Comments on: The Intern Speaks http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/ Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:27:59 +0000 hourly 1 By: R Lee http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1853 R Lee Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:43:17 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1853 Great first post! Just a very small and simple suggestion. Save the Children had an option on their website to give in honor of your mother in the month preceeding Mother's Day. You give online and type in who it's in honor of. There's a simple card from STC that you can print out, write on and mail to your mother. So that's what we did on Mother's Day. We gave to Save the Children because they had that as an option. We would've been open to giving to a number of quality organizations but we went with the one that had that bright idea and made it easy for us. Seems like that would be an easy thing to add to Compassion's website and might bring in some extra one-time donations for very little cost to the organization. Great first post! Just a very small and simple suggestion. Save the Children had an option on their website to give in honor of your mother in the month preceeding Mother’s Day. You give online and type in who it’s in honor of. There’s a simple card from STC that you can print out, write on and mail to your mother. So that’s what we did on Mother’s Day. We gave to Save the Children because they had that as an option. We would’ve been open to giving to a number of quality organizations but we went with the one that had that bright idea and made it easy for us. Seems like that would be an easy thing to add to Compassion’s website and might bring in some extra one-time donations for very little cost to the organization.

]]> By: Caitlin M Helm http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1838 Caitlin M Helm Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:10:34 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1838 First your first blog, I think you did extremely well at allowing people to see inside your mind, and heart. You have a wonderful way with words, and I look forward to reading more of your blogs in the future. I am glad to see that you are following your heart, and not allowing money and fame to stand in the way. Your heart is pure, and you want to save those for Christ. Compassion is lucky to have you on their team. Good Luck Meredith! First your first blog, I think you did extremely well at allowing people to see inside your mind, and heart. You have a wonderful way with words, and I look forward to reading more of your blogs in the future.

I am glad to see that you are following your heart, and not allowing money and fame to stand in the way. Your heart is pure, and you want to save those for Christ. Compassion is lucky to have you on their team. Good Luck Meredith!

]]> By: Pat Crawford http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1818 Pat Crawford Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:59:07 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1818 Great post Meredith. I want to leave all the little thoughts about it and the comments it generated alone for now and just give you what sponsoring has meant to me. This, I hope, will give you some ideas about your marketing campaign. I have sponsored two children in two different countries for about 8 years now and have found it to be very rewarding. This is because of the ability to correspond with the children (esp. using E-mail to write). It makes it possible to watch them grow spiritually, physically, and intellectually. Because of this, they have become like adopted children or grandchildren to me. Everything is personal... When I talk about them with friends, it is really bragging about how they have grown in Christ, what accomplished in school, and how they respond to life’s situations, etc. I guess what I am saying is that it is more about helping to raise and encourage your child than being able to just say, "I sponsor a child." In fact, over the years, both boys’ families have had the children send comments in their letters to me. To me, this indicates that the love of Christ is being extended far beyond what we will ever realize. Anyway - - God bless you - - Pat Great post Meredith. I want to leave all the little thoughts about it and the comments it generated alone for now and just give you what sponsoring has meant to me. This, I hope, will give you some ideas about your marketing campaign.
I have sponsored two children in two different countries for about 8 years now and have found it to be very rewarding. This is because of the ability to correspond with the children (esp. using E-mail to write). It makes it possible to watch them grow spiritually, physically, and intellectually. Because of this, they have become like adopted children or grandchildren to me. Everything is personal…
When I talk about them with friends, it is really bragging about how they have grown in Christ, what accomplished in school, and how they respond to life’s situations, etc.
I guess what I am saying is that it is more about helping to raise and encourage your child than being able to just say, “I sponsor a child.” In fact, over the years, both boys’ families have had the children send comments in their letters to me. To me, this indicates that the love of Christ is being extended far beyond what we will ever realize.
Anyway – - God bless you – - Pat

]]> By: Steve http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1796 Steve Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:06:49 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1796 I want to be the guy mowing the field...Great first piece. I want to be the guy mowing the field…Great first piece.

