Just over 1000 kids were sponsored at my concerts and speaking engagements in 2007. Good. But not the best.
Because…
My presentation ends. It’s very finite.
The crowd leaves with my words about Compassion in their heads, not in their hands, no more memorable than their sixth grade locker combination. One presentation reaches exactly one room’s worth of people. And that’s all.
I can only present my experience with Compassion, tell stories from my point of view, make a case for Compassion that makes sense to my brain. On average, 10% of the audience understands my point of view and my stories enough to respond and sponsor a child. One presentation matches the perspective and passions of a small number of people listening.
Not so with blogs. Numerous bloggers presenting Compassion International in their own uniquely compelling and authentic way can…
Create presentations that last as long as the URL exists.
Those presentations can be searched for, linked to, quoted from, e-mailed, discussed, dugg, stumbled upon, and more. They’re spreadable to an ever-increasing crowd.
Numerous bloggers bring numerous perspectives, connecting with more types of people, and releasing more children from poverty.
Let’s hitch up. About the wagon’s maiden voyage tomorrow.
Shaun Groves
alan says:
Shaun,
I don’t know if this is a question that you can answer here, but are there any differences between what Compassion does and what Worldvision does. My wife, kids, and I have sponsored two kids, one in Kenya & one in the Congo, through Worldvision for a while now. Until I started reading your blog several months ago, I had never heard of Compassion.
Debra says:
Sounds great!
Shaun Groves says:
World Vision is great. And they partner with Compassion in many parts of the world. But yes there are differences. Maybe I’ll blog about them more specifically sometime.
Bryan Smith says:
Shaun, this has been great. You are truly an inspiration to me. I have been on board with compassion ever since I went to one of your shows and was just blown away listening to you speak. I have been letting people know about it as much as I can. Keep up the awesome work. God bless!
Just Matt says:
I am in. As a sponsor of 2 kids – I love what compassion is doing and would love to see more people involved.
Actually – at our halloween..err..I mean ‘Fall Festival’ party this year – we had a compassion ‘both’ set up at the food table and placed a card in the kids goodie bags that said “you know what’s REALLY scary..” followed by our compassion story. It was really well received, I think. Kinda hokey (I don’t like hokey) but it got the message out. Although now that I am writing this…it kinda feels like we handed out ‘tracks’…did we hand out tracks at our kids party?!….
Noelle says:
I can only imagine how many kids could be reached for Compassion or World Vision if the people in the pews would ask their pastor about presenting themselves. If one person cared enough from each church to do so, then a lot of kids would be sponsored…. really optimistic, I know, but it’s a start.
Brian Seay says:
Noelle –
That is happening and last year over 20,000 kids were sponsored through church services. Most of the time it was 1 church member talking to their pastor about presenting it. 20,000 is an impressive number but it could be 10x that!
Check out the website that will tell you exactly how to make that happen:
http://www.compassion.com/share/compassionsunday/default.htm
Grovesfan says:
I signed up and became an Area Advocate for Compassion International this year. I will complete all my formal training tonight on my last conference call! I am so excited! I’ve gotten 2 children sponsored already and am in the process of setting up “Compassion Sundays” in our local churches along with other advocates. I’m also scheduled to work the upcoming TobyMac concert and also with some Shaun Groves guy who’s coming her next month.
Beth
no longer nancy says:
Compassion is a wonderful ministry. I love getting letters from my Jason. I’ve been able to encourage four others to sponsor children. I don’t know if anyone has been prompted to look more into it through my blogging, but I hope they are.
Chris says:
Alan,
There are several significant differences between Compassion and World Vision.
1. Compassion is about one-to-one long-term relationships between a child and a sponsor, while World Vision is more of a community-program.
2. Compassion partners strictly with the local church to adminster its programs. World Vision does not.
3. Compassion does not accept government grants. World Vision does.
What those things mean is that although both organizations offer child sponsorship programs, the programs and organizational approach are significantly different.
There are other differences as well. I just mention those few to draw a few quick distinctions. As you look closely at the reasoning behind how the organizations operate and the impact the differences make, you’ll learn that Compassion and World Vision aren’t as similar as you may have thought.
Comparing the two isn’t comparing apples to apples, it’s more apples to oranges. They’re both fruit, but they’re not the same kind of fruit.
Shaun Groves says:
True, Chris. Thanks for the great answer.
I’ll add this to number 1 on your list. World Vision sponsorships are symbolic and Compassion’s are actual. At least 80% of a Compassion sponsor’s dollars goes to meet the physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual needs of the child they sponsor. One to one. That’s not the case with World Vision.
And, yes, it’s apples to oranges comparing these two great organizations. In fact, World Vision is classified as a relief organization while Compassion is classified as a child development organization.
Hope that helps.
alan says:
Yes it certainly helps. Even with the few you listed, the differences are quite sizable. Thanks, to both of you.
Just Matt says:
Shaun – This idea just popped in my head this morning – and there may already be something like this – but here it is anyways – How about setting up local ‘Compassion Clubs’ (I know – really bad name) where sponsors in a community can meet up and make things happen – get the word out on a grass roots level?
Shaun Groves says:
I’ll let someone from COmpassion (a few of them read this thing) comment. I don’t know of anything like that, but it may exist.
Just Matt says:
Thanks! If it doesn’t perhaps it should.
annie says:
I really like the idea of a community approach. It’s good we have options!