Shaun Groves
I’ve been speaking and singing on behalf of Compassion International in 80 to 100 cities every year for seven years. And being the nerd I am I’ve studied the results and found that as crowds get larger they also become less compassionate.
And I’m not the only one to have studied this. I read about an experiment once in which people gathered in a large room to be given instructions before taking a test. Then they were separated, put into rooms alone to take the test. The walls of these rooms were thin enough that test takers could hear one another.
At some point during the test, scientists had one test taker fake a heart attack. He cried for help. And the scientists noted how the other test takers responded.
How many stopped taking their test? How many stood and tried to look over the walls of their room? How many cried out on behalf of the sick man? How many left their room in search of him? How long did test takers wait before they took any of these actions?
They repeated this test with larger and larger groups of people: The larger the crowd the less compassionate the response.
Why?
The scientists reasoned that test takers thought someone else would take care of the problem. And the more someone elses there were, the more certain test takers were of this, and the less responsibility they felt for the sick man’s well-being.
At least 700 times now, I’ve asked crowds to release children from poverty. And I’ve seen how inaction increases with the size of the audience. I can predict with great accuracy how many people will sponsor a child every night – based not only on the size of the crowd, but based mostly on it.
Because of a promotion snafu, I recently spoke to a crowd of seven. Four of them sponsored children. That’s 57 percent.
If the crowd is less than 100 people then I know that 10-20% of them will sponsor a child.
In a crowd of 100-500 a 10% response is usual.
As we approach 1000 people the percentage plummets to 7%.
Over the weekend I was at an outdoor Christian music festival. Around 10,000 people were said to be in front of the main stage when I was speaking about Compassion. In addition to my presentation, we also brought in a former sponsored child from Uganda to tell her compelling life story. And the brand new Compassion Experience: Change The Story was there too – a state-of-the-art interactive mobile poverty experience like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s the closest thing to taking a trip overseas that there is.
Less than 1% of the crowd sponsored a child.
Can the percentage get any lower? Yes.
Less than half of one percent of a blogger’s regular readers will sponsor a child after an entire week of posts during a Compassion Bloggers trip.
The more we feel like just another person in the crowd, the less action we’re likely to take when someone needs help. (<--Click to tweet)
But there are times when this rule is broken. And I have no other explanation for this outside of God. Only God can override our hardwired well-documented apathy with compassion.
Why He does this some days and not always I just don’t know. I just keep praying every day that my audience defies science. And sometimes they do.
And when they don’t? Understanding why helps me respond compassionately to them.
When have you felt most compelled to take action? Why do you think that was?
Jessica says:
I was so going to leave a wise comment and explain why I thought the phenomenon occurred – but then you covered all the bases for me. So now I have no reason to leave a comment. But, obviously, am not letting that stop me.
Jessica says:
Annnnd, I’m back on top! Hurrah.
Shaun Groves says:
I’m missed seeing your little square picture in that first place position ; )
Jessica says:
This makes me think of a psych class I took in college. The phenomenon that comes to mind is the “Bystander effect” and relevant to emergency situations. Witnesses who see a man or woman being mugged/murdered/raped, but do not rush to assist. They figure someone else will do it: call 911, give aid.
It makes you wonder what this lack of compassion can mean for the local church body? When we gather in pews with thousands are we more likely to help one another or those outside? When we gather in small groups of believers are we more likely to get off our butts?
What does it take to make it real enough for us to act?
Tsh @ Simple Mom says:
It reminds me of that quote, “Everyone’s problem is no one’s problem.” As someone who used to go around and raise money for ministry, we found the same results, and it was also more effective to keep the presentation more casual. Basically, we had a better ROI when we chatted over dinner with six people than speaking to a church service of 1,000 with a snazzy powerpoint presentation.
I’m curious if this information changes your approach at all, Shaun. I’m also surprised by that stat about bloggers’ readers. Makes sense, but still… wow.
Jessica says:
I’m just starting to contemplate this sort of thing as we pursue a future work that will require us to raise our own support. We’ve been told that people get the majority of their financial backing from individuals these days and not churches.
