When I was in high school, I had a few friends who were strong evangelical Christians.

Tim was one of them, and he unabashedly shared his faith on a regular basis. Because of Tim, I was introduced to Christian music à la Michael W. Smith on a bus ride home from a school trip – ahhhh good times!

I was ornery then, and though Tim was a good friend, I wanted to see how Christian he really was, so I’d try to push his buttons to make him mad. Sometimes I’d cuss in front of him just to see what he would do. While he’d tell me he didn’t like my words, he was unwavering and stayed my friend.

When I read this quote from Lloyd Pulley about sharing the Gospel it made me think of Tim.

“The most important call upon our lives is to make disciples. Whether we are Sunday school teachers, preachers, mothers, fathers, friends or co-workers, we all have been given the same mandate from the Lord to go into the world and be witnesses of Him.

Fear of rejection hinders many of us from sharing the Gospel. Taking a stand for Jesus can be a little risky and may cost us friendships, but aren’t you glad someone took that risk with you?”

I am so grateful for Tim’s friendship and that he took a risk with me. Now, as I think about sharing the gospel with others, I keep these five principles in mind. They’re from Pulley’s book, Everyday Conversations, Eternal Impact.

Five Principals for Sharing the Gospel (S.H.A.R.E.)

1. Be Sensitive to the Spirit

   How many times do you struggle to make something happen, but when you stop to pray, the Holy Spirit gives you the perfect solution and your task is accomplished in no time?

   Being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit is critical when sharing the gospel with others. By listening to His prompting we can be led in what to say – and not to say – to someone who doesn’t know Him.



2. Humbly Build a Bridge

   At my college there was this green grassy area called “the mall” where students hung out, studied, played Frisbee, and so on.

   Often there’d be someone standing out on the mall sharing the gospel by yelling at passersby telling them that they were going to hell. I never once saw someone stop and talk to the yeller and say, “Oh you are right. I’ll go ahead and become a Christian now.”

   When we approach people with humility and respect, they are more receptive to what we have to say. People want to know that you, and Jesus, genuinely care about them.

   Jesus treated the Samaritan woman in John 4 with respect and, in turn, she and her entire community became believers.

3. Arouse Interest

   In a world where so many are busy, tired and hurting, it won’t take much to arouse interest. People want to know that the things in their lives matter to another human being.

   When you take time to talk to others, opening a door to share the gospel, take a genuine interest in them and they will take interest in what you have to say.

4. Reveal Sin

   Today, pointing out sin is not PC and equals disrespect and being unloving. I am an emotions-based person, so the idea that someone could feel disrespected or unloved based on my words or actions is devastating. At the same time, this isn’t about me.

   I am a sinner saved by grace, so talking about someone’s sin isn’t about pointing and condemning – it’s about extending the Christ’s freedom to that person. It’s telling them that the junk they struggle with – sin – doesn’t have to be an ongoing struggle.

5. Explain the Plan of Salvation

   When sharing the gospel with others, you may never get to a point of explaining the plan of salvation to them. If you do, stick to the simplicity of the truth. Often people have questions like “Why does God allow cancer or war?” While those are good questions, they are a distraction from the point of your conversation.

   The point is: Jesus loves them, died for them and wants to have a personal relationship with them. It is that truth that will change their lives – for eternity.

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Lloyd Pulley is the senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge in New Jersey and author of Everyday Conversations, Eternal Impact.

After 9/11, Pulley spent time in New York City sitting with those who had been traumatized, listening to them and their stories. During these months of ministry with wounded strangers, Pulley had a revelation from Jesus Himself.

A revelation for those who desire to share Jesus with others as well as those who desire to know that they are loved by God.

During this chaotic time, Pulley was studying the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman. As he read the verses from John 4, he realized that the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus was not only life changing for her, but is an everyday model for us in how we can reach the hearts of the lost.

For the lost who are living in sin and know it. And for the lost who have been battered and abused by life after making one bad decision after another.

Know anyone like that? Were you or are you someone like that?

