Beth and I flew to Southeast Asia with a small team from our church last month. It was our second trip to this part of the world. We each went on separate trips last year. In 2010, Beth had the opportunity to meet the child that we sponsor through Compassion International. This year we were able to visit her and her family again.
On both occasions, the Compassion center staff went all out to welcome us into their world. This year they had a 3 hour program planned for us that included lots of music and dancing. The ministry center is tied to a local church. They provide food, clothing, supplies, tutoring, and other needs to children in poverty. It is a ministry to each child’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.
As I’ve shared with many people over the past month about our recent excursion, some will ask me about sponsoring a child through Compassion International. The first question that everyone asks is, “How much is it?”
$38 per month ($35 if you want to sponsor a child through World Vision, another excellent organization.)
“Hmm…” is the normal response. “Let me think about it,” they usually say.
But they don’t.
Now, I need to warn you that when it comes to this topic, I can get down-right nasty sometimes so buckle up.
I certainly understand that $38 is lot of money to some people. I know a lot of single moms who struggle to make ends meet every month and I sympathize for those women. But I also know a lot of people who will leave $38 at the mall in a heartbeat.
$1.27 per day.
What will you spend money on today? A cup of coffee? A pastry? Lunch? You’ll probably leave a tip worth more than $1.27 today. Will you go to a vending machine to get a Mountain Dew for your normal afternoon pick-me-up? How much money will you toss in the console of your car?
When you make these purchases, do you stop and say, “Hmm, let me think about it?”
It’s easy to spend money on ourselves. Why is it so hard to commit to help a child in need?
I think a lot of people are skeptical. How can $38 really make a difference? Understand that the cost of living in most developing countries is far less than it is in Western countries. One billion people live on $1 per day. You can live like a king in many places around the world on $1000 per month.
Your money goes farther outside the U.S.
“But how do I know the money is being used like they say?” If you go with an accredited, trustworthy organization like Compassion International or World Vision (and there are many others), you can be assured that they are good stewards of your money. (If you use a Christian organization, find out if they are members of ECFA.) You can also hop on a plane and go visit your child. Find out for yourself how your money is being used.
Get informed. Discover how far a little bit of your money will go. Get Richard Stearns’ book below. It’s insightful and stirring. Your eyes will be opened to the needs of this world and you may be shocked at how easy it can be to make a difference in another person’s life.
The Hole in Our Gospel is a story of how this CEO faced his own struggle to obey God, whatever the cost, and his passionate call for Christians to change the world by actively living out their faith. Believing the “good news” to be more than a private transaction between God and us, Stearns, the president of World Vision U.S., challenges readers with this question: What does God expect of us?
In order to get a new perspective on life, you need to find out what in the world is going on. The Hole in Our Gospel is an excellent way to do that. Check it out.
Sacrificing $38 a month is an easy way to make a difference. Why is this so hard for so many people to do? Leave a comment and let me know.
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