Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Real Religion....Caring for the least of these

We believe that the Bible commands us to care for the widows and the orphans...and at Trinity, one of the many ways we are trying to participate in that calling is through a partnership with Compassion International.   If you have never looked in to this ministry, you might mistake it for one of the many "social aid" agencies in the world - but Compassion really is different.  Their mission is distinct and apologetically Scriptural. 

From their website: 
Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.
Founded by the Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training.

Today, Compassion helps more than 1.2 million children in 26 countries.

Our family has sponsored Jhon Jairo M from a South American country and have had multiple opportunities to write back and forth with him.    Jhon Jairo had been waiting for a sponsor for over 8 months when we found out about him.  We recently learned that he and his family are having to leave their village due to an increase in violence in the area and threats against them: Jhon Jairo's biggest fear is that he will not be able to continue in the Compassion program where ever they end up living.  

Compassion International's sponsorship program is a wonderful way of teaching your children about real people, in real places that have real needs:  not "I need a new playstation," but I need clean water and a meal.  Compassion allows our boys to sponsor a child that they can correspond with, get to know, see pictures of and learn more about.  For $38 a month (less than a meal out for most families), Jhon Jairo gets to go to the Development Center nearby and receive food, education, medical care and have other material needs met.  His parents get to learn entrepreneurial skills and the community receives educational resources. 

This Sunday, October 20th, Trinity will host Shaun Groves from Compassion International for a free concert during our evening services.  Join us for some incredible worship music and to learn more about how we can carry out this incredible calling!