What is it about the Olympic Games that suddenly turn us into Couch Coaches and Sofa Judges? We may never have seen gymnastics, pole vaulting, or aerial skiing live, let alone attempted the sport ourselves, yet if you listen to our commentary you’d think we were the world experts on the subject.

“That pole was angled 10 degrees too high.”

“She really should have received an extra 0.7 for that last backward somersault.”

I’ve noticed that we also slip into this mode with Idol, The X Factor, So You Think You Can Dance, and Next Top Model shows – suddenly we are the authority. I don’t know why we fall into this trap, but maybe it’s because we want to justify all that time we spend on our couches, sofas and lounges.

I was blessed to sit under the ministry of Pastor Jack Haynes for a few years. This man of God is a huge advocate for missions, and he taught us that as a Christian, you go or you send the gospel to the world. Through the ministry of Compassion I have discovered I can be a Missionary on the Couch.

While sitting on my blue couch I can make a donation to a children’s ministry in Burkina Faso. Leaning on my green, blue and purple dotted cushion I can pray for children, families and church workers in Thailand. Add a maroon stable-table to my lap and I can write words of love and encouragement to two awesome young men in El Salvador.

There in one place, I can “send” through financially supporting the work of Compassion, and I can “go” through letters and prayers.

Each time we write to our sponsored children we have the awesome privilege and opportunity to share God’s Word with them. We have the chance to do the work of a missionary – take the gospel to another place and culture. The chance is there to share Jesus, or to talk about the weather and our latest expensive holiday once again, the choice is ours.

So go on, take time today to be a Missionary on the Couch. It’s comfortable and it’s fun.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

In this clip, Tony explains how Leadership Development Program students are missionaries to their classmates.

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

The winding path to her home is so narrow that only one person at a time can pass through. Children play and run along the narrow maze of alleyways, throwing rocks at houses, cursing at people and threatening other children. They are noisy, dirty and disrespectful.

Patricia had enough of them and one day decided to do something about it. She decided to teach them the Bible so that they can change their ways. She gathered these rowdy children aged 5 to 10 years old so that she can teach them about Jesus.

Patricia is only 12 years old.

“I teach them about Jesus … so that they can become better children. At first, it was just a teacher-student game but soon I realized that I could actually teach these children for real.”

For two years now, she has taught the children every Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., with an average of 11 students at a time.

“If they won’t come, I fetch them and tell them they should listen to God’s Word since they’re not doing anything important anyway.”

Patricia doesn’t want to be a teacher or missionary but says, “I will keep on doing this so that (these children) won’t grow up to be criminals.”

Patricia is an average grade six student. She enjoys studying math and wants to be an accountant someday. She and her four siblings, grandmother and parents cram inside a tiny windowless, cement hovel. Her parents have no steady jobs.

During the week, Patricia goes to a nearby public school like most of the children in their neighborhood, but on weekends she gets busy preparing for her “class.”

As a Compassion-sponsored child she goes to the Calvary Foursquare Student Center every Saturday to hear Bible stories, learn practical skills in life and develop good Christian values. This is where she gets her inspiration.

“Whatever I learn at the (student) center I teach my students.

“Last week I learned about Gideon. And so on Sunday afternoon I narrated Gideon’s story to my students and taught them to be brave because of Jesus.”

She also explains that she borrows a friend’s illustrated Bible so that she can show colorful pictures to keep them interested.

Vicky, a caseworker at the student center says they learned about Patricia’s neighborhood class from the mothers.

“The mothers told us there’s this young lady in our neighborhood who is calling together little children so that they can listen to Bible stories.”

Patricia may not know it but people in the community appreciate what she does. A neighbor said, “We are very proud that there’s a young girl like her in our neighborhood. How we wish there were more.”

Student center staffers also admire what she does. Vicky reveals,

“She is a quiet girl. I have known her to be a very responsible child but I had no idea that she is a local missionary in her own neighborhood. I find that amazing.”

Little Danica, one of Patricia’s 6-year-old students, points to Patricia and says, “Yes, she is my teacher. She teaches me about Jesus.”

My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates