On a post the other day, Russell asked…

Does sponsoring a kid really “release kids from poverty?”

What do you mean by that?

That’s a great question – one that deserves a post of its own.  So here it is, Russell.

When I speak and sing about Compassion these days, I show two pictures to answer these questions.

Here’s the first.

I took this picture in Ethiopia back in November.  She’s about five.  Her skin is ashy gray and not the beautiful brown God made it to be.  She’s missing fingernails and toenails – her body lacks the nutrition necessary to hang on to them.  Same thing with her hair.  Her head is shaved and patches of hair have fallen out in the back.  She has no socks, shoes, pants or underwear.  She’s in a shirt that obviously isn’t made for a little girl, the sleeves are rolled up to fit her small frame.  Her eyes are runny and red.  Her nose is running.  She’s missing most of her teeth.  Her tongue is swollen and red – looks like a strawberry.  It fills every corner of her mouth.  So she didn’t speak to me.  She walked up and raised two fingers to her mouth instead.  I knew what she was saying: Feed me. This is a picture of poverty: Alone on the street, naked, sick, uneducated, hungry, thirsty, begging, nameless.

Here’s the second picture.

I also took this picture on my Ethiopia trip.  This is Yoseph.  Yoseph is five and he’s one of the kids our family sponsors through Compassion International.  Yoseph has all his fingernails and toenails.  And all his hair.  Yoseph has socks, shoes, pants, shirts and underwear.  And it all fits. He’s healthy.  He’s had his immunizations and he sees a doctor for check-ups and when he’s sick. He has a big white smile – he has a dentist now.  Yoseph eats, has had his shelter improved, is taught to read, write and do math and told about the love of God.  His care is administered by a local church in his own community – so Yoseph and his family have not only their economic, social, and physical needs met but also have the opportunity to have their spiritual needs met as well.  This is a picture of release: Supported by Christian community, clothed, healthy, educated, belly full, known by name.

I haven’t “saved” or “rescued” Yoseph by sponsoring him.  Only God can do that in the truest sense.  But Compassion and I, together, have released him from poverty of every kind, giving him the opportunity to be a mature healthy Christian adult some day.

So, yes, this “release” really happens.  It’s happening today for over 1,000,000 kids in 24 of the world’s most underdeveloped nations. Would you like to release a child from poverty, Russell?  Danna, Kevin, Muni, and Louk-mane have all been waiting for sponsors for more than six months.  Click their names to release them from poverty…and change their picture.