I speak on behalf of Compassion International more than a hundred times a year. I feel like I’ve heard a million different questions regarding Compassion and poverty. A handful of them though are in heavy rotation.
I’m in Kenya right now on Compassion International’s fifth blogging trip! And those same few questions are hitting the comment sections of our blogs with the same frequency. So, how about some answers and responses from my vantage point? I’ll do my best.
We have poverty in America too. Why isn’t Compassion doing anything about it?
Certainly. Unfortunately, people of every nation are in poverty’s grip. Even America, which is the 4th wealthiest country in the world according to the World Bank, has been touched by poverty.
To serve America’s poor, Compassion International launched a holistic child development ministry in 1973. After 30 years of studying the effectiveness of that ministry, it was decided that America’s poor would be better served if that ministry was spun off as a separate organization. It exists still today as YouthPartnersNET. Like Compassion International, YouthPartnersNET “works through partnerships with churches, youth workers and faith organizations to reach out to children and young people in the United States who suffer from spiritual and physical poverty.”
Why is Compassion spending money to fly bloggers to Africa when that money could help the poor?
Compassion is the only non-profit in the child development category to have received Charity Navigator‘s coveted four-star rating eight consecutive years in a row. The American Institute of Philanthropy has likewise awarded Compassion its highest rating and Worth magazine placed Compassion on its list of the top ten most fiscally responsible charities.
Compassion, like all non-profits, must spend some money in order to raise money. Every marketing investment is scrutinized before and after it is made. Compassion has taken FIVE blogging trips because the return on investment is far higher than that of traditional marketing.
Every effort is made to reduce investment costs. For blogging trips, this includes purchasing hotel stays (with meals) and airfares at reduced group rates. And in the end, the investment made is more than worth the thousands of lives transformed by the generosity of sponsors.
Is Compassion forcing children to become Christians?
We Christians are sometimes, rightfully, criticized for being hypocritical – for not consistently living out what we believe. Christianity teaches that the deepest poverty a human being can experience is of a spiritual nature. It would be inconsistent and hypocritical of a Christian child development organization to offer physical but not spiritual assistance. So Compassion does so.
Compassion ministers to the physical and spiritual needs of many Hindu, Muslim, and atheist children around the world. Every child, regardless of religious background, is exposed to Christian teachings but, like the offer of clean water and food, the choice to accept these teachings is purely up to the child.
If a child does not believe in the God of the Christian faith, they receive no less love and care from Compassion. The care they receive differs in no way from the care given Christian children.
Have more questions to ask?
Shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment. I’ll reply shortly.
Thanks.
Jason says:
Thanks, Shaun. I had always wondered if Compassion had done anything within the borders of the US. Good to see they looked at the need here too.
Shayne says:
In response to those asking about if Compassion helps American children I would respond with this:
In America…we have a system in place that helps those in need. It’s not perfect…but it is there.
In third world countries…there is nothing. No welfare system, no school lunch programs, no Department of Health and Human Services…nothing.
Not to sugarcoat or pooh-pooh the plight of the hungry in America…but let’s face it, most Americans can get help of some kind if they want it.
Josh says:
What are your thoughts on visiting your sponsor child? (non Compassion-blogger trip) I’ve always known that it would be life-changing…but for me. Wouldn’t that money I put towards the trip be better used by sponsoring more kids?
This is something I’ve wrestled with. Nothing wrong with anyone going at all, in my opinion….I just struggle with that thought.
Mike says:
Josh, I understand your having wrestled with going to visit your sponsored child or sponsoring more children. All I can tell you is this. I went to Bolivia in 2008 on a Compassion tour, and I was able to meet my sponsored child, and it was an awesome experience; one that I will never forget. He stole my heart. He became so much more to me than just a picture on the wall, and words on a piece of paper. I was able to see how Compassion’s ministry had affected his life, as well as that of his family. Being an advocate for Compassion, the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of poverty made a strong impression on me.
If you decide to visit your sponsored child, you won’t regret it. Visit the blogs of some of the other Compassion Kenya bloggers to see what it was like for them to meet their sponsored child.
Katie says:
Well, I had never heard of your organization but am a reader of one of your bloggers in Kenya.
And after reading her posts, and looking at her pictures, I felt the calling to sponsor a child. I’ve seen a commercials on TV for helping children in such poverty but it was the heartfelt, personal, real stories from an American like myself that touched me.
