Poverty has a face

[Pastor Gary]

Having just returned from a trip to the Philippines with Compassion International, poverty now has a face. It is the face of a nine year old girl named Felma who lives in a small shack near Davao, in Mindinao with her parents and two siblings. She is my Compassion sponsored child.



Each month my account is debited $32 to help Compassion Philippines provide education, training, medical check-ups, food assistance and spiritual care. Just a few cents more than a buck a day. Less than many of us tithe to St. Arbucks for our daily caffeine.

I am making an appeal here, now. If you have the financial ability to spare $32 a month, a heart for the poor, a heart for children, and the willingness to NOT JUST GIVE, but to also regularly communicate with a child who needs to know that they are loved, fearfully and wonderfully made, and that someone believes in their potential -- do it today. (There are almost 5,000 unsponsored kids in the Philippines alone receiving unfunded services, and more than 120,000 worldwide.)

Sponsor a child, if you are able. But don't just send the monthly $32. Write letters. Send photos. Pray for your child daily. Love them. Rescue them from poverty in Jesus' name.

You can't change the world, but you can change that child's world. If you decide to sponsor a child, please let me know.

[paul]

Now you know why I go back so many times. The needs are great and the kids just knock you out.

I have been blessed to have been working there for almost 13 years now.

Thank you PG for your heart for these precious kids.

[Pastor Gary]

Now you know why I go back so many times. The needs are great and the kids just knock you out.

Paul, I am convinced that there is NO solution to world poverty except the church. No governmental, NGO or good-intentioned program will make a dent in the poverty of the world; only Christ-focused, church-centered ministries can give the kind of hope and opportunity they need.

Poverty is far more than a lack of food or money; it is a lack of options.

Having seen the work of Compassion International up close at ground level, and at the National Office level, and having seen their structure and integrity, I have moved from a supporter to a passionate advocate.

[paul]

Now you know why I go back so many times. The needs are great and the kids just knock you out.

Paul, I am convinced that there is NO solution to world poverty except the church. No governmental, NGO or good-intentioned program will make a dent in the poverty of the world; only Christ-focused, church-centered ministries can give the kind of hope and opportunity they need.

Poverty is far more than a lack of food or money; it is a lack of options.

Having seen the work of Compassion International up close at ground level, and at the National Office level, and having seen their structure and integrity, I have moved from a supporter to a passionate advocate.

For those who might consider sponsoring. Let me share that I personally know of many children that have been sponsored by church ministries that have come from the dump sites. Some have went of the college. Medical needs meet. I have known of several families that have come to Christ through their children being sponsored. I am not familiar with Compassion International, but if you recomend it..it has to be good. I encourage anyone and everyone to consider it.

[paul]

Now you know why I go back so many times. The needs are great and the kids just knock you out.

[b]Paul, I am convinced that there is NO solution to world poverty except the church. No governmental, NGO or good-intentioned program will make a dent in the poverty of the world; only Christ-focused, church-centered ministries can give the kind of hope and opportunity they need. Poverty is far more than a lack of food or money; it is a lack of options.[b]

Having seen the work of Compassion International up close at ground level, and at the National Office level, and having seen their structure and integrity, I have moved from a supporter to a passionate advocate.

PG, You are so right. The greatest challenge we face in this area, is to help the western church understand this. So many see those in third world countries as lazy, inept, our of inferrior intellengence. So why should I help them.

The lack of opportunities, and in the philippines government where 65 cents of every dollar goes to bribes and payoffs ( a study done by the University of the Philippines about two years ago). The people suffer and escecially the children.

Also our approach to these situations must be changed. For the most part organizations whether they be denominations, or groups like wmof. Operate under the old colonial system. We come, plant our flag ( our doctrine), and then have bragging rights as to how many churches we have. This is generally the main goal to plant our flag, ( no pun intended and no disrespect for any group who has a flag).

Our sight is dimmed to the real purpose of the gospel message, to not only provide eternal life through salvation in Christ. But to change the well being of those who havbe come to Christ. For us to really care. While stuck in the airport in Delhi I John 5 rose up in my inner man, I read it over and over and over. If the church could ever get it. Yes, PG, no one else will ever be able to do it, the church must.

[Pastor Gary]

The lack of opportunities, and in the philippines government where 65 cents of every dollar goes to bribes and payoffs ( a study done by the University of the Philippines about two years ago). The people suffer and escecially the children.

Also our approach to these situations must be changed. For the most part organizations whether they be denominations, or groups like wmof. Operate under the old colonial system. We come, plant our flag ( our doctrine), and then have bragging rights as to how many churches we have. This is generally the main goal to plant our flag, ( no pun intended and no disrespect for any group who has a flag).

Another reason I like Compassion International: no place we went did we see big signs or logos promoting CI except at their national offices. All the projects are local church based, and it is the local church operating in the lives of children and families -- not some faceless aid group. Also, every national office and director of CI is indigenous to that nation: Filipinos lead and staff Compassion Philippines, not Americans.

[Martha]

Gary, just a few questions.

1. How does Compassion International compare to the One Child Fund that COGOP has?

2. What is the percentage of money used for operational purposes? Having participated in the combined federal campaign (CFC) for many years I became aware of a lot of waste with some of the organizations that was on the CFC list.

3. Do you correspond with the little girl you've "adopted?"

[jinjer]

the biggest waste is to go through CFC to donate. We discovered that this past year. They tack on or take out 10%.

We found Compassion to be excellent. If you go to their website and look at the bottom, there are watch group links where you can go and they will tell you how much goes where.

We are going to sponsor a child for sure this year. We are setting it up now.

Jinjer

[Pastor Gary]

We found Compassion to be excellent. If you go to their website and look at the bottom, there are watch group links where you can go and they will tell you how much goes where.

Thanks for that, Jinjer. Here's a link...
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.c ... orgid=3555

We are going to sponsor a child for sure this year. We are setting it up now.

God bless you. You will get far more out of it than the child will, if you correspond with the sponsored child.

[Pastor Gary]

Gary, just a few questions.

1. How does Compassion International compare to the One Child Fund that COGOP has?

I can't precisely quantify the differences for you, Martha. As I understand the One Child Fund, supporters are aiding children in church-operated orphanages. Great plan, with which I have no problem. Compassion is a broader approach, on a broader scale. I don't see this as an "either/or" - more of an "also/and." Both have a role to play. If you support One Child, I would never suggest that you divert those resources to another program.

2. What is the percentage of money used for operational purposes? Having participated in the combined federal campaign (CFC) for many years I became aware of a lot of waste with some of the organizations that was on the CFC list.

http://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=4466

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.c ... orgid=3555

3. Do you correspond with the little girl you've "adopted?"

YES! That is a key component of the program. You are directly connected to your sponsored child through an organized system of exchange of correspondence. The CI system for tracking, translating and expediting communications is pretty impressive.

One tiny thing... they avoid the word "adopt" and use "sponsor" as most of these children have living parents, and sponsors do not compete for that role.