WordJourney Magazine » Ministries

Ministry Spotlight: The Voice of the Martyrs

Matthew C. Keegan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:05:43 +0000

Continuing with our ministry spotlight, WordJourney turns its focus to the Voice of the Martyrs, a non-profit and non-denominational Christian organization that comes along side of the persecuted church worldwide.

Founded: VOM was founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, following his 14 year imprisonment in communist Romania for his faith in Jesus Christ. His wife, Sabina, was also imprisoned for three years. During the 1960s the Wurmbrands and their son, Mihai, left Romania and settled in the United States. VOM is based upon Hebrews 13:3 which reads: “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”

Mission: VOM’s mission statement declares, “Serving the persecuted church through practical and spiritual assistance while leading Christians in the free world into fellowship with them.” VOM seeks to help persecuted Christians by providing medical assistance, food, clothing, and other forms of aid. The organization urges its supporters to love those who are persecuted including their enemies. VOM supplies Bibles, literature, radios and other evangelistic tools. This organization seeks to encourage the persecuted by giving them a voice by telling their stories to the church, particularly to American Christians. VOM seeks to do all of these things by fulfilling its five main purposes.

Projects: Multiple projects are in place to help the persecuted and to get word of their plight out to the world. One way that VOM keeps people informed is through its Persecution Blog that is updated regularly. This blog puts a face on individuals who are facing persecution, by telling their stories. For example, VOM shared a “tweet for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhan” campaign launched by the American Center for Law & Justice. That campaign seeks to keep the Iranian pastor’s plight front and center by sending regular reminder notices to Christians everywhere. Nadarkhan faces execution by an Iranian court for not recanting his faith in Jesus Christ.

Through the shipment of “action packs” you can help persecuted believers in Iraq, in Pakistan or in the Sudan. Bags cost $7 a piece and can be packed with items such as a blanket, an adult or child’s jacket, socks, bed sheets and other items. Packs are then return to VOM for distribution directly to the afflicted in those countries.

Dozens of national and regional conferences are held by the VOM to raise awareness of the plight of the persecuted church. Conference speakers include those who were themselves imprisoned for their faith and includes prayer, testimonials and resources.

Copies of the New Testament are smuggled by believers to fellow Christians in nations where the word of God is prohibited. The organization’s Bibles Unbound program enables supporters to send New Testaments in groups of five each month. It is a covert operation where donors never know the names of those who risk imprisonment to get Bibles to people desiring to read God’s word. As of this writing, nearly 62,000 people in five Asian nations are seeking Bibles.

Budget: Nearly $50 million as of December 31, 2010.

Notables: To learn more about Richard Wurmbrand and the afflications he sustained while imprisoned, you can request a complimentary copy of his book, “Tortured for Christ. While in prison, his captors tortured him physically as well as psychologically, details of which are shared explictly in this book. Wurmbrand wrote 17 more books and stayed active with the Voice of the Martyrs until 1992. He died in 2001 just six months after his wife went home to be with the Lord.

National Headquarters:

The Voice of the Martyrs
P.O. Box 443
Bartlesville, OK 74005-0443
877-337-0302
persecution.com

Resources

Mission Network News: Petition for Asia Bibi on its way to One Million Signatures; January 30, 2012

Canada Free Press: Ugandan Convert to Christianity Flees Country; February 2, 2012

About Those Red Kettles!

Matthew C. Keegan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:45:32 +0000

Red Kettle campaign is in full swing.

The Salvation Army is one of the most well-recognized charities in America. The Salvation Army is also a church, founded in 1852 by William Booth in England to win the lost to Jesus Christ. With his wife, Catherine, the Booths labored for decades to reach the unsaved. Gradually, the organization grew with the first number of this “volunteer army” of evangelists ministering in the U.S. in 1879, beginning in Philadelphia. Today, the organization is still comprised of “Salvationists” or people who seek to fulfill the Great Commission.

Much remains the same with the Salvation Army, including its administration of national commanders, officers and soldiers. The Army also relies on many volunteers, what this non-profit organization recognizes as its “army within an army.” What has changed is the way this group raises funds — adding electronic and online giving to its traditional methods.

