I grew up in Wisconsin, a part of the U.S. that doesn’t get a lot of attention. But it’s a beautiful, fruitful area. There are farms, gardens, orchards and, of course, dairy cows. My first job was working on an apple orchard when I was 14.

The harvest was my favorite time, when people came out to buy bushels of fresh apples. It took years to develop the trees to get that fruit. And then it took continual care to keep the apples coming. But as every farmer knows, you can only do what you can do — there are limits.

Ministry is like farming, too.

Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6, NIV). Paul assumed the people he was talking to understood farming — they understood there were limits to what they could do and what they couldn’t. He helped them see that this applied to ministry as well.

The ministry that Compassion does around the world is development. And, just as in farming, we do what we do for the outcomes — the fruit — not for the activities themselves. A farmer doesn’t grow trees because it’s good to grow trees; he grows trees in order to get the apples. At Compassion, we don’t busy ourselves with activities because the activities are good, but because we want to see an outcome of our labor — good fruit.

John 15:8 (NIV) says, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Disciples bear fruit, and we want to bear much fruit.

In order to do this, we need to know what we are growing, what it takes to grow good fruit, and how we evaluate good fruit. We don’t want to just have fruit that looks good. Think of a Red Delicious apple. They’re beautiful from the outside, but sometimes when you bite in to one, you find it’s not all that good.

The fruit we hope to see in the children we minister to are that they would know Jesus, that they would be healthy, that they would be able to get a job or create income for themselves, and that they would be able to relate well to others and have an appropriate attitude about themselves. This fruit may look different in every child, just as every seed grows up to look so different.

But as with farming, we know that we can’t control every element in a child’s life. It’s a lot easier to garden in Wisconsin than it is here in Colorado. I used to garden with my mother, and it was so fun to watch the seeds sprout and the tender plants push through the rich black soil. I wanted my kids to have that same experience here, so we planted gardens. But the soil, the sun, the wind, the hail and the drought of Colorado made that much more difficult than in Wisconsin.

Colorado is a harsh environment in which to grow vegetables, just as much of the world is a harsh environment in which to raise children. Many of these young people with amazing potential are growing up in the harshest of environments. The conditions of our world and the conditions of our souls hold us in bondage. God’s children are shackled by the chains of disease and a world that underestimates them. They are in bondage to the shallow dreams of those who walk before them telling stories about the limits of life.

We could get discouraged. What chance do these kids have? The fruit we want to see in these children seems impossible! But God is the God of impossible. Many do make it against amazing odds, clinging to life, blooming in inhospitable places. Our job is to make that more likely.

But in our excitement about bearing fruit, I have a warning. Our goals are ambitious. Our dreams are visionary. But our expectations have to be tempered with some realism. We must be careful in our zeal to see children released in marvelous ways that we not place unrealistic expectations on them. They are unique human beings with their own set of potentials and gifts and their own set of struggles and problems. Our job is to love them and to help them and to let them grow.

It makes me think of one of my favorite children’s movies, Mary Poppins. Do you remember the scene in which Mary Poppins pulls out her measuring tape to see how the kids measure up? Michael was “extremely stubborn and suspicious,” while Jane was “rather inclined to giggle.” Mary Poppins was, of course, “Practically perfect in every way.”

Sometimes I think we expect the kids in our programs to measure up to the Mary Poppins standard. Just as Jane and Michael Banks didn’t measure up, neither will our kids at various times. As we watch them grow, we have to set reasonable targets. And even as they are leaving the program, we need to remember that they are adolescents — at a most vulnerable and chaotic stage of life. These are young people figuring out their way in the world. They make mistakes; they have a journey to travel. Many of them are becoming more and more like Jesus, but they’re not quite there yet. Just like you and me!

So we continue to plant, and we continue to water. We know what fruit we want to see in the children we minister to, but we also know that God is the one who will make it grow.

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Sergio lives in the poor community of Carranza, near the Gulf of México, in the state of Veracruz. Children living in communities like Carranza are normally shy, with few aspirations or dreams. The message poverty engraves in the minds and hearts is, “You are not good enough, you don’t matter, and you are not going to make it.”

But Sergio has been part of the Compassion-assisted A Light to My Path Student Center for four years. The tutors at the center believe children have a God-given potential to succeed even against their poverty, lack of resources and opportunities, and all other circumstances around them.

Sergio and nearly 200 other children in his town attend the development center. They enjoy some classes after school to support their learning. They are taught how to keep themselves healthy by practicing sports, eating vegetables, showering, and keeping healthy practices. Children have a place to feel they are valued and loved.

But most important, children here learn about the love and the plans God has for them.

As part of the regular activities, the children are taken to nearby courts to practice basketball, football and other sports. The church organizes games and events to promote their involvement.

Sergio used to be part of the football team; the church pastor was involved, helping to support the children and guide them to learn to win and to lose, managing their emotions, and playing clean.

