If you are a Compassion Child Sponsor, you most likely have some idea of how your $32 is used to release a child from poverty in Jesus name. What you may not know, is how the country where your sponsored child lives transforms your $32 into ministry. Today, our Compassion Sponsor Tour visited the El Salvador Field Office, one of 27 located around the world, learning how they partner with local churches carry out their mission of transforming young lives into fulfilled and responsible Christian adults.
Integrity That Runs Wide and Deep
As a donor you’ll be pleased to know 83% your $32 makes it to programs which directly benefit the kids. If you are the analytical type, check out Compassion’s most recent audited financial statement or visit non-profit watch-dog Charity Navigator who recently reported Compassion International as having the most consecutive four-star ratings of any organization of its kind in the nation. The country office is no exception. In fact, in El Salvador two separate audits are conducted each year ensuring program and financial integrity. At the forefront of every Compassion program is integrity, excellence and accountability. These people know who they are called to serve. (Hint, it isn’t us!)
Mail Call
The letters you write to your sponsored child are reviewed by Compassion’s Global Ministry Center and shipped in bulk to the appropriate country office. Once the country office receives the letters they are distributed to individual projects where they are translated and delivered to the children. If you are not writing to your child, you’re missing the point. These kids are filled with excitement on mail days and they don’t receive letters of love and encouragement, they can feel unloved. Don’t let your child be disappointed during mail call.
With over 35,000 sponsored kids in El Salvador, the country office here is providing a vital link between you and your child. Be a blessing, write a letter.
Planned Growth
There were presentations by many departments, but of particularly interest to me were the Program Facilitators. PF’s as they’re known, work to develop new church relationships throughout El Salvador in order to expand the Compassion Project Network. There are currently 34,000 children served at 128 projects and estimated to grow to 50,000 by 2011. It was a smart planning team that had the courage to budget for this kind of growth and the vision to add staff and facilities in advance.
Seeing It Trickle Down
So if you really want to see how Compassion works, and you really want ot know how your $32 is put to work, take a trip. Visit the Global Ministry Center in Colorado Springs and take the tour. Travel as part of a Compassion Sponsor Tour and see a Compassion Project in action, maybe you can give your own sponsored kid a hug. And while you’re hugging your own sponsored child, you’ll know the impact of God’s work in both of your lives.
It’s like peeling back the petals of a rose one by one, it just gets prettier and prettier. But without the pesky thorns.
If you don’t already have a sponsored child, would you join me in sponsoring one today?
Kirk, this is great! You’ve written a far more informative post than I think I’ve done, as a result of a tour. I’m going to link to this post.
I’m guessing that, perhaps, you’ll be seeing your child in ES, today. Aren’t those days just the best?! Blessings to you all!
I traveled on the sponsor tour in El Salvador with Kirk and can tell you he is not understating the importance of writing letters to these kids. My wife and I met Kevin, our sponsored child, and have a personal investment in our relationship now. Sponsorship is not an anonymous relationship with the child. As a sponsor you have a great opportunity to bless these children, encourage them, and model Christ to them in addition to providing funds for the project they are involved in.
Thanks for being an advocate for the children, Kirk.