Where is the verse that says,

“Thou shalt sponsor a child in poverty”?

I know the verses in the Bible about helping the needy and giving to the poor.

But is sponsorship the way to accomplish this?

This question made itself at home in my mind while traveling to the Philippines. It’s been kicking around up there for five days now. And you know what? I didn’t know how to answer it.

So the pondering and the research began …

Then I thought of this verse,

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14 (NIV)

This came from the mouth of Jesus. Jesus said,

“Let the little children come to me.”

Something incredible has been happening every time I have stepped into a child development center this week. I meet children living in desperate poverty and they’re praying. They’re reading the Bible. They’re reciting the Word of the Lord.

They’re children. And they are being brought to Jesus. Their circumstances aren’t hindering them. The lack of all things material is not hindering them. Living in a home that would cause most of us to lose all hope isn’t hindering them.

Someone is bringing the little children to Jesus.

Today the Compassion Bloggers and I visited Kapatirang Kristiyano sa Coloong Child Development Center.

At this center I met a girl named Mary Rose. I asked her what her favorite verse is.

She was so excited I asked her! Her whole face lit up and she said in one breath,

“Mark 10:14, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” (NIV)

As you can imagine, I was beyond delighted to hear this.

I asked Mary Rose why she loves that verse and she explained (with a passion I rarely see),

“Because the children need to know who Jesus is. I want to teach children who He is.”

She’s 14 by the way.

After talking to her, my question popped up into my head again,

“Would Jesus sponsor a child in poverty?”

Then Janna came up and grabbed my hand and asked if I would sit with her for lunch. What a treat!

I asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up. You’ll never believe what she said. (You’ll have to listen closely. The background noise makes it difficult to hear her.)

She wants to be a missionary. She wants to tell people that Jesus died for their sins.

And then my question dropped from me.

I’m not going to say whether I think Jesus would or would not sponsor a child in poverty. I will say that Jesus wanted the children to come to Him.

I think a church – located in the midst of poverty, ministering to all the needs of the children (physical, spiritual, socio-emotional and cognitive) and sharing what the ultimate hope is, sharing that the children have a Savior and He knows their names – well, I think that is a pretty good way to bring the children to Jesus.

As a sponsor, I was really encouraged today. Today, I received a subtle affirmation,

“You are bringing the children to Me.”

Do you know what Jesus did after the children were brought to Him?

“And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.” Mark 10:16 (NIV)

Thank you for bringing the little ones to Jesus.

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On the second page was our mission statement, “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name,” and a picture of Roselyn.

I remember the first time I read about Roselyn. It was my first month on the job. Edwin Estioko in the Philippines had written a story about her in September 2007:

Inside the unfinished concrete house I wait for Roselyn. Her mother, Rufina, pulls out a plastic chair for me. She narrates how they were evicted from their old shanty and how now they have to occupy this roofless, doorless bunker.

Then 10-year-old Roselyn comes running in, smiling as if she already knows me. Neighbors follow her in.

“Hello, Roselyn,” I introduce myself and tell her I am visiting to know more about her special condition. Her smile and endearing eyes help us get acquainted easily. She’s dark and sweaty from playing under the sun.

I ask, “What do you hope to be when you grow up?”

“I want to be a doctor.”

All her neighbors and relatives laugh. Even her big sister, Rosel, giggles.

They laugh not only for the impossibility to afford medical school, but also for the irony. Roselyn is in need of a doctor. She is dying.

In 2002, Roselyn was registered at Kapatirang Kristiyano sa Coloong. Her wit and spunky attitude made her stand out.

Alma, her caseworker in the center, remembers, “Roselyn was always one of the quickest to recite and answer questions in class. She had no problem speaking her mind.”

In 2004, Roselyn’s profile reported, “She runs fast, very energetic. She is lively and fun.” But that year, all the children at the child development center had their medical checkup.

It was then that Roselyn found out she was sick. “They said there’s something wrong with my heart, that I cannot play anymore as I used to. I guess that’s why I get tired easily from playing and studying.”

Roselyn has rheumatic heart disease, made more complicated by a leaking mitral valve.

The student center acted quickly, consulting with doctors and specialists at the Philippine Heart Center, and immediately Roselyn entered a medical regimen that required her to visit the hospital every 21 days for her shots and to take two medicines every day.

“I am very thankful to Compassion and Roselyn’s sponsor,” Rufina says. “Without their help I don’t know how I could afford all her medicines,” she continues. “It is even difficult for me to buy food every day.” She earns $2 per day selling ice cream. The father left the family, which is why they live in this roofless bunker.

Rufina says, “I don’t know what will happen to us. We just keep on living every day and hoping for the best in God.”

Roselyn has a positive outlook. Although she feels the pangs of poverty — not eating enough some days and not living in a safe and comfortable home — poverty could not steal away her hope in life. She is happy.

Roselyn looks forward to going to school every day, to study and to finish her assignments. She says, “I hope that I could also live longer so I could finish my studies and help my mother someday.”

The day after I re-read Roselyn’s story, I got an e-mail from Edwin.

Roselyn passed away.

This beautiful, spunky, playful and hopeful girl left this world and went back to her Father.

Roselyn’s heart disease was most likely caused by an untreated infection in childhood — a common consequence of poverty.

At first I was worried. Her picture has been used in various publications, and now prominently in this book. But as I thought about it more, it seems to be a proper memorial for Roselyn.

Our mission is to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name, to enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults. Roselyn won’t ever be an adult on this Earth. But she can help us remember all the other Roselyns. The little girls and boys with piercing eyes and a lot of spunk.

I know a lot of you speak up for these children, just like for Roselyn. Keep doing it.

When you get tired or frustrated, remember Roselyn. Remember that poverty is real. Remember our mission. Remember all the children like her who have dreams and need hope and opportunities for their future.

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