The things Jesus said to the Samaritan woman and the questions He asked were undergirded by godly wisdom that in turn revealed Himself to her and His love for her. Jesus was intentional in the way He communicated to her.

I want to be able to speak to others like Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman. But how do I start a conversation about Jesus with a total stranger? What’s the best way to talk to people about sin without making them feel worse and turning them away from Christ?

Pulley uses the acronym S.H.A.R.E. to explain how to offer the gospel to others as Jesus did in this story. S.H.A.R.E. means:

S – Sensitive to the Spirit
H – Humbly Build a Bridge
A – Arouse Interest
R – Reveal Sin
E – Explain the Plan of Salvation

With each letter, he explains how to engage others in conversation about Jesus in a genuine way. A way that may or may not lead them to a relationship with Christ, but a way that will let the person you are talking with know that there is a God whose name is Jesus, He is loving and He wants to be in relationship with each of us.

Pulley reminded me that if I let the Lord lead my conversations, I can rest assured knowing that each conversation I have about Jesus is ultimately in His hands.

This book has been a mirror for me; helping me to see times I have hurt others with my attempts to share Christ. It has also shown me times when I thought I messed it all up, and while the outcome wasn’t exactly as I had hoped, I was right where the Lord wanted me to be.

Do you struggle with evangelism and sharing the gospel with others? Are you ever uncertain about when is the right time to talk about Jesus, the need for a Savior, and the realities of sin?

Tell me how you start the conversation and how you approach the subject without alienating the other person.

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As a junior in high school, I have many opportunities to make a difference and change lives.

Whether it is donating to worthy causes, helping out at the soup kitchen, or leading the youth group praise band, the choices are endless. But, with so much need in the world I didn’t know where to begin. So I did nothing.

However, that changed when I learned about the impact I could make by sponsoring a child through Compassion. For $38 a month I can help a child with her education, ensure she gets regular meals at the child development centers, receives Bible teaching, and so much more!

A group of children in Thailand having fun in front of the camera.

I was eager to sponsor a child but hesitated because the thought of making a monthly commitment of $38 while in junior high was intimidating.

It took several weeks before I finally worked up the courage to go for it. I sponsored Dudsanee, a 4-year-old girl in Thailand, and emptied my pockets to make my first donation.

It’s been nearly a year since I started sponsoring Dudsanee, and I can honestly say that it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. To all you teens out there who are hesitant to sponsor a child, I want to encourage you to go for it! I am living proof that what you do makes a difference in so many lives, including your own.

Still doubtful? Here are five ways that my monthly sacrifice has been so worth it:

1. My relationship with God has improved.

Ever since I sponsored Dudsanee, my faith in God has become a lot stronger.

As a kid with no job, I have to rely on occasional babysitting opportunities or birthday money for income. Sometimes it’s tight, and I barely have enough money to make payments. But God does some awesome things — I have yet to come up short.

Knowing that God is going to provide for my sponsored child has given me faith in other areas of my life as well.

My prayer life has also changed. I have a picture of my sponsored child in one of my school binders. Every time I see her picture, I remember to pray for her.

Having a reason to lift up prayer requests to God on behalf of my Dudsanee has definitely changed the way that I pray.

2. I don’t think of myself as much.

The day I learned my sponsored child’s family income was less than a dollar a day, I was heartbroken to realize what I have as opposed to what others have.

Knowing the difference between the lives we both live has motivated me to get involved in other outreaches within my community. And, experiencing the kind of love a child can send through letters inspires me to love everyone I come across.

Sacrificing my time and money has also been very perspective-changing.

At first, I wasn’t too excited about giving $38 a month for a child I would probably never even meet. However, understanding her needs has made sacrificing things like movie tickets and cute T-shirts worth it.

3. God has rocked my world for the nations.

Through learning about my little girl’s country, I have fallen in love with people who have not yet heard the amazing story of Jesus.



I know that other religions like Buddhism and animism are prominent in Thailand where, Dudsanee lives and I want to put a stop to it.