Vicki says:
I suspect you have hear correctly, Jessica. As I have tried to gain entrances into churches to present Compassion–even just to missions committees, boards of elders, or church staffs–I have found doors closed firmly in my face with the message that “It doesn’t fit in with our missional focus,” or some other such reason.
It’s similar, I think, to small, owner-run businesses, like my husband’s and mine: My husband found and developed his niche, and that’s all he does, out of a larger realm of options (actually not that many different options). When he’s asked to do something outside his niches, the answer is no, sometimes with a referral.
Brooke McGlothlin (@BrookeWrites) says:
As someone who worked in a non-profit ministry for over 12 years (I now serve on the Board) I can vouch for that Jess. Most of our financial backing comes from generous individuals and not churches. During the recent economic strains, we had several of our long-standing supporting churches drop us out of their budget. But the number of individuals who support us went up.
We also see a small number of people respond during presentations, but my thinking on that has changed since I first started. I would rather have a small number of people involved who are truly dedicated and called by God to do so. They are usually the ones who will follow through, be consistent, and help build a solid foundation to the ministry.
Thanks for what you’re doing Shaun.
Kit says:
yep, we raise support and that’s the general rule we hear also. though we do have a few churches on board which is nice because they’re less likely to “forget” and more likely to increase their giving over time. they’re like “anchors” and then the individual givers fill in the rest, if that makes sense.
Shaun Groves says:
Generating support face-to-face is so much harder when there are hundreds of thousands of people to meet with. But some new stuff we’re trying is somewhere in between talking to thousands at once and sitting down over coffee one-on-one.
Melissa Jones says:
I wonder though how many of the readers were already Compassion sponsors. That would affect how many chose to sponsor after a trip. The same might hold true for larger crowds in general – they’re more likely to contain current sponsors who are less likely to sponsor a second (or whatever) child. There’s also probably a “peer-pressure” effect in a crowd. Once you get “critical mass” raising their hands for a sponsorship packet, then sponsorship goes up….but it’s harder and harder to hit that “critical mass” the bigger the crowd is. I think these stats need more data. I don’t disagree with them in principle, I just think there’s more at play here than is obvious on the surface.
Melissa Jones says:
Just read your comment below that the most likely to sponsor are those who already sponsor (which says a _LOT_ about Compassion’s programs, btw). This is all very interesting to me. Numbers/statistics make my engineer’s heart beat just a “little” bit faster.
Katie Axelson says:
I find these results interesting though not surprising. Personally, I’d heard about Compassion a lot, in fact, I was very passionate about Compassion before I ever sponsored my own child. I had a whole bunch of excuses and always fell back on the “My family sponsors a child and I write most of her letters.” Sponsoring a child was going to be my reward for getting a job. That seemed like a financially reasonable thing to do.
Well, when it looked like no job was coming, I changed my decision. It was a slow process over multiple days at one of those large, outdoor Christian music festivals. I would sponsor my own child but I wanted to start saving money before I committed. When you have no income, $38/month is a lot and once I committed, I would not give up on my child. The next event I attended where Compassion had a table (I go to a lot of events), I’d sponsor a child.
A few months later, the evening of my next Compassion event, I was sitting privately and chatting with the Compassion spokesperson, friend to friend. My friend asked me directly if I sponsor a child. I had to admit that I didn’t but I was planning to that very night. Even if I hadn’t already been planning it, I probably would have anyway. My friend backpedaled a little bit but I’d already picked out a child.
Not that a one-on-one ask is best way to get sponsors, it definitely was effective.
Katie
Jolanthe says:
Wow. Just simply wow. Those statistics really just amaze me.
dave pettigrew says:
agreed. i encounter this every weekend when i’m out gigging. i normally play coffeehouses & church basements where the crowds are 50 – 100 people. every once in while we get the opportunity to open for “majors” and one saturday we played in front of 8000 people. pretty much the same talk about sponsoring kids, changing the world, bring the hands and feet of Jesus to these kids. 12 kids got sponsored that day. i’ve played rooms of 75 people where 12 kids get sponsored. pretty frustrating but at the same time, i really feel called to continue to play the smaller venues, where the action happens. it’s an incredibly humbling thing to know that you can make a difference, in the name of jesus, in a child’s life. i’m just happy to play my part.
