World Aids Day

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

December 1st is World Aids Day. As you know my passion is children and it incredible to find out that each day, about 1,000 children worldwide become infected with HIV, the vast majority of them newborns. I wanted to do a post about this crisis but found out there is just so much information out there that it may be easier to give you some links and let you do some homework. There are many groups that are attempting to make a difference such as Samaritan's Purse. Obviously my take today is going to be Compassion based since I work with them. There is no organization that is better than another! This is the work of the enemy and all of us are called by Christ to Make a Difference. I encourage you to get informed and to see what you can do on any level to make a difference. How much do you really know about aids? Here is a link to a short quiz from Compassion's website that can get you better informed.

Finally if you are interested in finding out about Compassion's Aids Initiative here is a link to a video that will give you some great information about what they do.
 
No matter what, December 1st is World Aids Day- will you get involved and Make a Difference??

Community of Believers

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

My last post was a request for prayer while explaining the valley I am currently walking through. Let me state that I know I am being prayed for and if nothing else then I am learning how important being part of a community is. My pastor, the youth minister, elders and other church members have come up to me to let me know they are praying for my situation. I have used social networking to let people know of my situation and just to pray. The response had been incredible. Last Saturday I was invited to speak (on behalf of Compassion) at a local church that I have a relationship with. They were having a night of worship with another church from Baltimore City. Prior to my presentation both churches prayed for my situation and for opportunities. Totally unexpected and incredible! It is great to be a part of this community and to know that others are caring for me. The walk through the valley is tough but it is great to know others are "walking" with me.

I can equate this with Compassion and its programs. Sponsorship is not about the dollars but rather about building a relationship. It is this relationship that gives the hope and brings about a difference. Writing and encouraging is one of the best feelings for both the giver and the receive. I know that my ministry had brought me more blessings than I could ever give. One of the best tag lines that Compassion has is that sponsorship is about changing two lives...the child's and the sponsors. It is so true!

Being a part of a community of believers is the best feeling. Knowing that there are others loving and caring for you- it is just a taste of what heaven will be like. Thanks all for your support and love.

Mountains And Valleys

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)
 
It is interesting how whenever we have a mountaintop experience it is followed by a valley. Just as in nature mountains are often separated by valleys so seem to be our experiences. I find myself right now repeating a situation that happened to me in 2005. I was blessed to travel to the Dominican Republic in October of that year. It was indeed a mountaintop experience. God was fully in control from start to finish. Two separate teams were to go back to back to serve there. Due to some unforeseen circumstance the two teams were combined into one team/one trip. We had team built as two individual teams throughout the summer.

Click to read more ...

Child Survival Program

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Did you know that every day over 26,000 children under the age of five die from mainly preventable causes? This is a staggering figure. We are talking about causes that we take for granted. Things such as hygiene, dehydration, and malnutrition are things that we think nothing about. However in Third World countries these things are often fatal to children. Children get diarrhea and die from dehydration because they don't have access to fresh water or the parents do not understand what to do.

Click to read more ...

"Every Child You Encounter Is A Divine Appointment"

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment."
Wess Stafford, President, Compassion International

For those of you that do not know Dr. Wess Stafford is the CEO of Compassion International. I have not met the man but consider him one of my heroes. I look forward to meeting and hearing him speak in person when I attend the National Advocates Conference in Colorado next week. He is a humble man that is more comfortable sitting on the floor with some sponsored children rather than in a boardroom. His quote above I believe should be burned on our hearts.

Obviously as an Area Coordinator for Compassion I look at every child packet as an opportunity to change two lives. The first is obviously the child's. Sponsorship will give them a chance that they might not have had before. However a sponsor's life will also be changed as they begin to build that relationship. Those that know my testimony know how true this is. Sponsorship changes everyone involved. What more of a divine appointment could there be from God?

Click to read more ...