In the U.S., knowing Jesus is something that is often taken for granted. But in other parts of the world, it’s not.

Can you imagine being able to play a part in your sponsored child’s walk with God? You may even help him or her make the best decision ever by accepting Christ!

We have the opportunity to reach the nations from our own homes.

4. My relationship with my sponsored child has been proof that we make a difference in the lives of others.

I love connecting with my sponsored child. Being able to encourage her through letter writing is a tangible way to make a difference, and receiving letters and drawings from her shows me just how much of an impact I have on Dudsanee.

Having her say she promises to be a good girl because she knows it will make me proud and she loves hearing from me and loves me so much in the letters I receive draws me closer to her and helps me know and understand just how real she is.

I love watching her grow through updated pictures and reading about her daily life. It’s so humbling to be able to be a part of her world!

5. I have been blessed just as much as my sponsored child has.

I always thought I was the one being a blessing, but sponsoring Dudsanee has humbled me.

This little girl knows my name and prays for me regularly. She wants so badly to please me and she considers me her sister. How cool is that?



Thai girls praying. (Dudsanee not pictured)

To think that she will always remember my name and that I have been given the opportunity to make a difference in her precious little life has shown me that the small sacrifices I make to provide for her and encourage her will make all the difference to her.

She will grow up with hope and opportunity to fulfill her dreams. She will be given the chance to rise above poverty and make an impact on others in the same way that Compassion has affected her.

Most importantly, she will learn about God’s love for her. And it’s all because of the amazing things God does through us.

Guys and gals, it doesn’t get much better than that.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hannah Beam is a member of Compassion’s Advocate’s Network and seeks to reach other teens to help fight global poverty. You can check out her blog at hannahproject195.blogspot.com.

If you’re interested in writing a guest blog post, we are happy to consider publishing it. Read our guest blog post guidelines.

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Abandonment, hunger, solitude – Cristiano has been through tough situations in his life and now his experiences are the foundation of his job as a Partnership Facilitator in our Brazil office.

A Partnership Facilitator (PF) is responsible for overseeing all issues related to the partnership between our ministry and the partner church. A Facilitator works with the partner church in a very professional and respectful way in order to:

• make sure they have the same vision and goals,
• build respect and mutual trust,
• promote shared commitment, and
• establish the function, expectations and responsibilities in a very clear way.

Cristiano has been a Partnership Facilitator since 2008. His main function is to make sure that all the results we strive to achieve really happen.

Cristiano, his wife, Sheyla, and his daughter, Leticia

As a teenager, Cristiano was asked to leave home because he had abandoned his father’s dream for him to become a famous soccer player. This resulted in mistreatment from his father, so young Cristiano lived in the center of Recife and had to sleep on the street with nothing to eat.

“I used to go to the supermarket and use the deodorant and other product samples for my personal hygiene.”

He used to say to himself, over and over again,

“I’m not a thief. I’m not a thief.”

Cristiano’s life is filled with the small victories that God saves for those who remain faithful to Him. For example, Cristiano worked hard to get a job as a janitor at a midsize company. In six months, he became the local manager.

Cristiano’s father had had a plan for his son to be a soccer player. But God, Cristiano’s heavenly Father, had another plan. Now Cristiano is one of the coordinators of the Brazilian Sports League, a Christian organization that uses sports as a tool for evangelism.

Through this work, Cristiano helps churches implement evangelistic sports projects. (Brazilian people love sports!) Thousands of lives have been reached – and many of them are children.

“When I’m at a child development center, I look at the children and I know exactly what they need, because I have lived in hunger, abandonment, neglect and solitude. I know and understand why God allowed me to go through all these things.”

Cristiano’s life story is unique and inspiring. He loves his job and knows that he was chosen by God to help release children from poverty. Here is more from a conversation I had with Cristiano:

How did you hear about Jesus?