But two years ago the school PE teacher found that many children in town had running talent, and Sergio stood out with his speed, endurance and commitment, so the teacher began training him on 600-meter and relay races.

Sergio has liked to run since he was a little boy. His mother, Cita, recalls him winning his first race in his kindergarten sports games.

“He was always running up and down. He usually had many bruises because he was never still.”

After a few months of training, the school had a very strong 4-by-75 meter relay team and started winning races against other schools in the area. The team made it to the state races and then qualified for the nationals.

The state of Veracruz supported their talent and hard work, and provided support for them to keep training. Then, suddenly, a situation rose like a wall in their path. The national races required equipment.

The final races in the state had been very difficult, and a professional coach recommended the team use spikes to run. Children and families had never heard such a thing. Special running shoes were not only needed, but costly — $120 a pair.

With a family of five children and the small income of a truck driver, Cita knows “the only opportunity our children have to get new clothes or shoes is when they receive a gift from their sponsor.”

Sergio’s father works 14 hours a day, six days a week to earn a maximum wage of $12 per day to support his family. Getting $120 shoes seemed impossible.

But child development programs like the one Sergio attends keep telling children they are valued and have the potential to become anything they would like to be. They insist there is nothing impossible to God, and the message they hear from their tutors reminds them of the opportunity they have to do better, to dream, and to fulfill those dreams.

Sergio struggled with this idea over and over in his head. Then on a hot afternoon while Cita was walking in the street market, she found a secondhand pair of shoes that were funny looking. Her heart jumped and she ran to the school to show the PE teacher the shoes.

“These are the shoes we need for the children,” he said.

Still amazed, the mother brought Sergio to try on the shoes, and they were just about his size. The mother then talked to the father and they agreed to use some money they had saved for months and paid the price for the shoes, $20.

“What a great day,” Sergio recalls. After all, he was the first in the team to get the spikes needed for the race, and today he is part of the athletics team at school running 600 meters and as the starter of the 4-by-75 relay race team.

Last year Sergio’s team reached the nationals and won fourth place in their discipline. For Sergio and the other children, winning the races meant satisfaction and recognition by their family, school, teachers, friends and others in their community.

When Sergio participates in his races, the church gives him full support and has always taught him to behave as a son of God. Every time he goes off to competitions, his pastor and teachers pray with him and follow his results.

After winning his last race in the state, he was presented at church and the pastor prayed for him and for his family on Sunday morning. Sergio knows that despite where he is from, he is loved by God and is good enough to win a race. He knows that strength, wisdom and speed, in his case, are all gifts from God.

Sergio is confident enough to race, and he knows he is good. He has received many medals and recognition, but he knows how to keep both feet on the ground. He does not boast about himself or walk around the community with pride; even when he is well known by many, he greets all and smiles shyly. He is still humble enough to do the errands for his mother and church.

Sergio trains on a regular basis, attends the Compassion program, keeps good grades at school, and helps his mother at home. When races approach, the athletics team meets every afternoon to train. They have to go to a main town to find a sand court and train. This requires dedication and persistence.

Sergio says he prefers the relay race over the 600 meters because the relay is when he gets to run faster to win for the team. But the longer race requires persistence, he has to endure the race, and then at the end he needs to run faster to finish the race in a good position.

Perhaps persistence is one of the things we most need to succeed, and children in our programs need to endure the long run. Sergio is surely learning this lesson. And as the state and national races approach this year, Sergio is growing stronger and hopefully he will endure long enough not only to make it to the nationals this year, but to succeed in life and shape a brighter future for himself.

After all, nothing is impossible with God.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NIV)

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There is one vital action that is always open to us: Prayer.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” – Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

If you’re trying to find someway to respond, consider calling together a prayer group. Spend the night praying for Haiti and make one of the most traditional Haitian dishes, Soup Joumou, which they use to celebrate the new year.

Things to Pray:

• For the safety and rescue of David Hames and for peace and encouragement for his family
• For those still trapped in the rubble
• For those working to rescue people
• That roads would be passable to get in water, food, medicine, and other aid
• For our staff, church partners, and children
• That reliable communication channels can be established
• For efficient and strategic responses to the crisis
• For God’s will to be done
• For God to get all the glory

Ask your friends to each bring $5 or $10 to help pay for the soup and give the rest of the money to relief or rebuilding efforts. You can cook the soup together and use it as a time to build relationships, share prayer requests, and support one another.

Soup Joumou (Pumpkin Soup)

4 cloves garlic
1 t thyme
¼ t black pepper
1 t salt
1 c sliced green onions
1 pound of stew meat
3 quarts water
1 whole scotch bonnet or habanero pepper
1 pound pumpkin (or winter squash such as butternut), peeled and chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 medium turnips, cubed
4 potatoes, cubed
1 pound cabbage, finely chopped
4 ounces vermicelli pasta (or any thin pasta), broken in half
2 limes, juiced
salt and pepper

Combine the first five ingredients in a large plastic bag. Add the stew meat and shake to coat the meat. Leave in the bag for an hour. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot, and add the meat and chili pepper. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 2 hours. Remove the meat and set aside. Remove the pepper and discard.

