Why Help People in Poverty in Other Countries When People Need Help Here?
Our time and resources are finite, yet there seems to be infinite need. We want to be kind to people in poverty and we want to do it wisely. Here are a few things to consider as you struggle through this question for yourself.
Continue Reading ›What Poverty Tourism Gets Wrong
Is poverty tourism just a harmless way to gain insight into what it’s like to live in poverty? Sidney Muisyo explains the underlying and deeply flawed messages that slum tours are based on and can further ingrain in us. He also explains how you can visit an impoverished community in a way that is mutually honoring and beneficial.
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Three Birthday Card Ideas for Your Sponsored Child
Everybody has one. Old or young, we all celebrate it. It doesn’t matter if they are big or small celebrations, we all look forward to a little acknowledgment that day – a little something from the world that says, “I see you.”
The Best of #RWRS15 (So Far)
The Rock & Worship Roadshow just wrapped up their 12th of 20+ shows in Louisville, KY this weekend. They’ve asked fans and followers to share their photos and videos with #RWRS15. Here are our favorites from the first half of the Roadshow tour.
The Rock & Worship Roadshow 2015
The Rock & Worship Roadshow 2015 is entertainment for the entire family. No matter what kind of music you grew up listening to.
The Power of Pity
Pity is a feeling many of us have when we come face-to-face with the misfortunes of others — with those whom we perceive to have less than us. We feel pity when we see things we don’t understand. We feel pity when we feel helpless to act. Many people, myself included, feel pity but that’s as far as it goes. Pity can sometimes stop action from happening.
The Fight to End Extreme Poverty
The idea of being able to end extreme poverty in the world often feels overwhelming. But with the latest news from the United Nations, coupled with independent research about our sponsorship program, it no longer feels unattainable. In fact, it could even be accomplished within our lifetime. This good news is our motivation to fight harder than ever before to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name!
The Hope in Haiti
In March of 2013, I visited Haiti. I was unprepared for the devastation that I saw and it upset me so much that I cried myself to sleep the first night. I wondered where the hope was in Haiti. Over the course of the next few days I quickly found that hope can rise out of places where we least expect to find it.
Rebuilding Haiti: 5-Year Anniversary
In the months and years following the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, generous sponsors and donors around the world gave more than $31 million toward our Disaster Relief Fund for recovery efforts. It was the largest sum ever raised for one of our disaster relief campaigns. This fund enabled us not only to deliver provisions immediately following the disaster – such as food, water and temporary shelter – but also to establish long-term recovery efforts such as post-traumatic camps and counseling services, entrepreneurial training, low-interest loans for businesses, and the construction of new school buildings.
Best Books of 2014
A few months ago, our blog guru, Sam, asked me to write a Top Five Books of 2014 post. He probably asked me this because I’m a writer. And I read pretty much all the time. But also because I think reading is a way to expand the mind, to experience things on the page that we can’t always experience in person. So I carefully chose books that I think will broaden your views of poverty, community, and what it means to serve “the least of these.” (I also just chose four books, because, as you’ll see, some of these took a little longer to get through … and also because I’m a rebel!)
Top 10 Instagram Photos of 2014
One of the great advantages of working in countries around the world is capturing images and stories of the amazing people and places we see every single day. While we like to show off the best pictures on our Instagram feed, you might have been a bit busy this year and missed some of our favorites. So to catch you up with a year’s worth of photos, here are our top 10 Instagram photos we shared in 2014.
A Christmas Miracle
A woman came running to our business and amid uncontrollable emotions and said, “I have seen some abandoned bags at a bush near our house and I think it may be the things stolen from you.”
Christmas Around The World
Traditions of dancing, singing carols, pageants, parades and nativity scenes fill our holiday season with joy. Uniting us with family, friends and church communities as we remember the birth of Jesus Christ. Enjoy these beautiful photos from our friends celebrating Christmas around the world!
Second Friday Writing Club: Playtime
Children everywhere have a strong capacity to be creative because God created us that way. And research shows that when the brain is growing, play is needed to make connections that contribute to memory, learning, emotional regulation and social intelligence. At the Compassion centers, sponsored children are given the opportunity to spend time playing and learning to play with others in safe and clean environments.