]]> By: Compassion dave http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1783 Compassion dave Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:46:02 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1783 I've had the idea for a while, but the other day my local newspaper ran a story and photo about people chaining themselves to dog houses to protest the (and I'm not kidding about this)dogs being chained to dog houses. Apparently it isn't politically correct any longer to chain a dog to his dog house. Anyway, not to belittle 'their' cause, but it go me thinking, <i>"Some things are just a tad-bit more important".</i> There are a lot of particulars to iron out, but if it is God's will for me to draw attention to the plight of children (who in many cases do not eat as well as our family pets, then so be it. cd I’ve had the idea for a while, but the other day my local newspaper ran a story and photo about people chaining themselves to dog houses to protest the (and I’m not kidding about this)dogs being chained to dog houses.

Apparently it isn’t politically correct any longer to chain a dog to his dog house.

Anyway, not to belittle ‘their’ cause, but it go me thinking, “Some things are just a tad-bit more important”.

There are a lot of particulars to iron out, but if it is God’s will for me to draw attention to the plight of children (who in many cases do not eat as well as our family pets, then so be it.

cd

]]> By: Kelly @ Love Well http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1781 Kelly @ Love Well Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:25:04 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1781 Welcome to the team, Meredith. My husband has worked in business and marketing for ... well, maybe he wouldn't want me to say the number of years. Let's just say -- many. And you're right. The industry always needs people to be a light in the darkness. That said, you're getting a great start at Compassion. They are known for their strong, cutting-edge, innovative marketing. Have a great summer! Soak up all you can! Welcome to the team, Meredith. My husband has worked in business and marketing for … well, maybe he wouldn’t want me to say the number of years. Let’s just say — many. And you’re right. The industry always needs people to be a light in the darkness.

That said, you’re getting a great start at Compassion. They are known for their strong, cutting-edge, innovative marketing. Have a great summer! Soak up all you can!

]]> By: Advocate http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1768 Advocate Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:07:10 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1768 The Magazine needs to have a brochure staples in, so that people can put it out and people can sponsor a child from the insert. I like to order extra for doctor's, dentists, auto shops, etc...--anywhere you have to wait. Lots of sponsors will put them in a waiting room or break room etc... if you just ask them to. The stories help! I also had an idea to have sunshades for our car windows with something like "Join Me in the Fight Against Poverty" www.compassion.com. Or your new slogan! Also, the DVD's and other advocate tools could have suggested uses next to the title and times of each piece. There are a lot of options, and I have watched most (if not all) of them, but then I forget what they are, and I have to go looking for my notes. (Use for offeratory, etc...) Also, the Quick Slideshow and the Compassion Sunday CD should be on the Advocate DVD. I am hoping that the new Hope Lives series will be picked up by some churches and that we will have some real growth through this. You may also want to consider how to recruit more advocates. Some people may not realize how easy it is to set up a stand or present to a Sunday School class. Thank you for working on this. We put a lot of time into calling churches and hoping for Compassion Sundays. Thank you for working to make our time more effective! May His Kingdom Advance Rapidly Through Your Efforts! The Magazine needs to have a brochure staples in, so that people can put it out and people can sponsor a child from the insert. I like to order extra for doctor’s, dentists, auto shops, etc…–anywhere you have to wait. Lots of sponsors will put them in a waiting room or break room etc… if you just ask them to.

The stories help!

I also had an idea to have sunshades for our car windows with something like “Join Me in the Fight Against Poverty” http://www.compassion.com. Or your new slogan!

Also, the DVD’s and other advocate tools could have suggested uses next to the title and times of each piece. There are a lot of options, and I have watched most (if not all) of them, but then I forget what they are, and I have to go looking for my notes. (Use for offeratory, etc…) Also, the Quick Slideshow and the Compassion Sunday CD should be on the Advocate DVD.

I am hoping that the new Hope Lives series will be picked up by some churches and that we will have some real growth through this.

You may also want to consider how to recruit more advocates. Some people may not realize how easy it is to set up a stand or present to a Sunday School class.

Thank you for working on this. We put a lot of time into calling churches and hoping for Compassion Sundays. Thank you for working to make our time more effective!

May His Kingdom Advance Rapidly Through Your Efforts!