Vicki says:
As to your specific question, Shaun, I was compelled to take action on sponsoring a child when I started to walk past a Compassion table outside of church, on Sunday morning, almost 10 years ago. No presentation, just a table; just an opportunity to do something I had longed for many years to do, but had been able to afford, financially, for only a short time.
But…about blogging effectiveness: I blog, but not nearly often enough to have much readership, although I didn’t have many readers when I was blogging frequently. But as a blog reader, I find that the more blog posts I receive, the fewer I read. Compassion has had similar feedback, recently: I was only one of those who said one post a day was better than two. For me, one post a day, showing up in my Inbox from several different bloggers, is more than I have time for.
If that’s very common, I think it fits in with what you and others have found about the size of crowds. And I think that, in a smaller group, there’s a greater sense that, “We have to take action; look how few of us there are! It’s urgent!”
Or maybe that’s just because people of like interests or passions will join a particular group.
My question to you: What might this perspective mean for the future of Compassion blogging trips? Do the results justify the costs?
Jill Foley says:
I had a similar (yet different) experience this past week at our VBS. We had 50 kids (pretty small group compared to other area VBS programs). We were raising money for Bite Back and I challenged the kids to raise $100. They ended up raising $300 – and the church matched it for a total of $600 – far beyond what I dreamed or imagined for such a small group. It blew me away.
And even in my church this past year, the response to the film 58: and Compassion Sunday was far greater than I could have hoped…and it’s a pretty small church.
So maybe you should think about taking “smaller” bloggers on your trips : ) And I don’t mean smaller in terms of size, I mean smaller in terms of readership.
Michelle ~ Blogging from the Boonies says:
I like your thinking, Jill. 😉
Shaun Groves says:
That wouldn’t make a lick of difference, Jill. Nice try ; )
Because…
The internet is one massive crowd. Anonymity reinforces that perception. So ANYTHING on-line will have a lower response than live in-person.
Our smallest bloggers generate the same percentage of response as our biggest bloggers. Just like with speakers and artists there are those who communicate better than other – and those bloggers have a slightly higher percentage.
So we need big bloggers who are also great communicators to make blogging trips a worthwhile investment. To maintain financial integrity.
I can help you grow your blog, btw. But you’ll have to write LESS about Compassion. Counterintuitive huh? Some other time ; )
Jill Foley says:
Well I do have more than one blog. At Daily Bread I hardly ever write about Compassion.
Katie Axelson says:
What about adding a blogger to accompany an already-going Compassion trip? That way there’s only one person talking a lot at a time? It’d be funneling efforts to one place rather than several (though all good).
Katie
Shaun Groves says:
Katie, that’s something we’ve talked about and may try in the future.
There are technical hurdles but, yep, great idea.
Michelle ~ Blogging from the Boonies says:
I have worked a lot of Compassion events and I have given small presentations to churches and groups. You’re speaking the truth here and I have seen it firsthand. Small church of 100 or so adults – 15 children get sponsored. Concert with maybe 400 in attendance – 12 children get sponsored. In fact, as I scan the audience during a “packet pass” at larger events, I tend to notice more people averting their eyes, trying to slip down out of view or on their phones, than those who seem moved. I pray for a seed to be set firmly in their heart, as much as they may not want to hear the message.
Speaking at churches, I tend to see more teary eyes and hearts being moved. Maybe because these people have come to have their heart challenged, not just to be entertained.
Karen says:
I think it’s about a ‘personal connection’. When the group is small, things seem personal and I feel connected; therefore I feel a sense of responsibility. But, the bigger the crowd the easier it is to hide and believe that someone else will take care of it.
I think it must be the same with the blogging community. When I feel thatI am just one of MANY readers then I usually feel less compelled about their ’cause’….but when the blogger has created a personal connection, somehow, then helping seems to mean something.
Shaun Groves says:
Yep.
I hope this isn’t proprietary information but…
Singer songwriters get a better response of Compassion than rock stars. I think that’s because rock shows don’t feel personal. And a night with Bebo Norman does.
