“Compassion provides the resources to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community.”
That was one of the most important phrases I heard during our sponsor tour to Uganda. It came from Pastor Stephen during a visit to the Ugandan country office of Compassion International. As pastor of a local church partner, he was there for a meeting with his Compassion liaison, reporting on all the church was doing through their child development center.
We had the pleasure of joining Compassion International on a trip to Uganda in 2016 along with approximately 30 other sponsors. It was one of the hardest decisions we have ever made. It cost us around $10,000 as a couple to take this week-long trip. We asked people beforehand if it was worth it. Couldn’t that money be used in better ways? Was it really that important to see our children in person? Could it really mean that much to the children and families?
The answer is an emphatic, yes. In fact, here’s Compassion’s answer to that question directly from their Frequently Asked Questions:
- Many children in poverty hold a deep-seated belief that they are insignificant, powerless and hopeless. But nothing says “You are special, valued, significant and powerful” quite like a visit from a child’s sponsor. Joining a sponsor trip demonstrates the profound value of and a lasting commitment to the heart of your child! When determining whether to give financial gifts or visit in person, know that both have wonderful outcomes. However, the immeasurable gift of meeting your child is an indescribable experience — for both you and your child.
Our trip solidified in us a desire to give our best in promoting and supporting Compassion International in their efforts to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Not only did it strengthen our relationship with our sponsored children, it also instilled in them that they are valuable.
On many levels we knew the work Compassion was doing was important work. However, there remained a doubt about how the money was really used. Was it really used in support of the children directly? How did it impact the families of those children? Or did it?
During our visit to Uganda we were given many opportunities to chat with the children attending the Compassion International Child Development Centers. We were able to talk with some families of those attending, and even visit their homes on several occasions. Seeing how the children are cared for and how the volunteers and staff of Compassion support the families was inspiring. Each child development center, while supported financially by Compassion, still requires a significant contribution from the partnering church in order to be fully funded and equipped. This amount changes by country and location, but is generally from 10% to 40%. To see the commitment of these local churches to help release children from poverty was inspiring.
So, why do we support Compassion International?
Compassion is one of the most effective child sponsorship organizations in the world, and they do it through the local church. That’s the short answer! Although we could speak of a myriad of reasons, it’s really because of their commitment to work through local churches in the sponsorship area, making known the name of Jesus and His love.
Many of these children are changed forever, as well as their families, and ultimately even their communities as these sponsored children grow up to be leaders in their own areas.
Personal sponsorship is a great way to support Compassion International. For just $38/month you can help change a child’s life for eternity. We currently sponsor two children, and a third recently graduated the program, so we’re waiting on sponsoring another one as we launch our business and raise our level of support in new ways. As a business, we have committed 15% of all gross revenue to fight poverty and injustice throughout the world. Two-thirds of that (10% of gross revenue) is given to Compassion, while the remaining 5% is given to International Justice Mission.
This is just one more way your purchase from Prince Art Studio impacts the world in positive ways.
Interested in sponsoring a child through Compassion International?