her little heart. It then took about five minutes of telling her I love her and holding her and explaining in a calm voice why I was so upset, of course I don't know that she is even old enough to understand it. Ugh. How delicate the heart is emotionally.Later, after dinner, the kids usually get snacks. My boy breaks out the Cheetos (oh yeah) and my daughter the fruit snacks. They decided to share each of them so they could each have some of the other item. I watched the transaction go down. About ten Cheetos is worth 4 Gummies. Then, after having just one Cheeto, my daughter says, "Here you can have all the fruit snacks left. She had only eaten three out of the bag. She really loves her brother sometimes and there are times that he does the same for her. This brings me joy and reminds me of how big the heart can be lovingly.
All this to say my kids are blessed with good hearts (most of the time). But this is not the case for a little 8-year old boy named Achile. You see, while his heart is emotionally and lovingly well, he has a congenital heart defect called tetralogy of Fallot. Because of Achile's heart condition, he has been in pain for five years and hasn't been able to attend school regularly and receive the full of benefit of sponsorships through Compassion International. Compassion International has provided medical care for Achile for the last two years at the National Teaching Hospital Yalgado Ouedraogo in Burkina Faso in western Africa. However, doctors there now believe his condition requires urgent heart surgery, which is not available in Burkina Faso.
Achile will be transported to a specialized hospital in India for a lifesaving operation that will cost an estimated $20,449. If you are using a blog reader you can use this link to contribute toward helping Achile have a full heart and show him how big a heart you have in the process. If you are on my site, there is a link to your right with a picture of Achile.
Any funds raised in excess of the cost of Achile's surgery and transport will be rolled into Compassion's Medical Assistance Fund to aid children in need of medical help in the future.
And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' -- Matthew 25:45
A Great Meeting
About a week later and after mom was released from the hospital with failing health, their landlord gathered all seven of them up and told them they had to leave because he knew they would no longer be able to pay their next rent. They now would be sharing a 10x10 room that was extremely hot in the day and extremely cold at night. Each of them laying there hoping they would not attract malaria like their deceased friends from a mosquito bite. Now they would scavenge the trash dump for morsels of food and in desperate times risk stealing it.
Week after week of being able to provide minimal food and clothing for his sister and family, his hope was entirely taken. There seemed there would not be an end to such a circumstance. At the lowest point when he thought, "I don't think I can do this another day" and the violence and bitterness of his father's death still brewing inside. There was just nothing else he could physically or mentally do as a young boy that had already out-lived many of his friends. A 15 year old girl saw his picture on a table, picked it up and filled out a form to be his sponsor. He quickly went home to tell his family and in his words, "There was dancing of joy in the home."
She sent him a message and said things like, "I love you" and "I care for you." At first this was hard to believe but the more she wrote to him and said it over and over, his heart began to change. He would now be provided with schooling, clothing, and food. He told me, "My life was changed from that moment on."
At the project, they taught about Jesus and have an alter call every time. An one day he wanted to experience this relationship that had been talked about. He went forward and asked Christ to be the Lord of his life and he told me, "My life would never be the same." He forgave the person who had murdered his father and poured all he had into his studies. He excelled so much in character and academics that he was chosen to be part of a program that would pay for graduates to go to University.
At university he would do so well in accounting, after graduation, they asked if he would come back and teach other students. He would then become the pastor of his community. Feeling frustrated at his limited Bible knowledge, he would then become the recipient of free Bible training at Moody Bible Institute here in Chicago. An opportunity that very few receive. This is his last year at Moody and he plans to return to his country and bring change to his area. He is even exploring a new goal, possibly one day becoming president. Looking into his eyes, I believe he could make this dream a reality.
From hopelessness to big intentions over a period of a little over a decade and he attributes it all to one act. The act of someone far away selecting him and providing him with enough. Enough to make a difference in his life. A teenager making a choice that beyond her imagination would one day impact the landscape of an entire country. This is just a bit of the story of Mr. Richmond Wandera.
Good luck Richmond, I will be praying for you, your friends, your family, and your country.
Hey Church
Pretty awesome conference this past weekend. This blog post is focused toward any readers out there in church leadership or planting mode. I want to introduce/offer you an opportunity to accomplish some goals I am assuming you have for your members, attendees, or partners... whatever you may call those people in your groups and pews.
I could be wrong, but I am guessing some of the goals you have for all of you are to be involved in ministries both inside and out of the church, be good stewards of their money and everything else they may have that belongs to God (1 Cor 9:11; Gal 6:6), go out and tell and demonstrate God's love to others by helping the lost, lonely, poor, orphans, and widows (Luke 12:33; Proverbs 19:17), and you may want them to make wise decisions while keeping Christ at the center of their lives (Luke 14:28-30).
I hope you want something like this and this is a fair assumption because I have some news for you. 1Check out these stats:
In one Ohio church of 1200 family units, Compassion sponsors were found to be,
Basic 7: God is everywhere - Jer. 23:23,24
I could be wrong, but I am guessing some of the goals you have for all of you are to be involved in ministries both inside and out of the church, be good stewards of their money and everything else they may have that belongs to God (1 Cor 9:11; Gal 6:6), go out and tell and demonstrate God's love to others by helping the lost, lonely, poor, orphans, and widows (Luke 12:33; Proverbs 19:17), and you may want them to make wise decisions while keeping Christ at the center of their lives (Luke 14:28-30).
I hope you want something like this and this is a fair assumption because I have some news for you. 1Check out these stats:
In one Ohio church of 1200 family units, Compassion sponsors were found to be,
- 25% are more likely to serve in a ministry
- 25% are more likely to be part of a small group
- 30% are more likely to do both
- 60% are more likely to tithe
- 60% are more likely a % of income higher than national average.
- 45% less likely to be "token" givers (throw their change in the basket each week)
[1] These statistics come directly from the executive pastor at the church in Ohio and are not released or endorsed by Compassion International.
Basic 7: God is everywhere - Jer. 23:23,24
WV/OH Advocate Conference
I am taking a trip this weekend to meet up with fellow Compassion International advocates from my region. I even get to hear one of the people from this video speak. It is going to be a great time and I will be sure to share it with you when I return.
Read and find out more.
Read and find out more.
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