I’m willing to bet that every person, at some point during your involvement with Compassion, ponders some variation of the following question:

“Does Compassion’s ministry really work? Compassion knows how to share stories, but how do I know it’s actually making the difference they claim?”

Guess what? We’ve wondered the same thing. So 11 years ago we set out to get proof. We started a program called “It Works.” The idea behind this program was to provide undeniable evidence that Compassion is changing lives.

It Works documents the progress of children in Compassion’s programs. We choose our “case studies.” Then we interview, photograph and film the children and their families. Five to seven years later we return to see what God has done. Being 11 years into the program, we are now on our second round of return trips.

During last week’s chapel time we got to see this video and it was too exciting to keep to ourselves.

Meet Maila.

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In case you missed our live malaria intervention webcast on World Malaria Day, here it is. Learn at your leisure.

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Story and photos by Vera Mensah-Bediako, Compassion Ghana Field Communications Specialist

Meet Victoria. A 10-year-old girl living on the coast of Ghana. She lives with her aunt, Mercy. Madam Mercy’s name is fitting: Mercy took Vic in when her father abandoned her and her mother wasn’t emotionally able to care for her…she has also taken in two other nieces and nephews, on top of raising her own two children.

“I realized that if I do not do something we could lose Victoria…I have not regretted even though things are not too good economically. I get so satisfied just looking at how beautifully she is growing.”

Mercy sells fish and her husband is a fisherman. Life is not easy. Things would have been much more difficult but for the intervention of Compassion International through the Glory Assemblies of God Child Development Center.

“There was no way I could enroll [the children] into any school but for Compassion. My prayer every day is for the work of Compassion International to flourish in the life of these children; so that they too will be in a position to sponsor some needy children when they grow up. God bless you sponsors; may everything you do be blessed; thank you Compassion.”

Victoria goes to school during the week and spends eight hours at the child development center every Saturday.

Spend a Saturday with Vic.

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Mentos had an intern. And when you plop a Mentos into a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke cool things happen. Really!

We (the web team) want to be like Mentos … at least as far as the intern thing goes … but not exactly like Mentos. We’ll be a bit (meaning a bunch) more traditional in our approach.

And as far as the Diet Coke thing goes, we (Compassion) can’t compete with Mentos.

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“The Lord used Compassion in our church when we began to look beyond ourselves and to see how we could be less of a ‘holy huddle’ and more of a Jesus impact on the world around us. We challenged ourselves to see if we could become more involved internationally with being just a small part of the solution to world poverty. Compassion came to our aid and showed us the way to be Jesus to the developing world. As a result of this service, we were able to reach beyond ourselves and build actual relationships with children living in poverty through Compassion. Forty-six families in our church have become involved sponsoring children and have been so blessed because of the interactive nature of this ministry — they love to hear from the children and love investing money and time in a relationship.”

- Don Taylor, Pastor - Ni River Community Church, Spotsylvania, Virginia

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I’ve just gotta shout out an

“Amen!”

For two weeks in a row now, the name of Jesus has been mentioned on American Idol. 

Last week, Jason Castro sang Traveling Through with these lyrics:

We’ve all been crucified and they nailed Jesus to the tree
and when I’m born again you’re going to see a change in me.
Oh sweet Jesus if you’re out there, won’t you keep me close to you?

Shortly after, Dolly Parton performed her song, Jesus and Gravity.

I’ve got something lifting me up, something holding me down
something to give me wings and to keep my feet on the ground
‘cuz I’ve got all I need…I’ve got Jesus and gravity.

Wednesday night, if you watched the Idol Gives Back program, Mariah Carey sang:

He said He’d never forsake you or leave you alone.
Trust Him. Right here by my side.
Carry me home. Jesus!

And then they closed the show with the popular worship song, Shout to the Lord.  Even though they replaced the name of Jesus with the word, “shepherd” in the first verse, they were still singing this song, written as a praise to our Creator: 

Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing
Power and majesty praise to the King!
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
at the sound of your name!

I’m not sure if there’s necessarily a spiritual “movement” taking place on America’s #1 rated television show, or if the program is just trying to appeal to a Christian audience to get them to donate to the causes they support. But the fact that millions are hearing the name of Jesus and hearing songs meant to worship Him, is amazing.  Becky, one of my co-workers (and another regular contributor to this blog), reminded me of this verse in Philippians:

But what does it matter? The important thing is that
in every way, whether from false motives or true,
Christ is preached. And because of this, I rejoice.
-Philippians 1:18 (NIV)

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For the past month, we’ve been talking about our holistic child development model, and we did it with a series of posts called 10 Questions. But the questions are done now, other than this one. Got 10 minutes for a video?

It’s called Equipping the Church, and it explains our partnership with the local … anyone? … church. That’s right!

Who better to partner with when releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name than the local church? That’s a rhetorical question y’all. We said we’re done with the questions.

The local congregations are catalysts for community change. They command the resources and respect that are critical in developing the children in their communities. They make Compassion work.

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I’ve been working at Compassion for eight months, and I dig it. I dig it like Dig ‘Em digs Honey Smacks. There’s good people here, plenty of parking, a fantastic view of Pikes Peak, stellar lunch specials at the New Dehli Café and of course, a job that makes a difference.

Howwwever, I work on a computer. And I tend to work on that computer all day long, with nary a break. I don’t often make it to the café to enjoy my self-serve special for $4.99, and it really is special because I have a hand that serves and serves and serves.

I also frequently forget to take a breath and enjoy the view or even say cheerio to my co-workers. I glue my rear to my seat and my eyes to my monitor and there I stay for the day. Ugh!

And when I’m in this all-work mode, I often lose sight of why I’m working. I only see trees, no forest.

But all throughout the Global Ministry Center hangs artwork created by children in our sponsorship program. It’s amazing artwork, not only because of the talent it illustrates but because it exists.

What if Compassion wasn’t in this child’s life? Would this talent have had an opportunity to develop? Would it be given the chance to enrich other people lives, like it does mine when I scrape my eyes from my computer screen?

Here’s what I’m talking about.

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