Red Kettle Campaign

If you’re not fully familiar with the work of the Salvation Army, you’ve most likely seen this organization’s red kettles on display outside of stores with bell ringers and perhaps musicians nearby. The Army’s Red Kettle Christmas Campaign helps to net hundreds of millions of dollars annually with those funds used to minister in a variety of ways including emergency relief, shelter, clothing, food and more. The kettles were first used in 1891 when Salvation Army Caption Joseph McFee pondered how best to help San Francisco’s destitute. He wanted to demonstrate God’s love to them and thought that providing a free Christmas dinner was one way to do that. However, with not much funds available he knew that it would take a novel way to raise money.

Thinking back to his day’s as a sailor in Liverpool, England, McFee remembered the large, iron kettles at Stage Landing which were used to collect money for the poor. That led to McFee paling a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing at the foot of Market Street with a sign that read, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” The funds collected fed hundreds of people that Christmas and a tradition was born. Today, the red kettles can be found across Europe, in South America and in Asia, enabling the Salvation Army to provide seasonal relief as well as fund its year ’round operation.

Electronic Giving

The Red Kettle Campaign continues today despite the difficulty in finding bell ringers and the sometimes public opposition from businesses that do not want to give Salvationists and volunteers the opportunity to collect funds. In my area, both WalMart and Harris-Teeter supermarkets welcome the organization, providing a very public place for people to make a donation.

Recognizing that not every person who passes by has change available to make a contribution, the Salvation Army is giving so-called “cashless kettles” a try whereby people can swipe a credit or debit card to designate the amount they would like to give. Any donation greater than one cent can be made and the Salvation Army says that neither the giver nor the organization is charged a fee.

Temporary Employment

The Red Kettle Campaign is an annual 6-week effort and is run by Salvation Army members and volunteers, but also includes people who are paid to operate kettles. These people are paid $8 per hour and are given training, a uniform, food and shelter. Businesses and individuals can sponsor the kettles, providing an important way to help the Army defray costs.

Actor and recording artist Robert Davi has found a way to help out too by singing Frank Sinatra’s hit, “Mistletoe and Ivy,” and making it available via iTunes and Amazon.com beginning on December 13. All of the funds raised by the sale of the single will be donated to The Salvation Army’s 120th annual Red Kettle Campaign. In a collective contribution of talent and services, the new arrangement was composed by Nic. tenBroek, mixed and recorded by Al Schmitt and produced by the legendary Phil Ramone at world-famous Capitol Studios in Hollywood, CA.

Photo: The Salvation Army

Operation Christmas Child 2011 Campaign is in Full Swing

Matthew C. Keegan — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:05:36 +0000

Reaching children in the name of Jesus Christ.

Joyful children receive gifts from people just like you.

The 2011 campaign for Operation Christmas Child, the shoe box ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, has started. Individuals, churches, civic groups and other like-minded people are now assembling boxes in advance of this year’s collection week which runs from November 14-21, 2011, in the United States.

Global Effort

Last year, more than 8.5 million shoe boxes were collected in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and elsewhere, and shipped to needy children in more than 100 countries scattered around the world. Each box is individually packed by donors and a gospel tract is included by Samaritan’s Purse where appropriate. Samaritan’s Purse works with local churches and organizations to distribute these boxes, which often represent the only gift that these children receive. Not all boxes arrive in time for Christmas, with some gifts distributed at other times of the year.

Many churches make the annual drive an important outreach event, encouraging congregants to fill shoe boxes with school supplies, personal items such as toothpaste or a comb, toys, hard candies and other child-friendly items, and bringing these gifts to their church. From there, volunteers gather the boxes and take them to local drop off points where Samaritan’s Purse retrieves them. When possible, donors are asked to contribute $7 for each box packed to help defray the cost of shipment.

Collection Centers

In some areas of the country drop-off locations have been few and far between. However, Samaritan’s Purse has been working to open up new, local collection centers especially in thinly-populated areas. West Texas is one area that is benefiting from a new drop off location as Midland Bible Church has been tabbed as a relay station this year reports Audrie Palmer for the Midland Reporter-Telegram. Sherwood Baptist Church in Odessa is another drop off point for that region.

Some volunteers work well outside the normal Christmas preparation season, beginning their work during the long, hot days of summer and continuing on through their national collection week.