I was a teenager and crazy about soccer. My big idol was Silas. He was a World Cup player (team of ’86 and ’90) in Brazil. One day I was reading his book, and at the end of the book he invited the readers to join the team of Jesus. He was a Christian, and I didn’t know that. I was curious:

“Who is Jesus? Why is Silas talking about Him? Why is this Jesus so important that ‘the great Silas’ wants to praise Him?”

So I looked for Jesus in the Bible, and I found Him. I realized that soccer was not the reason for my existence, but the Lord Jesus was this reason.

And then you had to leave your house because your father was persecuting you?

Yes, my father had lived all his life planning my career as a professional player. After I became a Christian I lost my motivation for that because I saw that life was not just about soccer. I understood that God had another plan for me. My father was frustrated and said I should leave the house.

How did you start working for Compassion?

I heard about this job opening and I sent my resume. I participated in interviews and I was not called for the job immediately, but I was sure that I would be called one day. I knew that God had prepared me all these years to work with Compassion. I waited for a year to be called. I was sure that they would call me.

Why did you wait for so long without looking for another job?

Working for the growth of the kingdom of God was always a goal for me. When I heard about the ministry’s mission I prayed,

“Lord, this is what I want to invest my life in. Give me this privilege.”

And how did your family react?

Our financial situation was complicated, and they were putting lots of pressure on me. But I was convicted that God had chosen me to work at Compassion and that conviction was greater than the difficulties we were going through. I waited in faith. Now it’s been two years and six months that I have been serving in the ministry.

Tell us about your job and your daily life.

I usually wake up at 5:30. I prepare everything the night before — clothes, materials, plan of visits, the schedule for the day. I usually go to the child development center by bus. It takes about 50 minutes to get to the center in Recife and two hours to get to the centers in João Pessoa. I always visit one development center a day and answer emails during the intervals between the visit and when I’m working from home.

When I’m working from home I have many activities such as preparing plans for the facilitation visits of the week; answering emails; calling the centers to talk about partnership issues, disputes, and so forth; and studying facilitation module and curricular programs.

What do you most enjoy about your work?

When I’m at the child development centers and give them some individual attention. I interact with the team of the center, the children and families.

Share an experience or situation that you witnessed that really touched you.

On my first visit to the development center, Vida VI, I saw a 2-year-old child playing alone in the trash — no clothes, and completely dirty. I was touched by that. That’s where the church of Christ comes and fulfills its role in society. Such scenes are becoming increasingly rare.

What does releasing children from poverty mean to you?

It means looking at the situation of each child who lives in social risk and seeing opportunities. Releasing children is being compassionate, acting intentionally, doing the best I can to provide real opportunities for them to become responsible adults and authentic Christians who will make a difference in this world.

How can you see God’s care in your life?

God’s love overwhelms me. When I was in pain I had the best experiences with God. I could see the greatness of His love. I feel His care everywhere. In spite of the suffering and all I have been through, He was always by my side and helped me right when I needed Him.

What motivates you in your work as a Partnership Facilitator?

Knowing that I am an instrument in God’s hands to help the church of Christ rescue an entire community that may not have a perspective for the future, that is full of children and young people with no opportunities in life.

Would you like to say something to the sponsors?

Sponsors, never stop being a blessing in the lives of the children you sponsor. Keep praying for them. You are so important to them. You are instruments of God in their lives.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”    – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

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My wife and I have been on three mission trips to Nicaragua, where we have built several relationships with people living in extreme poverty. Since that first trip, we have made fighting extreme poverty a life-long goal.

I have struggled to figure out how to use the gifts God has given me to do the work He wants me to do, which is how the seed of making a difference was planted for me and has now sprouted into a company: ResQrags.

My concept is to create shirts with a simple design that emphasizes a powerful message of hope and love. Every message is inspired by the Word of God. Every shirt has a purpose.

I donate more than 50 percent of the proceeds from ResQrags to causes I believe in. And if you purchase a shirt, you decide which program your purchase should support.