KC says:
I see the truth in this, but something else may play a small part, too. I’m one of the ones who sponsored after reading several Compassion bloggers’ stories. It was BooMama who actually caused me to take the plunge. Then I heard you speak at a Know More Orphans conference, and while I was very moved, it just wasn’t in my budget to sponsor another child at that time. Hopefully one day it will be. So maybe others at the bigger events are in the same situation and already sponsor. In any case keep up the good work. Countless kids have been helped because of you.
Shaun Groves says:
You’re absolutely right, KC. There are MANY factors that affect responsiveness.
For instance, people don’t like to wait in line to turn in their sponsorship forms. So if we don’t have enough sponsorship tables at a large event it lowers the number of forms that get turned in.
Outside audiences move around and talk more and so they don’t respond as well as indoor crowds.
Certain denominations are more responsive than others.
The list goes on! There are many factors. BUT…
In general, if all things are equal, the larger crowd will sponsor fewer kids.
BUT I’M SO GLAD YOU SPONSORED! Thank you, KC.
Kit says:
Yes, I wonder if a lot of the readers of the blogger trips now, already sponsor. I know I added a child after one of the trips, but I can’t do that every time. And after a while, reading about the blogger trips is kinda BTDT for me by now. They’re great for people who are new to Compassion or maybe just never gave it a lot of thought before. It must be hard to find the right bloggers for that job!
Shaun Groves says:
Statistically, the person most likely to sponsor a child…is someone who already sponsors a child.
Beyond generating sponsorships though, these trips accomplish much more. For starters, people who already sponsor recommit to write their child. And that’s HUGE. These trips accomplish a lot more than sponsorships.
Kit says:
oh those are good points. yes, us current sponsors do benefit a lot from reading about the trips!
Sara McNutt says:
I saw this to be true when you were here. I remember commenting on it. The smaller group of women at the conference WAY outgave the much bigger group at the concert.
And this next part pertains to your blogging tips above and going on a Compassion trip… I write because I love to write. And the only reason I would have any interest in “growing my blog” is to go on a Compassion trip. So how do I reconcile the two? i.e. Pick me! Pick me!
😉
Shaun Groves says:
We would have a lot of fun on a trip. Maybe someday. I hope.
Kevin says:
Thanks for this post Shaun, and for mentioning Bebo Norman…I just saw him in concert a few months ago and not only was I emotionally connected to every song he sang, but every word he spoke and especially about Compassion. What originally moved me to sponsor our child Wycliffe in Kenya in 2000 was an impassioned plea by none other than Smitty. Yes, personal testimonies from singer-songwriters connecting with smaller crowds makes a lot of sense to free more children from poverty at a higher percentage. Thanks for what you do Shaun.
Kris says:
The satisitcs dont surprise me really. I have seen a hint of this when I occasionally do a post about Compassion. (Though I am an advocate, I rarely post about Compassion) but when I DO, I think I hear crickets chirping in the comment section. It always amazes me a little because normally, I have a fair ammout of feedback from my readers, but the Compassion posts– that’s a different story. I try not to let it discourage me.
PS: I’m trying to grow my blog, for many reasons but one of them is definitly to be considered for a Compassion trip. Was that a shameless plug? My sincerest apologies…
Vicki says:
Shameless, eh? 😉 I hope you get picked!
Jenn says:
Kris, I get the crickets with Compassion posts, too, even when I end with a question or something asking for feedback. It’s so frustrating…
Kit says:
me too
Kris says:
I have to say in some ways this is sadly comforting. I am sort of amazed that I get so many comments somewhat regularly, except my Compassion posts. To be honest, that’s partly affected how often (or rather NOT often) I do them. I’m working on my advocacy more offline, which isn’t what I imagined when I took on the responsibility…
Jason Green says:
Shaun,
Great insight! We have found that our missionaries receive the majority of their support by connecting with supporters through one on one and small group settings. While churches may support a ministry, and align with a mission, it is people (individuals) that support missionaries (or as you mentioned, children). The challenge is how do we leverage today’s technology to connect effectively? We can mass communicate more information than ever, but deep down we long for that personal connection–with a child, with a missionary, with a ministry.