In Canada, Gail Maughan has been working for many weeks in preparation for her country’s collection drive which is November 21-27, 2011. Her campaign began at the Wetaskiwin Mall, located 75 minutes south of Edmonton, Alberta. For the past 13 years Maughan has been spearheading the location collection drive and has seen donations increase by more than four-fold from about 700 boxes, to more than 3,000 shoe boxes. Maughan has solicited the assistance of 19 area businesses to participate in the annual collection drive, an effort that has helped yield outsized results.

Age Groups

Samaritan’s Purse asks donors to pack shoe boxes for a boy or girl in one of two age categories: 5- to 9-years-old and 10- to 14-years-old. Please note that there is a pressing need to reach older children as most people pack items for younger kids, finding it easier to locate and buy age appropriate items.

Print out labels are available online or through your collection center. If you make a donation online, you can print out a label with a bar code embedded, and track the shipment of your gift. You probably won’t know who received your gift, but you’ll find out when it was delivered as well as the country where delivered.

If there isn’t a local collection center in your area, you can ship your gift to Samaritan’s Purse. Those details are available on the Operation Christmas Child splash page listed below.

References and Resources

MyWestTexas.com: Operation Christmas Child Kicks Off Shoe Box Drive; Audrie Palmer; October 15, 2011

The Wetaskiwin Times: Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Program Starts Today; Nicole Goetz; October 13, 2011

The Article Writer: A Shoebox Full of Love: Operation Christmas Child

WordJourney Magazine: 49 Christmas Shoe Box Stuffing Ideas

Samaritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child

Photos: Samaritan’s Purse

Your Business Is “His Biz”

Matthew C. Keegan — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:46:35 +0000

Christian business group makes a difference in Raleigh and beyond.

One by one or in groups of two or three they arrive, purpose-minded business people with a desire to find out what God has in store for them on this day. The monthly gathering of His Biz, a Christian business networking group serving the Raleigh, N.C., area is about to begin, a one-hour meeting preceded by 30 minutes of lunch and fellowship at Hope Cafe.

Monthly Business Meetings

His Biz is not your usual business network which might explain why upwards of 60 people take an extended lunch break on the third Tuesday of most months to trade business cards, share anecdotes, pray and listen to a speaker. Headed up by Trey Baker, a 40-something businessman, motivational speaker and former executive pastor at a Baptist church, His Biz serves as a friendly reminder to followers of Jesus Christ that their own businesses are really “His” business.

This month’s meeting is led by Baker who more often than not brings in a guest speaker. Baker, who likes to run and has completed in a marathon, uses a running analogy today to illustrate Galatians 5:7 which reads, “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?” Sober words indeed! And, in the context of a Christian operating a business, is something worth examining.

Finishing the Race

Baker’s talk, one part motivational and another part instructive, covers three suggestions for “running” in today’s marketplace. Using a number of tools including a video of a race run by Heather Dorniden, a University of Minnesota runner whose fall during a 600m race at the 2008 Big Ten Indoor Track Championship has been posted on YouTube, Baker drives home each point.

In this particular race, Dorniden was favored to win, but with one lap to go she falls down, and the audience gasps. Immediately, she pulls herself back up and continues running. She quickly picks up speed and gradually passes each runner, slipping ahead to finish first just fourth-tenths of a second in front of the runner-up. At the end of the video, Dorniden is seen with a visible gash on her grinning face.

Like Dorniden, we’re to keep this in mind: failure is not the end of the story; the scar was the story. Dorniden had every reason to quit, but she didn’t. As Baker quipped, she “paced her race and raced her pace.” Driven on by the raucous cheers of the crowd, Dorniden summoned up the courage to press on and those accolades fueled her desire to finish the race and win.

Innate & Received Talents

The second suggestion offered by Baker was for people to “use what you’ve got.” That means we need to discover who we are and the talents God has given to us. Talents and abilities are innate — what God has designed within us. They’re also received — what God has blessed us with at some point in our lives. The obedient follower of Jesus Christ can expect God to stretch him in ways he may not have expected. That’s much in the same way Dorniden won what she most likely would have lost if she had simply given up.

The apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Baker’s friend, Chip Bolick, has his own take on this verse, “It’s crazy what happens when you stay in motion.” Both statements lead to Baker’s third point: never stop moving. Using, R.U.N. as an acrostic to form his final point, we learn that God wants you to refresh others, use what you got and never stop moving.

