Compassion International is a Christian outreach who began working with Korean war orphans in the early 1950s. From its humble beginnings the organization has grown to reach children in more than two dozen countries around the world, bringing to them the gospel message and demonstrating God’s love in tangible ways including providing food, medical assistance, clothing, Bible lessons and more.

Jesus’ Name

No longer serving in South Korea thanks to that nation’s emergence from poverty, Compassion now helps more than one million children due to the generous support of sponsors from around the world. Compassion’s tag line—releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name—tells it all. This group works with local churches to help kids not only to survive, but thrive.

In many cases, Compassion spells the difference between children doomed to a life of poverty (or early death) or a life where they can seek to better themselves. I’ve read accounts where formerly sponsored children have grown up, finished school and are now leaders in their respective nations. That is the kind of success I believe most sponsors want for these children.

I first began to sponsor a child in 1988 and continued to support Compassion children when my wife and I married in 1998. After we adopted our two children we stopped for about two years due to financial constraints, but have since resumed giving our support. Right now we sponsor a ten year old girl in Guatemala which happens to be the birth nation for our two boys.

Compassion sets aside one Sunday every year to work with churches interested in reaching impoverished children through their organization. This year, Compassion Sunday is on April 18, although churches may choose to hold their event on some other date.

Compassion Sunday

In any case, the Compassion Sunday campaign is a wonderful chance for churches to educate their members about what this organization does, by providing tools to help them spread the word.

These tools include a planning guide detailing everything a congregation needs to know about Compassion International and the work that they do. Compassion supplies a church leaders guide for pastors and elders, a presentation guide offering tips on how to present Compassion to the church and a DVD with a message inviting people to sponsor a child.

In addition to presenting Compassion International to the church body, many congregations set up a sponsorship sign-up table for people who want to begin support immediately. In any case hundreds if not thousands of children are reached through this annual, national outreach.

Sponsorship Details

If you do decide to sponsor a child, you’ll receive personal information about your child including their name, age and where they live. You can write to your sponsored child, offering them encouragement as they grow, something mutually beneficial to child and sponsor alike. And, these children do write back.

For more information please visit CompassionSunday.com or call Compassion at 800-503-4585. Additional contact information follows.

Compassion International
12290 Voyager Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
800-503-4585
compassion.com

Source: Compassion International

Related Reading — Compassion International: Helping Children Thrive

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