We sat in the lobby of a Nashville hotel and traded stories this afternoon. I told him about the unexpected benefits of my sponsoring children through
“>Compassion International “works”. It doesn’t just feed kids, dig wells, pave roads, build homes. It transforms the entire person, who then has the opportunity to live the rest of their life transforming others in every way.
Wess went on to tell me about being in the Philippines speaking to a group. He had a child stand on the stage with him to represent children in the Child Development Program and he had a college student stand with him to represent those in the Leadership Development Program but he needed a baby to represent the work Compassion does in early childhood, before children are old enough to enter a full-blown project.
He asked the crowd if he could hold someone’s baby as he explained what the early childhood program does for the littlest ones in the third world. Someone handed him their child, and this baby quickly nuzzled into Wess’ chest and rested while he spoke.
When he finished speaking, the father took his baby back and told Wess that he and his wife were children raised by
“>Compassion International cures poverty from the inside out, he said. So it works.
We dreamed together this afternoon of what might be next for the two of us. I explained what a blog and podcast are and he promised to stop by here someday when he gets adventurous. And we prayed. We prayed for each other but also for the future of Compassion International and our roles in it – that it would keep working and stay focussed on the cause of poverty and not just the symptoms.
Wells are good things to dig, but they will run dry. Roads are great things to pave, but they’ll degrade in time. Hospitals are wonderful things to erect, but their care is only so deep. The cure for spiritual poverty lasts forever. The ideal is bringing that cure along with the infrastructure, health care and education impoverished nations need. That’s why Compassion works.
I know I’m going on and on and you’re tired of hearing about here to tell your story.
Don’t worry. It’s not an “ad”—it’s the Gospel.
It’s the Good News that God is still with us, the Kingdom is at hand, and God has an agenda for the world that is redemptive and restorative, and when it happens, it looks really, really inviting. And people—not all people (particularly religious folks had a problem with Jesus, too)—are absolutely drawn to it.
It’s really, really good news.
If I ever tire of hearing about Compassion International and the absolute, life-changing work they do, then I can no longer claim citizenship in heaven. I am so excited everytime I get a letter from one of our sponsored children. I love them dearly and I’m truly honored to be able to sponsor them.
Beth
I agree with B & B… THanks for the reminder that “every” one out there is not sitting on their hands asking for out time atention and money to support their ability to sit on their hands and watch the world go to …. wherever they are going.
Shaun, thank you so much for sharing that. I’ve had the distinct privilege of both hearing Wess speak, and chatting with him for an interview, and each time I thank God that He placed Wess at Compassion. Have you read Wess’ book, Too Small to Ignore? If not, I highly recommend it. I read it on the plane when I was coming to Colorado for my interview at Compassion, and by the time the plane landed, any doubts or fears that I had about moving even further from my family were erased.