Like the body of Christ, the people who attend HisBiz meetings come from all walks of life. Scott Sutton is a commercial real estate broker who travels from north Raleigh to keep up with the group. Glenn Steers operates Fishmouse, a social media service for Christians. One woman runs a travel agent, another fellow is networking, having been downsized from a six-figure job; the rest of the attendees include a minister, a gentleman praying about starting a Christian school in California and an assortment of staff, management workers and business owners.

Enabling & Equipping

Baker’s vision for His Biz is to “enable and facilitate for the group so that its attendees can lead in their lives, families and businesses to bring glory to God in Raleigh and around the world.” Meetings are free and everyone is welcome to buy lunch or a cup of coffee at Hope Cafe and enjoy an hour or more of fellowship.

Importantly, His Biz’s impact goes well beyond the four walls of the Hope Cafe and isn’t limited to a once a month gathering.

His Biz directly impacts the local expression of the body of Christ and has had a profound impact on those in need. One excellent example of this is the ministry of “Share Our Shoes,” which invites people to donate their unneeded shoes to help people locally as well as globally.

Jennifer Pierce started this outreach in 2008 when she learned that her young daughter’s friend could not play outside because she didn’t have a pair of shoes. That dilemma touched Pierce who collected several pairs of shoes for the girl and, later, for her family. Today, Share Our Shoes provides footwear for Haitian earthquake survivors, flood victims in the United States and attempts to help meet needs wherever they become known.

In December 2010, Pierce addressed the monthly His Biz meeting and shared her desire to help the homeless for Christmas. She made known her request to the crowd, explaining that she needed to raise $3,000 to buy shoes. After the meeting ended, Pierce was approached by a businessman who wrote out a check, covering the entire amount requested. Said Baker, “To me that is what it (His Biz) is all about. Organic, Holy Spirit lead and fruitful.” Of his attendees Baker added, “They are building excellence in what they do and following what God lays on their hearts as it relates to kingdom expansion.”

As to the Lord

Truly, if you are looking to uphold Christian principles as you go about your day to day business activities, then His Biz can support you in that endeavor.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men; knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossions 3:23-24)

Resources

His Biz: Home

Share Our Shoes: Home

Hope Cafe of Raleigh: Home

Meeting Information

His Biz Network
Third Tuesdays of the Month (except in July & August) @ 12 Noon
Hope Cafe Raleigh
201 Tryon Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
Contact His Biz

Photo Credits

Runner: MorgueFile

White Shoes: MorgueFile

Ministry Spotlight: SIM

Matthew C. Keegan — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 10:59:31 +0000

SIM or “Serving In Mission” has 1,600 missionaries laboring in more than 50 countries across five continents. SIM states, “Our purpose is to glorify God by planting, strengthening, and partnering with churches around the world.”

Founded: The SIM of today represents a unified front of once separate and distinct missions reaching the lost in Africa, Asia and South America, dating to 1889 when the South African General Mission was founded by Martha Osborn, Spencer Walton, and Andrew Murray. In 1891 South East Africa General Mission was launched, merging with SAGM in 1894 to form the African Interior Fellowship. Sudan Interior Mission, the forerunner of today’s SIM began in 1893.

The International Christian Fellowship, which traces its roots to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1892 and Andes Evangelical Mission dating to 1893, merged with the African missions in the 1980s to become the Society for International Missions. In 2000, SIM adopted “Serving in Mission” as its trade name, but the organization is officially known simply as SIM.

Mission: To evangelize the unreached, minister to human need, disciple believers into churches and to equip churches to fulfill Christ’s Commission. All this is done to glorify God.

Projects: Missionaries are present throughout the world, with many working as “tent makers” in countries where the gospel cannot be openly proclaimed. They serve in hospitals and health ministries, plant churches, train Christian leaders, have contributed to 33 translations of the Bible, support HIV and AIDS ministries, distribute books and supply clean drinking water and offer other forms of assistance as needed.

Budget: SIM USA for the year ended September 30, 2010, realized $38,193,043 in contributions, up from $37,625,494 for the previous year. Total expenses for the year were $40,034,073, however rental income and investments enabled SIM to declare a $116,319 gain. Expenses covered such program activities as church growth and evangelism; grants to other SIM ministries; relief and rehabilitation; education ministry; service; home ministry; and media and translation ministry.

