The Wally Show recently returned from our offices in Asia where they witnessed child sponsorship in action.

We met a woman named Ko who was a sponsored child, and she now works for Compassion helping others. This is one time a vicious cycle is a good thing. She still has the picture of her sponsors from 30 years ago on her desk.

I asked her if there was anything her sponsor said or did that really made a difference in her life. She told me the fact that someone who did not know her would show her such love and tell her about Jesus inspired her to live the rest of her life serving God. That is a sentiment which is echoed throughout the lives of most of the Compassion kids.

Read the entire post at The Wally Show.

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

As my wife and I have begun the journey of family building — getting married, nesting into our home, walking through the baby section at department stores — I have been remarkably struck by the seemingly loose definition Jesus uses to describe His family.

“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”   — Matthew 12:50, NIV

Trying to wrap my head around this, I thought about how I would respond if I were James (Jesus’ brother), hearing Jesus say,

“Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” — Matthew 12:48, NIV

My first thought is, I’d be a little insulted. I mean, at this point Jesus was getting some serious attention from some pretty important people … and He virtually disowned me. I thought for sure I would get a little recognition. I’m His brother, after all.

A Far Better, Eternal Family

Then I backed up and looked at this with a wide-angle lens.

Jesus is the Son of God before he was James’ brother. He is part of an eternal family — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — the family of God.

Not only that, but Scripture says God the Father adopts new people into His family through Jesus (see Ephesians 1:5).

When we receive the Holy Spirit, Jesus says we are reborn (see John 3:6-7).

It began to click. Jesus was building an eternal family — one that James would eventually be part of once he had the eyes to see it.

Opening the Family Fortress to the Least

If Jesus, the perfect, holy, eternal Son of God, could tell meager fishermen and conniving tax collectors, “I’m not ashamed to call you brothers” (see Hebrews 2:11), then why am I so protective of my family fortress?

Consider the orphan. Or maybe just the kid whose parents work all the time and still can’t send him to school. He rummages around the streets during the day, looking for scraps of food behind restaurants. Or she hurries behind the building when she sees that strange man who has taken some of her friends and hasn’t brought them back.

These kids are stressed out, fearful and lonely. They need the family of God to love, protect and provide for them.

What if they could say,

“Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”?

The Family of God, Extended

These kids are my family through the gospel. That is why Jesus is so disgusted with those who turn their eyes from their hungry, thirsty, naked and sick brothers and sisters in Matthew 26:7:

“As you did not do it to one of the least of these [my brothers], you did not do it to me.”

When we, adopted members of the family of God, sponsor, visit, love, write, protect, speak up for, adopt and foster these children in our own families, we are living out the gospel.

We are doing the will of our Father in heaven, and Jesus calls us brothers and sisters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jordan Mogck writes for the blog familia Dei | Missional Family in the Life of the Trinity. He and his wife live in Minneapolis, Minn., where they lead a Community Group and the Community Service Team at Antioch Community Church.

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

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

Sometimes you have friends you feel at home with the moment you meet them. You shake hands, and turn a corner into a forever kind of friendship you somehow just know will stand the test of distance and time and hardship. I don’t know how it happened, or why, but the second Brian reached out to shake my hand, I knew that’s what we’d be.

We spent two summers side by side, teaching kids and teens about the Gospel as camp counselors. Together, with eight other counselors, we worked through hundreds of chapel services, roasted marshmallows, and campers who had lost their toothbrushes.

After camp we kept in touch, even though life started looking a little different for both of us. I moved to Colorado and got married. Brian decided to follow his passions and moved to Afghanistan for a season.

On August 5, 2010, Brian was doing some work with a humanitarian aid organization in Afghanistan. His group was attacked, and many of them died, including Brian.

This news devastated me. All of a sudden I couldn’t understand why the world was still spinning, the sun was still shining, people were still working. I wanted to run out into the middle of a busy intersection with a megaphone and start yelling,

“Hey! Don’t you people understand we’ve just lost one of the most awesome guys here on earth? Why do you act like everything’s still normal?”

But I didn’t. Instead, I started looking for things to do to stem my grief. And I prayed. A lot.

Around this time the first child I ever sponsored through Compassion departed the program, so I began to look for another child.

For a long time I didn’t feel like I could sponsor any of the kids I saw, which is weird for me. I usually want to sponsor every kid I see.

After a couple months I saw one little boy on the “longest waiting” list. His name was Brian. So I clicked for more information. That’s when God’s attention to detail totally blew my mind.

This little boy shared a first name with my friend. He also shared a middle name with my friend. And he was born the first week my friend and I had started working together. I sponsored him and decided I would visit him someday, no matter what.

Someday came a lot faster than I expected when an invitation to join a sponsor tour showed up in my inbox after a couple months. I tried to put it off and told myself hundreds of excuses. Ultimately I booked the trip in a moment of insanity the day of the deadline, hoping it was the right decision.

