Author: Chris Giovagnoni

Any Guesses?

Where does Compassion International work?

Who Writes the Compassion Blog? A Bunch of Marketing Cheerleaders?

I don’t think it’s possible to be authentic without being transparent.

By consciously withholding something or avoiding a subject because I fear a reaction – anger, rejection, judgment, etc., I’m not being authentic. I’m being manipulative.

Choosing what to share and what not to share is lying by omission, and it’s not being transparent or authentic.

What does this have to do with children in poverty and Compassion International?

• You’re reading Compassion’s blog about child poverty.
• A blog is media — social media.
• Media is manipulative.
• We want to get more children sponsored. More! More! More!
• The blog helps us do that.
• We’re afraid to say anything that will muck that up.

I’ve had conversations with employees who have said that “the blog is just a big commercial for Compassion.” And “the blog is too rah-rah, like it’s written by a bunch of cheerleaders.” Or GASP! Marketers.

I agree that our first two months have been filled with lots of feel good posts, and I know we can’t be everything to everyone, and I don’t think we have a problem yet; however, if you perceive the blog to be a one-dimensional commercial about how great Compassion is, as opposed to an authentic and sincere communication with you and for you, rather than at you and for us, then I’m wrong and we have a PROBLEM.

Am I wrong?

And what’s your perspective, meaning how involved with Compassion are you? Are you drinking the same Kool-Aid as us employees? Are you Super Volunteer or Super Sponsor … or are you just passing through?

How do we share anything positive with you without sounding like a bunch of cheerleaders?

Am I over-thinking this stuff?

If you’ve never commented before, please consider doing so now. You non-commenters have opinions too. I know you do.

Your Thoughts?

Compassion Sunday is April 13

Every three seconds a child under age 5 dies from poverty-related causes that Compassion’s ministry is skilled at preventing. By hosting a Compassion Sunday event at your church, you expand your personal ministry and help transform the lives of impoverished children worldwide, without spending a cent. It just takes your voice.

Compassion Sunday is a nationwide annual campaign to raise awareness about the needs of children in poverty. It’s a day for you to speak to your church about poverty and how your church can rescue children in need. It’s not about you “convincing” anyone to sponsor a child. It’s just you sharing your heart, sharing God’s heart for children in need, and letting the Holy Spirit do the rest.

Last year, your willingness to host Compassion Sunday at churches nationwide resulted in more than 21,000 new sponsorships. Now, it’s time to speak up again – to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Proverbs 31:8, NIV).

To get started, order your planning folder today. It will give you ideas, help you get organized and will walk you through each step of the planning process. Plus, we have employees who’ll be here to answer any questions you have. Not me though, I’m on the web team. 🙂

This year, Compassion Sunday is April 13, but you’re free to choose any day that works best for you and your church. Thanks for partnering with us and for opening your heart to serving children in poverty.

10 Questions From Uganda

You want to know what’s going on Uganda, and our intrepid bloggers have a few questions for you too.

1. How many pairs of shoes do you have?
2. What is Ugandan for toy?
3. What’s going on here?
4. When’s the last time you spent $9?
5. What day is it?
6. Do you know what it means to adopt?
7. What is your dream for your children?
8. Have you seen this?
9. Can you see the stars from where you live?
10. What is Celebration Hill?

Internet access is still acting up over there. So, if this was a post of 11 questions, which it’s not, the next obvious question would be “When’s the Internet going to cooperate?”

But then the judge would direct the jury to, “Disregard counselor’s last question” because this post is 10 Questions From Uganda.

Did You Miss the Plane to Uganda?

All is not lost.

Photos can be found at Flickr, and videos can be viewed at YouTube; although, Internet access in Uganda is slow and intermittent which is affecting what can be uploaded for the time being. For now, you can feast on the stories the bloggers feed you through Google Reader or you can visit their blogs directly.

Won’t you join me in enjoying this meal? It’s not as good as being there, but it’s not airplane food either.

Travel With Us to Uganda

I shouldn’t say travel with “us” to Uganda, because I’m not going. The “us” I mean is Compassion. Compassion is going.

Travel With Compassion to Uganda. Grab this great widget for your blog, MySpace page, Facebook profile, etc., and follow along with the folks who are actually going, as they get a firsthand taste of Compassion’s ministry in the developing world. And we invite you to come back here to read what you won’t read anywhere else.

Please show some love to Shaun Groves for creating the widget and for joining us on the trip.

I’m Chris Giovagnoni, Web Communications Specialist, and I approved this post. I’m “that guy.”