Notables: SIM is very much involved in serving in Sudan, the country where “Sudan Interior Mission” first got started. Southern Sudan, which is emerging from years of civil strife and is expected to gain independence from Sudan in July 2011, is the center of SIM ministry. A comprehensive rebuilding program is currently underway with missionaries providing basic education, operating a secondary school academy, assisting in HIV and AIDs work and working to restore medical service. Establishing an agricultural project remains an SIM vision for the new nation.

Headquarters:

SIM USA
P.O. Box 7900
Charlotte, NC 28241
800-521-6449
simusa.org

Resources

SIM; Engaging with Muslim People Groups; Franz Nelson; Oct. 27, 2009

Christianity Today; Tough Calling in Africa; Ruth Moon; April 6, 2011

Winston-Salem Journal; A Memorable Trip Plants a Seed: School Raises Money to Feed African Children; Kim Underwood; Dec. 9, 2009

All Voices; Serving In Mission Gives Help to Children in India Slum Areas; Success Kanayo Uchime; April 27, 2009

Japan Earthquake Aid and Tsunami Relief

Matthew C. Keegan — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:17:31 +0000

The nation of Japan is in the midst of a crisis, one that began with a devastating earthquake followed by a tsunami which wiped out entire villages and contributed to a death toll that will likely top 10,000. Three nuclear reactors have been heavily damaged with one or more spreading radiation in the immediate area.

Japanese Archipelago

After the United States and China, Japan has the third largest economy in the world and is home to 126 million people. The Japanese archipelago consists of 6,852 islands spread out from just below South Korea and winding northeastward to Russia. Honshu, lying just south of Hokkaido, is the largest of the four main islands and is where much of the devastation has taken place. Shikoku and Kyushu are just to the south of Honshu.

Once bitter enemies, Japan and the United States are friends and share many common interests especially politically. Most Japanese identify themselves as Shinto or Buddhist, but there is a significant Christian minority and several groups are active there. For one missionary’s account of the earthquake and tsunami aftermath please read, “Post Tsunami Message from Missionary in Japan,” on “Emmanuel Press.”

Mighty God

Christians are right to want to help the Japanese people especially during these challenging times when so many have lost everything and the nation is teetering on economic collapse. First off, remember that we serve a mighty God — nothing is beyond is reach and we have a powerful aid, prayer, at our disposal which we should utilize frequently.

If you are able to contribute financially, there are several organizations already on the ground in Japan or working diligently to provide earthquake aid and tsunami relief. Among those raising funds are the following; please check Charity Navigator for more information about specific organizations:

Asian Access
P.O. Box 200
San Dimas, CA 91773
800-543-3678
asianaccess.org/A2-Japan-Tsunami-Relief-Fund.html

Notes: This organization partners with more than 600 local churches across all of Japan. They are working with CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support, and Hope) to supply workers in affected areas.

Children’s Hunger Fund
P.O. Box 7085
Mission Hills, CA 91346
800-708-7589
chfus.org

C.R.A.S.H. Japan
c/o Horizon Central
1001 E. Palmer St.
Indianapolis, IN 46203
213-457-3154
crashjapan.com

Notes: Put “CRASH” in the comment line of the check.

Samaritan’s Purse
P.O. Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607
828-262-1980
samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/pray_for_japan/

World Relief
7 East Baltimore St.
Baltimore MD, 21202
800-903-1924
worldrelief.org/Page.aspx?pid=2897

Notes: Consider NOT texting $10 as advised if you want your money to get there faster. Instead, click the Donate button at the bottom of the page and take it from there.

World Vision
34834 Weyerhaeuser Way, S
Federal Way, WA 98001
888-511-6550
worldvision.org

If sending in a check, please print “Japan earthquake relief” in the note section so that your gift will be specified for that endeavor.

Animated flag images by 3DFlags.com

Christchurch Earthquake Relief

Matthew C. Keegan — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:40:23 +0000

The city of Christchurch, New Zealand, is in the earliest stages of recovery following a devastating earthquake resulting in about 100 confirmed deaths with more than 200 people still missing. The 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit the city on Feb. 22, 2011, and is considered an aftershock of a 7.1-magnitude quake that hit on Sept. 4, 2010. That earlier temblor was further away from Christchurch and caused less damage and resulted in no deaths.