Add the pumpkin and carrots, and cook covered until very tender, about 20 minutes. Puree the pumpkin and carrots in the broth, using an immersion blender. Or puree in a standard blender and pour back into the pot. (You may need to do this in several batches.) Add the meat back to the pot.

Add the celery, onion, turnips, and potato to the soup, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Thin the broth with as much water as needed—it should not be too thick. Add cabbage and cook 15 more minutes. Add the vermicelli and cook until it is tender. Thin again with water as needed. Stir in the lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.

Recipe reprinted from Passport to Prayer: A Journey of Compassion by Michael and Amber Van Schooneveld with permission from the publisher.

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My association with Compassion began 10 years ago this month as my family attended our very first Creation Festival at Agape Farm, Shirleysburg, Pennsylvania.

On a sizzling summer evening, our twins, Danny and Justin, age 11, responded to an altar call and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. To commemorate the awesomeness of the occasion, the next day, and led by the Holy Spirit, my wife and I allowed them to select a Compassion child to sponsor.

Prior to June 1999, neither of us had ever heard of Compassion. Perhaps we should have scrutinized the Compassion program a wee bit before diving in, but because we felt compelled by God to sponsor, we willingly took that leap of faith.

In hindsight, it really wasn’t that much of a leap — the cost of sponsorship, about a $1 a day, was not going to be missed when we paid the monthly bills. I didn’t actually examine Compassion’s ministry until about two years later when I decided to become a volunteer in the Advocates Network.

My investigation revealed that Compassion is the real deal — the program was and still is steeped in integrity, the fragrance of Jesus Christ wafting throughout.

As far as Christian, child development, ministries are concerned, I was sold on the fact that Compassion is numero uno in three critical areas:

• partnering with the local church
• bringing children into saving relationships with Jesus Christ
• discipling these kids in their newfound faith

Grateful to God

I also liked the fact that Compassion just didn’t take volunteers off the street. There was a process involved with becoming an Advocate for children living in poverty.

First and foremost, volunteer Advocates are required to be active, Christ-proclaiming Christians. In addition, references were needed as were background checks.

Despite all that, they still allowed me into their fold — I thank God quite regularly for using me in this capacity.

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.” — 1 Corinthians 2:1 (NKJV)

After being received into the Advocates Network, I worried that perhaps I was in over my head. The things Compassion was asking me to do were way beyond my comfort zone.

God calmed me then and He still comforts me now, reminding me that in my frailty, in my need and even in my distress, when it is for His sake, I am made strong. Just recently I heard an account regarding D. L. Moody, which offered some more assurance.

Although Moody was one of America’s most effective evangelists, he was not linguistically polished — a trait I can readily identify with.

After one of his sermons, he was approached by a congregant who was quick to point out 18 grammatical errors in his teaching. His response nailed his position while simultaneously convicting the woman in hers, “Ma’am, I am using all the grammar I got for the Lord. What are you doing with yours?” Amen, Dwight!

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” — 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NKJV)

Bridled But Not Broken

I credit God with using Compassion as an instrument in His hand to grow me up in the faith. Honestly, I cannot imagine where I would be spiritually if not for my involvement with Compassion and child advocacy. I suspect I would be wallowing away somewhere in pew wondering what God’s plan was and how He intended to use me for His good pleasure.

Ravi

But I don’t have to wonder. God wound up bringing me to India where He would impart to me a small portion of the throbbing ache contained within His heart .

Ravi was an astonishing guy. I heard him speak at a local New Jersey church about how the Lord was using him to share the Good News, save lost souls, and plant churches in and around his native Bangalore, India.

When he had finished his talk, almost nonchalantly he asked if anyone would like to go with him to India to spread the Gospel and plant some churches. My hand sprung up before I even realized what it was I was doing — before I had even discussed the matter with my wife.

Six months later I found myself walking among the children of an Indian slum. It took only but a few moments for my heart to break. From the heavens I think I heard a faint, “Mission accomplished.”

Did I mention that Ravi was a formerly sponsored Compassion child?

It’s true! This was not an official Compassion tour, but God still brought Compassion into the equation.

On the trip we estimated that perhaps 500 people gave their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ, and five churches were planted.

One day, while we were all muttering around, Ravi stopped a Hindu priest as he walked home for lunch. Ravi shared the Gospel with him and he ended up receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!

I learned after we had gotten home to the states that this former Hindu priest had in fact enrolled in Bible school! God is so good!

Anyway, that’s how I found Compassion (or how Compassion found me) and how the Lord has used His ministry to bless me, refine me and raise me in the faith.

I will never cease to be amazed how God can bless both the giver and the receiver, and anyone else who just happens to be passing by.

What’s your Compassion story?

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