• Rescuing moms and babies
• Developing future leaders
• Disaster relief and stability
• Health and medical needs

10 Ways ResQrags Make the World a Better Place

1. “My shirt raises awareness.”
Whether it is about extreme poverty or the meaning of the shirt’s specific message, ResQrags raise awareness.

There are too many people who simply do not understand what extreme poverty means. People need to know that 1.4 billion people live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day.

ResQrags give you an opportunity to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. They allow you to share your faith and talk about things that matter to God.

2. “My shirt encourages others to take action.”
Many people want to make the world a better place but they don’t know where to start. ResQrags give you an easy way to get involved.

Buying a shirt provides financial support and wearing your shirt encourages others to take action. There is strength in numbers, which is why I have made ResQrags as affordable as possible.

The more people who wear the shirts, the more of a positive impact we can make in the world. Everyone needs to be encouraged.

3. “My shirt provides disaster relief.”
Whether it is a tornado, earthquake, tsunami or hurricane, when natural disasters strike, people come together and help each other persevere.

Compassion’s Disaster Relief Fund provides food, blankets, shelter and replacement belongings for children and families when disasters strike.

4. “My shirt feeds the hungry.”
The current global food crisis is being called by many a “silent tsunami” that could plunge an additional 100 million people on every continent into hunger.

Food prices have risen as much as 100 percent in some countries since 2006. Compassion’s Global Food Crisis program provides food for the hungry.

5. “My shirt fights deadly diseases.”
My shirt helps break the devastating cycle of AIDS and provides care for people who are often cast out by society.

Compassion’s AIDS Intervention program helps staff, partners and families understand and prevent the disease, care for children who have lost their caregiver to AIDS, and provide treatment and care for people who already have the disease.

Compassion’s Malaria Intervention program helps children and their families receive the resources they need to fight the deadly disease, including mosquito nets to protect children from mosquito bites, prevention education, and access to medical treatment.

6. “My shirt builds unity.”
When people join forces and support a common cause, that’s when mountains can be moved.

Companies, non-profit organizations, churches, governments, faith-based groups, schools, and other groups need to find more ways to work together to help those in need.

ResQrags brings people together and partners with people committed to fighting extreme poverty and providing hope to the hopeless.

7. “My shirt develops leaders.”
Compassion’s Leadership Development Program helps identify young men and women who have shown potential to become Christian leaders who can, in turn, influence their own churches, communities and nations.

The Leadership Development Program assists with college tuition, books, and room and board. Leadership is crucial to making a difference. ResQrags is committed to building new leaders.

8. “My shirt shows compassion.”
Everyone needs to show mercy and compassion. And Compassion’s Child Survival Program saves the lives of young, vulnerable children and helps set them on the path toward healthy development.

The Highly Vulnerable Children program provides food, clothing and a nurturing Christian home environment to children in poverty who are orphans or who have no adult caregivers. Compassion is God’s way of motivating us to do His will.

9. “My shirt gives hope.”
A common theme in poor villages throughout the world is hopelessness. Without hope we have no reason to live. We are told in Romans 5:3-5:

“Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Hope reminds us how powerful God is. When we rely on God and follow His lead, He will provide. Hope does not disappoint us.

10. “My shirt shares my love.”
Jesus tells us to love each other as He has loved us. If we did everything in love, the world would be a much better place. I often take love for granted and underestimate its power. Without love we have nothing. ResQrags remind people how important it is to love one another. After all, God is love.

Wear love well. Join the fight against extreme poverty at www.resqrags.com. And show us how you “Wear It Well” by sharing your photos with us on Facebook.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Gannon and his wife, Tina, are the founders and owners of ResQrags. They live in Fort Myers, Fla., with their twin 6-year old boys.

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The Bible says a lot about the power of prayer and fasting. In the book of Joel the Lord calls His people to turn to Him with their entire heart so He can respond with kindness and not harm.

“Now, therefore,” says the LORD,

“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm. Joel 2:12-13 (NKJV)

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and the same kindness He wants to extend to His people in the verses above is the same kindness He wants to extend to us today.

