Compassion Sunday

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

We are speaking about love!  As I mentioned in my previous post my church is doing a church-wide study called the "40 Days of Love." Basically we are examining the relationship principles that Jesus calls us to. Week two is about loving others as Jesus did. Jesus calls us to love the unloved, the widows and orphans and the poor. This is a perfect lead in for my ministry with Compassion.

Just a little background- Every advocate and sponsor that is involved with Compassion would love to have a Compassion Sunday at their church. This is a global event in which churches speak of Compassion's ministry and encourage child sponsorships. I have presented at several churches and have always be thankful for the opportunity. I guess the "Holy Grail" is being able to present at your own church. It is an opportunity to bring the ministry home. Over a year and half ago my pastor approached me about having a Compassion Sunday at our church. Needless to say I was thrilled but it took awhile to nail things down. Last spring we discussed doing it during the summer or as part of this study. God's timing is perfect! The message for week two would be the ideal tie-in. Loving others as Jesus loved us. Even better they wanted to tape an interview with me and then follow up "live" on stage with some final thoughts.

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Alligator Girl and Compassion Sundays

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

The past two weeks have seen me working several events for Compassion and child sponsorship. I always enjoy working events where youth are involved. As I have stated on many occasions they get the need and really do want to make a difference.

It is really not a matter of why rather it is more of a case of how. The amazing thing is that while adults will hold their wallet tight and ask many questions, with youth there are no questions but only discussions or how they can pool their funds or what they can do to make this work. I love it.

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Not Just Another Sunday

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

The core event of Compassion’s volunteer advocate ministry is an event called Compassion Sunday. Each year over 1000 churches participate in this event to further the cause of releasing children from poverty. For many years, outside of concerts, this was the primary means to introduce potential sponsors to available children. These special church services are hosted by both sponsors and advocates alike. These services can range from being the focus of an entire service involving the entire church to something as simple as a table in a special location. It really does not matter how complex or simple~the message is the same:

Please make a difference and help release a child from poverty.

Most of us advocates are willing to go anywhere or to present in any method in order to further the ministry. Last Sunday I attended a Compassion Sunday in Elkton, MD. One of my advocates was having her event and had asked me to speak.

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Letters From The Heart

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Part of child sponsorship is writing letters to your sponsored child. Sponsorship actually changes two lives- the child's and the sponsors. I know I can't wait to open every letter that one of my sponsored children sends me. Each day I hope to get a letter. I can imagine it is the same way for them. I tell many sponsors it is not the $38 that counts but rather the relationship that you are building. A sponsored child does not understand the monetary amount- that is what enables them to be in the program and provides for them. What makes a difference in their lives is that connection that is built through letter writing. Hearing from their sponsors shows that we care and love them unconditionally. When I saw Linda in May she brought every letter I had written to show me that she had saved them. Having been on two Sponsor Tours to Honduras I cannot tell you how many children have come up to me and said "Will you tell my sponsor to write to me?" I don't know their sponsor and this breaks my heart.

When I am talking to a potential sponsor I make sure that this fact is clearly made known. To release a child from poverty is not just about $$$$ but about giving hope through encouragement and sharing. Compassion does have a correspondence program in which people who understand the importance of letter writing will write to those children who do not have sponsors that write letters. I have included with permission an excellent slide show of some photographs of children with their letters. Look at how much they care.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child and making a difference let me know.....it really does impact two lives.

I Chose You

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

I have spoken of the importance of this ministry in my life and the impact one child had on my life. Today I would like to present the story from a friend of mine named Stephanie. We traveled together to Honduras and I know she has a heart for the poor and will be becoming an advocate for Compassion. She is someone I would love to have on my team.

This weekend she had her Compassion Sunday event and I asked her to give her testimony:

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