When we received the trip itinerary, I thumbed through it, hoping we might visit Brian’s student center or something like that.

When I got to the last page about meeting our sponsored children, I cried. God was working in my grief. The day I would meet my little Brian would be one year exactly after my friend Brian died.

As the trip grew closer and closer, my mind filled with doubts. What if I got sick? What if I couldn’t eat the food? And, worst of all, what if Brian didn’t like me?

That question hovered in my mind for the entire trip, almost suffocating me with the implication that God might not be big enough to handle that particular detail. There was no reason so believe such a thing, but Brian was 7 years old. And 7-year-old boys think girls are icky. Right?

I was so nervous I almost threw up waiting in line to meet our sponsored kids. The pressure was intense: the pressure to be liked, the pressure for this to work, the pressure to honor my friend’s life and death through a new friendship.

And then they called my name. I walked through the doorway begging God to make this boy smile at me just once so the whole trip wouldn’t be for nothing.

Suddenly, this 7-year-old boy came barreling towards me and rocketed himself into my arms. The first thing I noticed was his hair. My little Brian had the same haircut as my dear friend.

I totally lost it, weeping and grinning all at the same time. He wrapped his arms around my neck and didn’t let go. All I could think was, Thank you, God.

On August 5, 2010, I lost one of my dearest and most treasured friends on earth. On August 5, 201,1 a little boy who shared his name and his haircut leaped into my arms and my heart forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ashley Mays and her husband live in Colorado Springs where she enjoys rock climbing, playing the guitar, and writing. You can find out more about Ashley on her website at: www.ashley-mays.com.

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

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.

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

You want to sponsor a child, but you don’t know where to begin.

“Exactly how does one go about choosing a child?”

It is a daunting prospect when you consider the impact your sponsorship will have on the child and the child’s family. How do you choose whom to help and whom someone else must help?

Here are 10 suggestions:

1. Choose by country.

Is there a particular location you are interested in? Is God repeatedly drawing your heart to a certain region? If so, you may want to choose a child by country. Compassion works in 26 countries around the world. Warning: Whichever country you choose, you will come to care for it deeply. Drought in Ethiopia, hurricanes in Haiti, flooding in Bangladesh — these will no longer be just headlines in a newspaper for you. Your heart will be tied to that part of the world.

2. Choose a child who has been waiting the longest.

There are children who have been waiting patiently for months, hoping and praying that the Lord will bring them a sponsor. Are you the answer to their prayers? Go to our website and look for photos with a red heart. These children have been waiting 6 months or longer for a sponsor.

3. Consider a child who is mentally or physically challenged.

Do you have a heart for children living with a medical condition? Perhaps it is a population you work with. Consider taking your ministry global and sponsor a child who is mentally or physically challenged.

Your sponsorship will help that child access treatment and support. Your letters and prayers will bring him or her hope. Go to the Sponsor a Child section on the website and click on Advanced Search to locate one of these children.

4. Let your kids pick.

When many of us talk about sponsorship, one of the things we point out is how it has transformed the lives of our biological kids. Our kids have learned caring, sharing and empathy. They’ve learned to write letters. Sponsorship has piqued their interest in the world around them.

Give your children ownership in the sponsorship process. Let them choose. The thought and care they put into that decision just may surprise you.

5. Talk to a Compassion Advocate.

Roughly 2,500 sponsors have taken their commitment to Compassion to the next level and become Advocates. Advocates plan and assist at events where they share Compassion and encourage people to sponsor.

Advocates have access to child packets and they may know of a child whose packet has repeatedly not been chosen. They are praying for sponsors for these children.

Talk to an Advocate and see if they have a child on their prayer list. There are many Compassion Advocates who post on this blog. Seek them out. Or call us and ask for an Advocate in your area.

6. Find a child who shares your birthday.

My neighbor kids come over at least once a week and ask me to look up the Compassion kids who are born on their birthdays. It’s a special link they have to a person in another part of the world. Kids think it’s cool to share a birthday – your Compassion kid will, too. Use the Advanced Search function to search by birth date.

7. Choose by age.

Are you interested in corresponding with an older child? Perhaps you want someone who is close in age to one of your own kids.

Compassion allows you to search by age.

Use the Advanced Search function or the age range drop-down arrow on the Sponsor a Child page.

8. Browse the website.

Compassion has hundreds of photos of waiting children loaded onto our website. Many people come to the website simply to look around and learn about the program.

Then they see that one particular child whom they just can’t forget. A sponsor is born. Look around a bit. You may find a child who grabs your heart.

9. Let Compassion decide.

If you are ready to sponsor but prefer not to choose, Compassion will select a child for you.