]]> By: Miriam http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1767 Miriam Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:13:11 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1767 Well, Dave finally said "welcome". I wanted to second that. I hope you find your time with Compassion rewarding. My best advice to you is to remember who you are communicating with. By my count, you are seeking to communicate with at least four generations of Americans. And each one seems to believe that the others are the most selfish. (Believe it or not, I have had Baby Boomers, who are still whining as they near 65, tell me that your generation is the most selfish, with which I disagree.) The truth is, Americans have heard for years that we are wealth good-for-nothings (except please give us your money). I'm not saying that Compassion has been saying that, but it had been a general strain in the lives of every generation alive today in America. I find Proverbs 29:18 to be correct when it says “When there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.” Or you might say, it is for lack of understanding how the rest of the world works, for lack of knowing what God is doing in the world and how to be part of it and for lack of attainable yet far reaching goals, Americans in general and Christians in particular don’t do more. It is my understanding from your blog that it will be your responsibility to communicate these things for Compassion. No easy task in six months. I began sponsoring children though Compassion anywhere from 18 - 19 years ago. I was a “starving college student” straight off of the mission field at the time. I have always liked Compassion’s approach of sponsorship and using the local church in project areas. That’s why I have stuck with them so long. But frankly I have never done it to “fight poverty”. I have always done it to give a child the opportunity to know Christ (without whom, if they gain the whole world, they still have nothing) and the opportunity to change their current circumstance. You will note, I said the opportunity. What they do with that opportunity is up to them. I’m not responsible for their choices. Sponsors can have a lot of influence in these children’s lives, but there is a limit even to that. I don’t know to this day if the first child I sponsored ever came to Christ, even though I still pray for her. So I think American Christians need to understand the great opportunity that they have to be involved, to partner with brothers and sisters in Christ in other countries and to make a difference. Well, Dave finally said “welcome”. I wanted to second that. I hope you find your time with Compassion rewarding.

My best advice to you is to remember who you are communicating with. By my count, you are seeking to communicate with at least four generations of Americans. And each one seems to believe that the others are the most selfish. (Believe it or not, I have had Baby Boomers, who are still whining as they near 65, tell me that your generation is the most selfish, with which I disagree.)

The truth is, Americans have heard for years that we are wealth good-for-nothings (except please give us your money). I’m not saying that Compassion has been saying that, but it had been a general strain in the lives of every generation alive today in America.

I find Proverbs 29:18 to be correct when it says “When there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.” Or you might say, it is for lack of understanding how the rest of the world works, for lack of knowing what God is doing in the world and how to be part of it and for lack of attainable yet far reaching goals, Americans in general and Christians in particular don’t do more. It is my understanding from your blog that it will be your responsibility to communicate these things for Compassion. No easy task in six months.

I began sponsoring children though Compassion anywhere from 18 – 19 years ago. I was a “starving college student” straight off of the mission field at the time. I have always liked Compassion’s approach of sponsorship and using the local church in project areas. That’s why I have stuck with them so long.

But frankly I have never done it to “fight poverty”. I have always done it to give a child the opportunity to know Christ (without whom, if they gain the whole world, they still have nothing) and the opportunity to change their current circumstance. You will note, I said the opportunity. What they do with that opportunity is up to them. I’m not responsible for their choices. Sponsors can have a lot of influence in these children’s lives, but there is a limit even to that. I don’t know to this day if the first child I sponsored ever came to Christ, even though I still pray for her.

So I think American Christians need to understand the great opportunity that they have to be involved, to partner with brothers and sisters in Christ in other countries and to make a difference.

]]> By: Lisa Miles http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1760 Lisa Miles Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:42:24 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1760 That makes me think of Julia Butterfly Hill who sat in a Redwood tree for 2-years to protest the cutting down of redwoods in California. That campaign actually worked. She saved those trees. I definitely think Compassion's new marketing plan should involve Compassion Dave sitting on a billboard. :) Compassion Dave, you are very cool! That makes me think of Julia Butterfly Hill who sat in a Redwood tree for 2-years to protest the cutting down of redwoods in California. That campaign actually worked. She saved those trees.

I definitely think Compassion’s new marketing plan should involve Compassion Dave sitting on a billboard. :)

Compassion Dave, you are very cool!

]]> By: Lisa Miles http://blog.compassion.com/the-intern-speaks/comment-page-1/#comment-1759 Lisa Miles Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:34:39 +0000 http://blog.compassion.com/?p=488#comment-1759 You would sit on a billboard for 100 days!?! LOL Now that's dedication! You'd certainly get some publicity! You would sit on a billboard for 100 days!?! LOL Now that’s dedication! You’d certainly get some publicity!

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