As expected, numerous organizations have quickly sprung into action including various government and private entities. Being that WordJourney is a Christian website, the following list of aid organizations is offering help to survivors in the city named for Jesus Christ:

The Salvation Army National Headquarters
615 Slaters Lane
P.O. Box 269
Alexandria, VA 22313
800-728-7825 (to schedule a truck pickup for donated items only)

Donate: Visit this web page and designate “Canterbury Earthquake Appeal” in the “specific use” box. Canterbury includes Christchurch.

World Vision
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
888-511-6548

Donate: At present, World Vision New Zealand is working with the Salvation Army to coordinate relief. You can follow the organization’s progress here.

Samaritan’s Purse
P.O. Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607-3000
828-262-1980

Donate: Your gift will go toward a general emergency relief fund providing assistance in the form of survival kits for affected families. This general fund provides help for people elsewhere, not just New Zealand.

There may be other funds for making donations, but this list includes those organizations with an active presence in Christchurch or is working with local partners who do. As always, be mindful of scams — if you are in doubt, rule that organization out.

Ministry Spotlight: Compassion International

Matthew C. Keegan — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:44:05 +0000

It probably isn’t fair to compare ministries especially since I cannot see Jesus encouraging competition as we seek to win the lost. The body of Christ has had varying levels of success over the past two millennia in getting the word out, with unnecessary competition causing confusion among followers and many times pushing unbelievers away.

Christian ministries as they grow and mature sometimes lose focus, with its leaders forgetting that they’re all about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, relying solely on supposed good works. Faith is minimized and sometimes abandoned, leaving behind an organization that is a shell of its former greatness. Compromise usually settles in as a secular-driven board of directors decides to broaden the organization’s approach by removing any mention of Christ or allowing everything and everyone else in.

Child outreach ministries are subject to the same assaults on truth levied everywhere else by our infernal enemy, but happily there are some organizations where truth remains the foundation and where faith and good works are the twin pillars supporting its mission.

And now for a disclaimer: I’ve been following and financially supporting Compassion International for more than two decades, a Christian child sponsorship ministry. Compassion is under the spotlight here and I’m happy to share with you an organization that has maintained the course.

Founded: By Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952 following a visit to South Korea to preach to Korean troops. Swanson shares the gospel and encounters a widespread problem among Korean children: children orphaned by war. Upon returning to the United States, Swanson is given money to help Korean war orphans, establishing the foundation for further assistance.

Mission: Compassion focuses on the spiritual, physical, economic and social needs of children. The organization teams with local partners in more than two dozen countries to help children. Sponsors come alongside Compassion by providing monthly financial support, writing letters to sponsored children and offering prayerful intercession. Monies are used for Bible teaching, after school programs, wellness and nutrition and social training.

Projects: As of January 2011, 1.2 million children are being assisted in 26 countries across Asia, Africa, South America, Central America and in the Caribbean. South Korea’s economy has strengthened to where Compassion was able to leave that country to focus on more pressing needs. Today, Compassion counts native Koreans among its many sponsors.

Budget: For the fiscal year ended June 20, 2010, Compassion spent $472,767,317. Total program expenses were $390,008,461 or 82.7 percent of the budget, monies used to help children directly. Administrative and fundraising expenses were 7.6 and 9.7 percent of the budget respectively. Notably, Compassion regularly expends less than 20 percent of its budget on other costs and consistently achieves Charity Navigator’s four-star rating, its highest rating for financial integrity.

Notables: Besides its child sponsorship program, Compassion International reaches the world through child survival and leadership development programs. The former programs are designed to intervene wherever child mortality is high; the latter programs enable Compassion children to pursue higher education and return to their communities as leaders. Compassion also offers an AIDs initiative and a malaria intervention program.

Headquarters:

Compassion International
12290 Voyager Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
800-336-7676
compassion.com

Resources

AllAfrica.com: Rwanda: Vulnerable Children Get Rwf 8 Million Start-Up Capital

Liberty University: Compassion International President is a Voice for the Children

The Article Writer: Compassion Sunday: Helping Children Thrive

Ministry Spotlight: Upward Sports

Matthew C. Keegan — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 12:37:06 +0000

Resuming our ministry spotlight series, WordJourney turns our focus to Upward Sports, the world’s largest Christian sports league for children.

