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“Would You Like Me to Marry You Right Now?”

Web Team — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:16:10 +0000

With great anticipation we traveled to Colombia with regional director Nate Ernsberger to meet our Compassion child. After a visit to Ana Maria’s school, we went hand in hand with her to her home. Mom (Elisabeth) and Dad (Armando) greeted us as Armando’s mariachi band played.

After the music died down, Nate ushered us into the quiet of another room. I talked with the parents in Spanish (my native language) about Ana Maria and their other two children.

“Are things going well here at home?”

Armando looked nervous and Elisabeth looked away. I noticed tears forming in her eyes. As they spilled over, she answered,

“No, I think Armando is seeing someone else.”

I instinctively stepped into my pastor/counselor role.

“Armando, you know that the most valuable thing you can do for your children is to be loving and faithful to your wife.”

Elisabeth blurted out,

“We are not even married.”

Breaking the strained silence that followed, I turned to Armando and asked,

“Is there some reason you have not married the mother of your children?”

“No,” he shrugged. At this point, I tried to get Nate up to speed by translating, then turned to the couple.

“Actually, I am a pastor. Would you like me to marry you right now?”

A huge smile crossed Elisabeth’s face as she nodded yes.

I asked pointedly,

“Armando, what about you?”

Looking like a deer in the headlights, he answered,

“Si, creo que si.”

Yes, I guess so.

“Fantastico! We are going to have a wedding!”

A Spanish Bible was found, the mariachi band cheered and broke into the Wedding March, neighbors packed the small room and, with the three kids clustered around the couple, I went through the ceremony.

When I got to the vows and the ring part, I asked,

“Does either of you have a ring?”

Elisabeth produced the small ring she had been wearing on the wrong hand and handed it to me. Armando, again looking sheepish, shrugged.

Then came the surprise. Nate, who had managed to keep up with what was happening, came to the rescue.

“Here, use mine!”

It fit perfectly! The rings were exchanged.

Everybody, and I mean everybody, cried. The band launched into a rousing finale and in a state of euphoria, the jubilant crowd wandered off home.

Nate later admitted that the silver ring was a duplicate that he wore on trips to keep from losing his gold wedding band, but to see it on Armando was a gift he would never lose.

“A man is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” — Jim Elliot

I have stayed in touch. Almost four years have passed since the serendipity wedding in Colombia. The family is doing well. The rings are still in place.

VIDEO EXTRA

As they arrive at the home of their sponsored child, Ana Maria, the Castillos are serenaded by mariachis. Both Ana Maria’s father and grandfather are members of the mariachi group.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joe Castillo is a Compassion sponsor and the world’s premier sand animation performer. Joe was a finalist in the reality show America’s Got Talent.

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Who Are Compassion Sunday Presenters?

Web Team — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 07:35:47 +0000

Compassion Sunday presenters are men and women just like you who share the story of Compassion with their church on behalf of children living in poverty.

How do these Compassion Sunday presenters describe themselves? Scared. Nervous.

How do we describe Compassion Sunday presenters? Passionate. Obedient.

You can also view Who Are Compassion Sunday Presenters? on YouTube.

Will you become a presenter this Compassion Sunday and change the story for children living in poverty?

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What is Forgiveness?

Web Team — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 07:47:23 +0000

Once a victim of horrendous sexual, physical and emotional abuse, Sylane Mack shares with passion, vulnerability, and some specifics about being victimized by her family and being raped by a stranger at age 12.

Her story is a mirror reflecting Christ’s suffering and His redeeming work and forgiveness in our lives. Jesus’ unfailing love has renewed and healed Sylane’s mind and spirit allowing her to forgive, live and love with a passion and joy that only comes from our Savior.

If you are a victim of abuse and still need healing, you may react strongly to Sylane’s story. It’s as ugly, beautiful and miraculous a story as you’re ever likely to hear. But remember: No matter what, love conquers ALL!

You can also view What is Forgiveness on YouTube.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Genesis 50:20

Since the mid-1970’s Sylane has shared her testimony of forgiveness with thousands of people in various venues. In 2003 she founded Transformed by Grace, a counseling and conference speaking ministry, where she serves as president, lead counselor and principal speaker.

Her book, Convinced!, is “God’s transforming love story written in her life” through which she intimately and courageously shares the raw truth of her pain and the power of God’s unfailing love, healing and hope in her life.

To book Sylane Mack for a speaking event, contact Transformed by Grace at 215.497.0882 or visit transformedbygrace.org.

Subscribe to the audio podcast of our chapel messages via iTunes.

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A Different Kind of Compassion Sunday

Web Team — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:57:56 +0000

When we hear Compassion Sunday, we typically think of church presentations and finding sponsors for children around the world. This Compassion Sunday in Togo, however, is a very different kind of Compassion Sunday.

You can also view A Different Kind of Compassion Sunday on YouTube.

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Overwhelmed in Indonesia

Web Team — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 07:39:28 +0000

My experience in Indonesia has been a lot to drink in. Emotionally, I’m both encouraged by the deep faith of people who live in poverty, trusting God to meet their needs, and wrecked by the reality that their living conditions are so terrible.

As I visited the Filadelfia Children’s Center in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, I heard an 11-year-old boy who sang for our group. He sang in English. I didn’t know the song but near the end, he kept singing, “Jesus loves me” over and over again. He sobbed as he sang because He was so overwhelmed by the love that God had shown him in Christ. The reality of what had been done for him on the Cross was overwhelming to him. He cried…and I cried.

You can also view this Wally Show video on YouTube.

These beautiful children living in extreme poverty are being shown love that they never dreamed could be true for them. Their faith in desperate circumstances is so much greater than mine. But, those children have taught me too. I left a part of my heart in Indonesia, for sure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jeff Taylor has been doing morning radio for a long, long time. He thinks that being part of the WAY-FM team—jeffandjoyonline.com—is a really big deal…an honor, actually.

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Why Holistic Child Development?

Web Team — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 07:46:48 +0000

Click on the infographic to view a larger image

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Compassion Isn’t a Chick Thing

Web Team — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 07:53:52 +0000

Christine Caine, founder of the anti-human trafficking organization A21, answers the question, “What is the church’s role when it comes to compassion and justice?”

And one thing Christine tells us:

“Compassion is not just a chick thing, or a mother thing. It’s a Christian thing.”

You can also view Christine Caine on Compassion and Justice on YouTube.

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Change the Story: We’re Bringing Poverty to You

Web Team — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 07:42:44 +0000

You can also view this Compassion Experience video on YouTube.

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Don’t Hide Special Needs Children From the World

Web Team — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 07:27:23 +0000

Erick is a very special child who enjoys participating in every activity at the San Pablo Apostol Student Center. There are some things he can do and others that are more complicated for him, but nothing keeps him from trying.

You can also view Don’t Hide Special Needs Children From the World on YouTube.

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The Day That Changed Haiti Forever

Web Team — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 07:38:48 +0000

On January 12, 2010, more than 250,000 people died in less than a minute when a catastrophic earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti. Over 1.5 million people found themselves homeless.

Three years later, our long-term strategy to help rebuild Haiti embodies four key areas — equipping pastors, offering child protection to highly vulnerable children, creating income-generating programs, and reconstructing schools and Compassion-assisted child development centers.

You can also view The Day That Changed Haiti Forever on YouTube.

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