Releasing a Child from Poverty in Jesus’ Name
Dear Hope Family,
At church this weekend we will be highlighting Compassion International, a worldwide ministry working to end childhood poverty.
Katie and I were first introduced to Compassion about 12 years ago when we were visiting family one weekend and happened to be worshipping at a church that was hosting a Compassion Sunday event. At that time we were the parents of 2 young boys, and God laid it on our hearts that day to sponsor a boy living in poverty in Thailand. We thought that it would be a great opportunity for us and for our sons on a number of different levels: to offer practical help to a child in need of food, clothing, and healthcare; to make a true relational connection with another child living in a different part of the world through regular letter-writing; and to be of mutual spiritual encouragement to one another as we pray for this child regularly. We were unaware of the joy our family would experience as we corresponded with and followed the course of this young boy’s life as he became a man.
Now 12 years later, our first sponsored child (Nik) has graduated from his local Compassion program, and we’ve since sponsored 3 others – Terl in Thailand, who also recently graduated his program at age 21 this past year; Rahim, a 6 year old boy living in Burkina Faso; and Saw Dah, a 3 year old boy living in Thailand. Over that time we have enjoyed writing letters to and reading letters from each of these children (or their local Compassion project coordinators, pastors, and teachers). It has been a blessing to get to see their handwritten letters and learn about their lives – what they like to eat, what they’re learning about in school, what they do for fun, what they grow for food, and especially how they want us to pray for them. It’s been humbling to read routinely that these children are praying for us too. As our sons have grown up they have participated in varying degrees with our Compassion sponsorship, but we have been encouraged to see them consistently remembering to pray for each of these boys. One of our sons is always sure to pray for “Terl’s family’s Durian crop” because in one of his letters long ago he mentioned that his family farms Durians.
Compassion International’s mission is to “Release a Child from Poverty in Jesus’ Name”. This trustworthy organization that has been operating for more than 70 years connects vulnerable children with local churches who care for them by “fighting malnutrition, delivering medical care, and sharing the hope of the gospel, which changes everything.” By sponsoring a child through Compassion, we have an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus and participate in our calling to help feed the hungry and clothe the naked (Matthew 25:35-40).
After services this Sunday, there will be child packets of real boys and girls all over the world who need our help. Please prayerfully consider sponsoring a child (or children). If you have children of your own, we encourage you to involve them in that selection process. Your support could help change the course of that child’s entire future. Our monthly support is a small amount compared to the great physical and spiritual benefit it provides. Please come visit the Compassion table this Sunday to sponsor a child and help change their life and yours. You can also choose to sponsor a child via the Compassion website linked here.
Thank you,
Christian and Katie Moretz