Founded: In 1995 by Caz McCaslin, a South Carolina resident, husband and father of three girls. Upward Sports provides what the organization says is a “first-class sports experience,” offering basketball, flag football, soccer and cheerleading to children from kindergarten through sixth grade. Upward Sports reaches more than 550,000 children in 46 states and four countries, through Upward Sports leagues hosted by 2,600 churches, representing 40 denominations.

Mission: Upward Sports provides healthy competition in a wholesome environment, offering a platform for coaches and volunteers to interact with families during the impressionable years of a child’s life. The league’s goal is to cultivate godly values, fine tune athletic skills and to build a lasting love of the game. Leagues are evangelical tools to help introduce young children to Jesus Christ.

Projects: Sports leagues and camps administered locally across most of the United States and in operation in three other countries. More than 480,000 volunteers help to coach, referee, administer or provide other assistance including leading half-time devotionals, helping with set-up and clean-up, managing concessions, keeping score and more.

Budget: Leagues are managed at the local level. Cost estimates can be determined by contacting Upward Sports.

Notables: Upward Sports camps have been taken on the mission field with children reached in 67 countries. Creating a league is a three-step process involving securing a free information packet, followed by contacting the league by phone to discuss league formation matters including start-up costs, the average length of a season, resources for admininistration, the number of volunteers needed and program items for participants. The final step is leadership training for the local league’s “Ministry Growth Representative.” Leadership training conferences are held in various cities, designed to provide guidance for emerging leagues.

Headquarters:

Upward Sports
198 White Star Point
Spartanburg, SC 29301
877-827-0006
upward.org

Resources

Missourian: Upward Football League Gives Everyone Playing Time

WordJourney Magazine: A Sports League That Champions The Little Guy

Last Minute, Life Impacting Christmas Gift Ideas

Matthew C. Keegan — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:59:36 +0000

Oh, no! Not another list of last minute Christmas gift ideas!

I hear you. The last thing I want to offer up to you is a list of ideas on how to extract more money from you to purchase gifts for people who probably already have everything that they need. Or at least could want.

Happily, I’m not about to offer such a list to you. Instead, there are ways to bless others with a gift that they’ll never see. Those gifts are in the form of donations to help people in faraway lands for whom Christmas may be just another day or not something they even know about.

For the record, I think that there are numerous organizations who provide an excellent service all throughout the year and are worthy of your consideration. Angel Tree provides gifts for children of incarcerated adults, the Salvation Army is there for every major disaster and has ongoing work to help people who are drug addicted, alcoholic, homeless or simply down on their luck. Yes, there are many secular organizations who are making a difference too.

Admittedly, I’ve mentioned the work of Samaritan’s Purse many times on these pages. I’m a huge proponent of the Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign and I have been following their relief work in Haiti and elsewhere. The organization’s size and visibility certainly help, but their mission is what keeps my attention.

This year, I received a catalog from Samaritan’s Purse that is far different from the ones I receive from Lands End, J.C. Penney and other retailers. Those catalogs come in handy – especially for finding clothing for my boys – but the “Unusual Gift Catalog” from Samaritan’s Pure is, well, unusual.

Perhaps “mosquito netting” isn’t your idea of the ideal gift to receive. For people where killer Malaria is a threat, that gift could prove to be a lifesaver. Moreover, a $10 donation is all that it takes to make a difference in someone’s life.

For $7 you can supply a week’s worth of hot dinner meals to children living in Calcutta, India. You’ll be helping malnourished children and impoverished families who otherwise would might have little chance of ever escaping the clutches of poverty.

When a major disaster strikes, the drinking water of countless communities are often at risk. This “second death” is sometimes worse than the earthquake, tsunami, hurricane or other event which might have claimed thousands of lives. A water filtration system can provide clean water for 500 families at cost of $10,000 each. Naturally, few people have enough money to pay for such a project, but your gift of $20 will be added to the pot.

Few impoverished nations have tractors, using traditional beasts of burden to help get the work done. For $350 you can buy a donkey or contribute $35 and have your gift pooled with nine other people.

Samaritan’s Purse helps people in more than 100 countries, so I cannot say for sure who would get helped and where. Detailed information is available on their website with tips on Christmas gift giving ideas that keep on giving.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2011!

Resources

The Article Writer: A Shoebox Full of Love: Operation Christmas Child

Angel Tree

The Salvation Army

Samaritan’s Purse Gift Catalog