The innocence, trust, and impressionability of children in the 4/14 Window make them open to Christ but also make them extremely vulnerable to the evils in our world that seek to forever ruin their lives and potential.

The 4/14 Window Global Initiative has called us to fast and pray today to promote the need for children worldwide to have an opportunity to experience the life-transforming hope of Christ.

Will you join us and the other supporters of the 4/14 Window Global Initiative by putting the power of fasting and prayer to work for children in our churches, cities, nations, and world?

Together, we can be a great, unified voice coming before God’s throne, praying for a new generation of Christ-followers who will transform the world.

There are three items we are highlighting about this day of fasting and prayer.

1. The theme of this fast is based on the biblical story of Esther, an orphaned girl, likely in her early teens, who called for a three-day fast to precede her intercession with the king that saved her people from annihilation. We are asking people to specifically ponder verse 4:14.
2. Join “The Esther Fast” today, fasting specifically for the protection of children in the 4/14 Window, asking God for their deliverance from the destructive influences of Satan.
3. Spend the day in prayer for the raising up of a new generation of Christ’s disciples from the 4/14 Window in your church, city, nation and world. If you are working today or have other obligations, we hope you will use your free times to pray.

Thank you for participating in this important event. Please come back and let us know how God touches your heart and mind today.

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One of the commentators is 12-year-old Olvin, the voice for the children in this special radio program produced by his church pastor.

The radio program is organized by the Iglesia de Dios de la Profecia and intends to spread the message of God’s love to every child, through music, Bible stories, a prayer time, and a question and answer time – an important part of the program in which Olvin has a big participation as he expresses his comments over the questions, and later prays for the children’s needs.

Young Olvin comes from a hard-working family. His mother works six days a week and comes home late, around 9 p.m. His father abandoned Olvin when he was just a baby.

Olvin has a 10-year-old sister named Eldis and a brother named Yair, who is 5 years old. Even though Yair and Olvin have the same father, only Yair has his father’s last name. Olvin’s father never recognized Olvin as a son.

When Olvin was first registered at the Juntos por la Ninez Student Center at age 8, he was a very shy and isolated boy. After he opened his heart to the Lord, Olvin was so excited to participate in the church activities and his self-esteem improved a lot.

“His enthusiasm was contagious, so I decided to invite him to participate in the children’s radio program that I have been directing for six years,” says Pastor Iris.

This young boy has become a well-known voice in his home town, and he is happy to be part of it. He enjoys praying and memorizing Bible verses, which has been very useful especially when expressing his comments on the radio program.

“I will tell you that I feel comfortable with the microphone because nobody is watching me; it is just me and my pastor, so it is great.”

Olvin’s mother is a loyal listener, and she is very proud of her son’s achievements. Olvin is confident that the good seed he plants through prayer will produce fruit and very soon he will see his mother accepting the Lord as her Savior.

Olvin attends the student center activities every Saturday in the morning, and this bright boy is quite sure that God has special plans for him.

“God has placed me in this situation because I can help others through this radio program.¨

A promising future awaits Olvin, perhaps as a professional radio commentator or an artist. But one thing is sure. His community will never be the same because Olvin feels committed to spread the message of the love of Jesus, the same message that he has experienced while attending the student center and the message that has given him a new and better purpose in his life.

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The other day I had an opportunity to spend an hour with a couple of our field staff, Mathew from India and Kevin from Bangladesh, and I asked them this question: How can Compassion work in India or Bangladesh or Indonesia?

Here is what they said …

We redefine the meaning of “evangelism.” The true way to evangelize someone is simply to act in a way that causes them to ask, “Why do you care?” This is what we do. We don’t “evangelize” the children in the sense most Westerners do. We simply care for them and then the parents ask why.

I’ve been processing that conversation ever since it occurred. Perhaps many of us have our focus in the wrong place. If Christians would make relationships our top priority, we wouldn’t have to put so much time or effort into evangelism. It would be the natural result.

What do you think?

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