Compassion’s toll free number is (800) 336-7676. A customer care representative is there and ready to help. Or go to the website and choose the “Select a Child for Me” option.

10. Pray, pray and pray some more.

Isn’t it ultimately God who leads us down the right path? Pray for guidance. Pray that God will bring you to that one child whom you are perfectly and ideally able to love, nurture and encourage.

My hope is that one day you will meet your sponsored child. And when you do, perhaps he or she will ask,

“Why did you choose me?”

Have you written a blog about how your Compassion kids came into your life? Please link it here and share your experience with others.

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

For the past few weeks, I have been watching Twitter to see where the phrase “sponsor a child” pops up.

Many tweets express a desire to sponsor a child. One person tweeted that she wanted a job – not so that she could buy anything for herself, but so she could sponsor another child.

Some tweeted about sponsoring a child through Compassion, while others chose different organizations.

I felt this tweet from @Katyyyy343 was particularly striking.

So…decided that I want to sponsor a child instead of getting bday presents even though my bday is 5 months away still.

In contrast, I saw another tweet that talked about sponsoring a child after graduation because the commercial she saw on TV hurt her heart. Regrettably, at least I think it’s regrettable, I saw many similar tweets.

During employee orientation, I had the opportunity to take our building tour. In our Global Ministry Center, pictures of children are everywhere – in the foyer, in hallways, in cubicles, pretty much everywhere you look.

As the tour progressed, the leader spoke about how we strongly believe in upholding the dignity of the children and families we serve. We will not depict poverty by using pictures of children that have large bellies due to malnutrition, or pictures of toddlers naked with flies on their face.

If a mom sees the picture we have taken of her child, we want her to feel proud – not ashamed.

Seeing a child in such dire circumstances – uncared for – hurts my heart. I’m sure it affects many people so deeply that they take action; they pick up the phone or go online to sponsor a child. But at what cost?

So where’s the line? How should we express the urgent needs of the children in our programs while maintaining their dignity?

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

Dear Compassion Blog Reader,

My name is Darren. I work for Compassion, but I don’t sponsor a child.

No need to clean your glasses. I actually wrote that.

So as not to sully the good names of the many, many Compassion employees who do sponsor children, I should point out that technically I’m a Compassion contractor. I’ve been working on the Web Team since October 2010.

It’s a job that I’m growing to love, and the people I work with are superb. Day in and day out, I get to do bloggy, Facebooky, Tweety things that truly interest me.

There’s just this nagging thing. I don’t sponsor a child.

Not a soul on my work team has told me I need to sponsor a child, but it’s become the elephant in my private room now that I’ve seen how passionate – I mean truly passionate – Compassion employees are about releasing kids from poverty in Jesus’ name.

When I first set foot in Compassion’s Global Ministry Center (GMC) in August 2010, I was a skeptic of the highest order regarding gigantic charities, especially those that claim to rescue kids from this, that or the other.

Had I not dug deeper, I could have rebuffed the oversized statue of Jesus in the lobby of the GMC as a waste of money rather than appreciating the artist’s deliberate point of making Lord Jesus larger than life, which He certainly is.

I’m not exactly sure why I don’t sponsor a child, but here are my usual reasons:

• I did it once but it wasn’t a commitment of the heart, and I don’t want to leave a kid hanging again.
• I have four kids.
• I’m busy.
• I’m stressed.
• I really can’t afford it. (If I had to pick one that’s the most legit, this is it.)
• I drive an old car.
• I’m Canadian.
• I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed.
• Etc.

I’m a reasonably educated, well-traveled guy. I pay attention to the world. I’ve had my boots on all sorts of ground, done charitable work in foreign places, been around the block.

So what?

After working with Compassion for two and a half months, I’m about to explode with the need to get involved with a kid. Imagine being saturated in “Compassionese” all day every day and that not rub off on you? You’d have to be pretty heartless. I guess it’s a good sign that I’m getting pretty uncomfortable about not sponsoring a child!

So, I’m asking you now, dear reader, where do I start? I don’t mean in a literal way. I know I can “pick a kid” off the website and get going. I mean, how do I prepare my heart for the commitment? How do I take on the burden that God’s placing in my heart and not see it confused with condemnation?

So many of you sponsor kids, often many at a time, and I am anxious to hear from you. I’m anxious to get going, to really change a child’s life in the New Year.

I just want to get it right.

Your Friend,
Darren

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

A frequently asked question about child sponsorship is this: How does it make a difference? People want to know that their concern, their money and their intentions are safe in our hands. This video from El Salvador highlights one of thousands of similar stories that attest to the crucial difference your sponsorship can make in the life of a child!

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

Poverty is a relentless enemy. It attacks the body. It attacks the mind. It attacks the spirit. It tells children in poverty, “God doesn’t care. You deserve this.”

But your voice sends a different message.