Kris says:
Thank you, sweet Vicki! I pray and I wait. God knows what’s best. 😉
Kristy K says:
I don’t think we’d be sponsoring today if it wasn’t for the bloggers’ trip to Kenya a while back. I read Kristen’s blog in tears almost every day. I read about other trips before and after that, but for some reason, that trip resonated with me.
Kit says:
same here. it was MckMama’s blog in Kenya that spurred us on (we already sponsored but stepped up our commitment), I think you’re right that there was something special about that Kenya trip!
Deb says:
Kristen Welch’s trip w/ Compassion was what started our journey into sponsorship here. And the blogger trip to the Philippines brought us to a total of 3 sponsored children so far.
It is effective… and even small numbers help. Right? 🙂
God will supply… always.
Blessings on the journey~
krisyoursis says:
Thanks, so now I feel way better about that ShaunGroves concert in Thomasville, GA, with 30 attendees…20% sponsored kids. 🙂 (I’ll quit beating myself up now, 3 years later over “Shaun and Ben drove allllllll the way here for THIS?”)
Shaun Groves says:
I’ll drive across America for six kids any day, Kris. Thanks, again, for having us!
shayne says:
Oh thank you so much for posting that Kris…I had the same exact number here in Knoxville and 7 kids were sponsored.
I’m grateful for it…but I was sooooo embarrassed by the low number in the audience. Buut the ones who didn’t come really missed out didn’t they?
Not only on some great music, but also on an opportunity to really make a difference…an ACTUAL difference in someone else’s life.
Gwen says:
I felt very small reading this. I have definitely contributed to those stats; a while ago I sat in a crowd of many thousands, listened to and was moved by the Compassion presentation, but left without sponsoring more children. I went out to find the Compassion tables outside the stadium, but I admit that the huge crowd around the tables made me walk past. It’s embarrassing to admit, but there it is.
I do generally sponsor children after a Blogger trip, and I think it might be because, having read your blog for a few years, it seems more personal to me — like a small crowd, I guess. Of course, I use Compassion.ca (since I’m in Canada) so the stats wouldn’t reflect my sponsorship as being connected to the Blogger trip.
Anyway. Pointless comment… but this was a really interesting post! 🙂
Shaun Groves says:
Gwen, don’t be too hard on yourself. You know, I heard Compassion presented four times before I said yes. And then when that child left the program I didn’t sponsor another for a decade. We’re all human. And, thankfully, forgivable.
Jenn says:
This doesn’t bode well for DC Fest… I was so excited to see that it was to benefit Compassion. I guess the “glass-half-full” view is that festivals like that are going to happen anyway, and that they will give a plug to Compassion is awesome. And like other things, the more people hear about Compassion, the more it becomes “top-of-the-mind.” Eventually you can’t ignore it any longer!
I usually feel compelled to take action after I read a story or hear a news story about things that are going on in the world- like the slavery issue, water issues, etc. The Rwandan genocide has always weighed heavily on my heart, and about two years ago I read a new book on that and it wrecked me for days. I felt so helpless and angry, even though it had all been over for so long. But goodness knows the affects are long-lasting. So my husband suggested we see if Compassion had children there, and they do! We found an orphan who was born the year after the genocides and began to sponsor her. I felt like we were doing something, even if it was *just* helping one child. And reading about Compassion’s work over there even before the genocide has made me love it even more.
Shaun Groves says:
I spoke at DC Fest last year…or maybe the year before. Great response from what I remember. On par with other festivals. Chin up! Pray and expect generosity. I’ll pray with you.
And thanks for the story about how you came to sponsor in Rwanda. Helpful for something I’m working on. Very. Thanks!
Jeffrey says:
The attitude and demeanor of the speaker means a lot. Sometimes the people up there seem too forceful. I don’t want to give to someone who is forcing it, even if they say they aren’t. Mainly though I dread the compassion/world vision moment. I go to a lot of Christian concerts and they all have this moment. I have to think that the well is going to run dry. I already have multiple sponsored children, and when I go to concerts I recognize people because it tends to be the same people attending these concerts. I’m not sure how many more times people can come to my area and ask for sponsorship because most of the people who attend already do.