So Bravo! I think taking the bloggers to Kenya is money well spent.
Thomas says:
I have not that important of a question, but just a question out of curiosity?
How do you or how does Compassion decide what country or region will be the next Compassion Blogger trip?
Thank you Shaun for all the long hours and hard work you put into these Compassion Bloggers trips.
Gina says:
I sponsor a few Compassion children. I was always of the understanding that Compassion provided 1 meal a day to these children. When you were at the Mathare slum the other day, I believe 2 of the bloggers mentioned that the kids were only fed once a week. Can you clarify if children are fed once a day at their Compassion project or once a week or does it vary according to geographic location? Thanks Shaun.
Shaun Groves says:
Compassion develops a child in four areas: cognitive, spiritual, socio-emotional and physical. HOW Compassion does that varies from project to project, country to country based a great deal on variance of need, culture and legalities.
In Kenya, when it comes to food, sometimes Compassion provides a small loan for raising animals or farming. Other times the social workers decide it’s best to provide daily feeding of “highly vulnerable” children in certain homes – we met a family that was fed daily in the project and given nutritional supplements for three years until the family’s own farm and income were enough to sustain them, for instance. And sometimes, because it is determined that a child is eating well enough during the week, a child receives only supplemental feeding one or two days a week. EVERY child receives education about the importance of maintaining a balanced diet and how to go about it.
How a child is developed physically (and in the other three areas) is determined by indigenous project staff in collaboration with parents. Together they decide what is most needed: vitamins and food, food daily or less often, a loan to buy animals and seeds, etc.
Does that help, Gina?
Gina says:
Yes. Thanks.
Stephanie says:
Gina, I asked that same question over on the OurCompassion website (that’s their social networking site for sponsors) and I got some really good explanations. Here is a link if you want to check it out: http://www.ourcompassion.org/?p=blog&id=7042621470318347784
Lynn says:
Did the trip participants pay for any of the expenses for this trip?
Shaun Groves says:
Compassion covered travel and hotel (food is inclusive in the hotel deals we get or served to us at projects). Bloggers are allowed to bring spouses if they cover their airfare.
lindasuh says:
You don’t know me; I’m just a 23 year old fan/ Shlog reader (of ~2 yrs) in California. I wanted to thank you for your blog entry on March 2nd and your FAQ blog on March 8th. I’m not sure if it has pained or burdened you to receive and have to answer those kinds of questions, but thank you for your wisdom and tact in your responses. I’m really proud that you’re my brother in Christ.
I’m blessed and inspired by your life, especially because I’ve been able to read along in your blog and see that you’re this ordinary real human being who does this beautiful thing with his life by pouring it out at Jesus’ feet.
Your stories are hilarious =) and your daughters and son are so beautiful. God bless you! I pray for missionaries and ministries on Saturday mornings and I’m going to be sure to pray for you and your family from now on.
Cool Springs Todd says:
Do you ever have any events or fundraisers in Nashville?
Teresa says:
Hi Shaun
Similar to the above question regarding how often the children receive meals and other necessities, I’m wondering how often the children meet at their centers. I’m seeing that Saturday is a big day for them, but I’m wondering if there are after school meetings as well? It’s been my understanding that they receive homework help, etc. Does that take place during the week, or is each project different in that regard as well….adjusting their program schedule according to the needs in their particular area?
Thanks, Shaun for giving us a chance to ask our questions. All the blogger trips have been amazing…that’s how I discovered Compassion in the first place!
Shaun Groves says:
Great question, Teresa. And thanks for reading along and encouraging us.
In the Kenya projects we visited, the children all went to public school every day. The children I spoke to about their daily routine told me they didn’t get home until 6 or 6:30 PM every day!
So, maybe that’s why those Compassion projects did not have after school programs. The children were visited by project staff in their homes twice each month and the children spent a full day in the Compassion program on Saturdays. I don’t think this is the case all over Kenya, but I’m not sure. I will ask.
So, yes, the program is meeting the cognitive need of Compassion children in partnership with the public school and we did not see tutoring or program stuff happening during the week, but only on Saturday. The program was producing results this way but it is unusual I think – I’ve never seen Compassion children spending so little time in a Compassion project.
Does that help, Teresa? Thanks again for the kind words and great question.
Teresa says:
Yes, very helpful.
Thanks Shaun!