The Generous December Group Writing Project

Babylune is hosting The Generous December Group Writing Project. She's asking bloggers to write about why we support the organizations we do and why you should too. If she receives at least 50 blog posts linking to her blog by December 19 she'll choose one of the organizations to make a $100 contribution to.

Here's my post and plug for Compassion International.

Compassion is a Christian child advocacy ministry. Its mission is children - to release them from poverty in Jesus' name. But not just economic poverty; physical poverty, social poverty and spiritual poverty too. It's a long-term holistic approach to child development.

I'm drawn to Compassion because of its emphasis on the individual child. Other child sponsorship organizations use sponsorship money to benefit the child through community development, but Compassion feels that

"Community development is important work that addresses the external circumstances of poverty and is an important complement to our work. However, our primary focus is individual child development—an inside-out, bottom-up approach that recognizes the God-given value and potential of each individual child. Many of these children grow up to become positive influences in their own communities."

Community development is not a "wrong" approach, but

"changed circumstances rarely change people lives, while changed people inevitably change their circumstances."

This approach speaks to God's call on my life - the call to give and share love, to be in relationship with people, with individuals. Each child only has one sponsor. It's a one-to-one relationship that tells the child, "You matter." It refutes the Lie of Poverty, and this truth is clear when you hear Michelle Tolentino speak. Michelle is a former sponsored child and a graduate of Compassion's Leadership Development Program.

I also value Compassion's stewardship. Last fiscal year, more than 83 percent of the contributions it received went directly to program expenses. And year after year, Compassion consistently earns Charity Navigator's highest rating. That gives me confidence that my money is used on what it's supposed to be used for, on what I intend it to be used on.

In the same vein, I value Compassion's decision not to accept government funding. By relying solely on the generosity of its sponsors and donors Compassion eliminates the chance that its relationship with Christ can be affected by the federal grant process. And Compassion is all about Christ, which is what I want to be about - in thought, words and behavior.

Why should I care about all this?

Because Compassion cares. Because compassion, with a little 'c', is caring. It's a deep sorrow for someone stricken by misfortune, and it comes with an equally strong desire to lessen that suffering. Compassion, back to the big 'c', cares about each and every child as a person and as a child of God. Plus, Compassion commits:

• to honor Jesus Christ in all that it does
• to work in partnership with the local church
  
• to develop the entire child, mind, body and spirit, throughout the child's life - from infancy to college
• to educate and challenge you about poverty and development
  
• to the highest financial standards, to being financially accountable and to using your money for the purpose for which it was donated

How can I help?

Beyond sponsoring a child, there are many ways to get involved.

• Join the Compassion Advocates Network. Volunteer to speak up for children in need.
• Pray.
• Decorate the Internet.
• Have your church host a Compassion Sunday.
• Write a letter to the editor.
• Grab this widget or the widget below.
• Blog about Compassion, about poverty, about children in need, AND if you already are, write your next post for The Generous December Group Writing Project.

Get this widget!