Shaun Groves says:
Jeffrey, why would you “dread” a moment when people have an opportunity to care for the poor? Even if the speaker is forceful (subjective I think) why would you dread it? It’s short and potentially life-changing for those around you and children around the world
I don’t understand. Can you clarify?
Truth is that people often sponsor after multiple exposures to Compassion. They may follow several blog trips, go to a dozen concerts, before they sponsor. Each exposure serves a purpose. Planting, watering, harvesting – a little at a time.
I’m thrilled you and so many you hang with sponsor a child. But the well isn’t dry. Not even close. Most people at Christian concerts do not sponsor children yet.
Yvonne says:
Very timely post for sure! I had a Compassion table at our local homeschool conference over the weekend. The numbers were around 1100 people in attendance. Two children were sponsored. I was a little disappointed, but so happy for those 2 children who now have sponsors! I did have the opportunity to talk to many current sponsors, and I encouraged them to be writing to their kids. I don’t feel it was a waste of my time though. I believe that anytime we can be given the opportunity to share about Compassion, God can do His work.
Shaun Groves says:
I’m sometimes brought in to situations like yours. If a college or event has had a historically low response, Compassion will sometimes send me or another speaker in to see if a different approach would help. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it just doesn’t. Compassion’s ministry isn’t a great fit with every crowd, every event.
I’d love to come speak at that conference next year. Be in touch if you’d like to give it a shot. I’m game!
Yvonne says:
I’m game to give it a try! What is the best way to contact you to try to set this up?
Lindsay says:
I think I’m so moved to action because, in my sphere of influence (in my “crowd”), I *don’t* assume anyone else will do anything. In fact, I regularly see them not doing anything. And even if they do, when they do, it doesn’t make me feel like my contribution is any less needed. It makes the need feel even more urgent (since so few are helping). It makes my support feel even more necessary (since so few are helping with so little). So I guess a small bit of it has to do with the individual person’s psyche. How willing are they to pass the buck?
Kelli says:
I read this early this afternoon and it really thumped me in the chest. I wanted to comment but I couldn’t. Something pulled me back and I’ve been mulling over this post all day. Tonight it hit me…
I have been that person for so much of my life – the one in the crowd who assumes someone else will help. I’ve been scared to commit, afraid I wouldn’t be able to follow through, assuming someone else more equipped than I was. I’ve heard the call, felt the tug and desire but pushed it aside and squelched it more times than I want to admit.
I’m the girl who likes to stay lost in the crowd.
I’m so thankful God isn’t One to allow His people to hide. I’m grateful for His constant pursuit and His unending desire to mold me more into His image and to not let me turn my face from the needs and pain of others. I have a long way to go and a lot of compassion yet to develop, but over the last decade, God has made sure I don’t waste in the shadows, even though I wanted to. It was comfortable there and it felt so safe.
I don’t want to be lost in the crowd again. I constantly fight the urge.
Amy says:
This is interesting, I would have never thought of it this way, but it absolutely makes sense.
I stated sponsoring right around the Kenya trip in 2010. Interestingly enough, that’s not how I came to decide to sponsor. I didn’t even know sponsoring was something that was done! We were in a bad financial time and I felt led to do something for someone else. It was crazy, we didn’t even have enough money to pay our bills. I started looking around, saw an ad on yahoo for Compassion. I asked around to find out if they were legit. 😉 then my cousin said “hey, a blogger I follow is actually on a Compassion trip right now”. It wasn’t Kristen, but that’s who I started following, which led me to your blog. We couldn’t decide how to choose a child, so we went with my son’s birthday. It just happened to be a boy from Kenya.
Even with little income, God provided. I faced criticism for our decision. Something about “if you can’t take care of YOUR family, you shouldn’t be taking care of someone else’s.” in August of 2010, my husband got another job that paid more. The first thing we did was sponsor a girl from Guatemala.
In November, we took on another sponsorship, but it was with the help of my blog readers, family and friends. Uwamurera is from Rwanda. She only had 2 years left in the program and shared a birthday with my oldest.
Sorry for the book, but hey, you asked. 🙂
Kris says:
Oh that Kenya trip what what started the process for me. God planted a big ol’ seed with that trip and I was a mess for a year afterwards. We now sponsor two kids, but I admit, even after the Kenya trip, it was a year before we were ready to make the commitment…. The trips DO matter, and they DO help.
Eryn {mamahall} says:
i’m no good with numbers, but i get it and it breaks my heart. and i’m just reading about it in the comfort of my home- i can’t imagine the ache of witnessing the numbness live, waves of distracted people. maybe we can somehow rig the system? if every person who sponsors a child speaks to their own small crowd, more often, will more people respond? i don’t know… i promise to pray.
btw, you are going to be in Texas & i would be willing to help you reach the compassionate.
Johanna Fenton says:
Thanks for sharing this, Shaun. I try to gather as much insight as I can as I develop our OneVerse Blogger program. BTW, I sponsor a Compassion child in Indonesia. 🙂
Jenna B. says:
Fascinating conversations going on around here! But to answer your question, I have felt most compelled to take action when I am invited into something that’s compelling. Does that make sense? When I’m invited to be an important part of something – a vital part. I think storytelling plays a huge part in that. And having future, tangible ways to interact so that it’s not just about taking the initial action (ie-sponsoring a child) but it’s the promise of future action and interaction that keeps me engaged. This blog is an example of ‘future’ interaction for me.
Kari says:
I just want to encourage all of you in the wonderful work that you are doing! I was moved to sponsor a child through Compassion after reading multiple posts about it by multiple bloggers over a period of several months. Those crickets you’re hearing after your posts about Compassion might actually be the creaking of wheels turning in folks’ heads.
And though you may not get as much response through large events, as Shaun said, there’s a lot more that happens besides sponsorship. Folks already sponsoring may be encouraged to write more (ahem). AND folks who’ve never thought about sponsorship or heard about it before have a new seed planted that may blossom later, especially if they see blog posts about Compassion or ads or the “Compassion Experience” mobile unit. I will continue to pray for Compassion and all its many hard-working folks and all of the blessed families in the network!
Kari says:
I’ve been thinking some more, and though I just saw your presentation in Seymour, TN, a week ago and thought it was very compelling, Shaun… I wonder if it would help with bigger audiences to actually give them those big-crowd stats and challenge them to beat them. Maybe you do already (I was in a “crowd” of about 15). Just a thought.
Shaun Groves says:
I’m considering that. Worth a shot right?
Jenni says:
Definitely worth it! Tell them the truth about the assumptions they are making.
ellen read says:
Not sure why this happens either. But reading this sometimes makes me feel guilty. We have 2 Compassion kids right now that we took on when the girl we were supporting became 22. We also support a family in Ukraine who has adopted a little girl from their country (through Master Provisions). We have 4 adopted children ourselves and support several missionary families with monthly funds and boxes overseas. We also give to our local church. When I read these kind of posts I feel bad for reading a blogger’s stories and not taking on another child. I know (or hope) you are not saying that EVERYONE needs to take on more but, well, the tone sounds just enough in that direction.
Shaun Groves says:
Gosh, I don’t know what I wrote that would make someone as generous as you feel guilty. That doesn’t sound like my voice you’re hearing, or God’s…which only leaves…
There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. I hope the feeling of it was fleeting and is long gone now, Ellen.
ellen read says:
Thank you, Shaun. I appreciate it. 🙂 I am also one of those people who will turn off PBS because I feel like I shouldn’t watch it if I won’t support it. Listening to radio programs who asked for support also made me feel terrible. So I guess I was feeling guilt for reading/listening without paying the piper. I’ll keep reading though and praying for the bloggers and for the children they tell me about. My world is opened when I read.
Kees Boer says:
Shaun, I’m so glad that you mentioned that it’s HUGE when a sponsor decides to write letters to their children. I work in a lot of centers in Bolivia and I get the question all the time: “Why doesn’t my sponsor write.”
I found this interesting, but the vast majority of sponsors, I find are one on one and making the child come alive as much as possible. And what I call the three R’s of sponsorship Relationship, Relationship, Relationship…… That’s all I talk about. I hardly even talk about the $38….. Generally people find out when they ask me.