I am excited to be here today, sharing with you about a ministry that has impacted my life in so many ways. More than 18 years ago, God opened my eyes and broke my heart for those living in extreme poverty. We all know poverty exists. We like to turn our eyes the other way and pretend it’s not there because it makes us uncomfortable. We wish we could do something to make it go away, but the enormity and complexity of it is overwhelming.

Although I do not have the power to end extreme poverty in the world, I do have the power to rescue one child and one family from its devastating effects.  When I was in college, I was introduced to the ministry of Compassion International and was challenged to partner with them in child sponsorship.

Compassion International is a Christ-centered, child-focused, holistic development ministry that works in 26 of the most impoverished countries in our world. By working through the local church, Compassion’s programs provide physical, educational, social, economic and spiritual help to children and their families. Their goal is to release children from poverty in the name of Jesus.

As a college student, I stepped out in faith and sponsored my first child, Judith in Kenya. As we began developing a relationship through letters, I realized her life was being greatly impacted by sponsorship. In one letter she reported to me that she used her birthday money to buy a blanket so she could sleep better at night, and also bought chickens so her family could have eggs.  Hearing this did something to me and I realized that her life was not the only one that was being changed.

God began to change me and open my eyes to His heart for the poor.

“Suppose a brother or sister is without warm clothes and daily food. If one of you says, ‘Go, I wish you well;  keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” – James 2:16.

One of the things I love most about Compassion’s child sponsorship program is that my whole family can be involved in ministry together. As a family we pray for our sponsored children and their families. We read and write letters together. As a home educating family, we have taken a global approach to our learning and try to learn as much as we can about the countries and cultures of our sponsored children. We all have “birthday buddies” which gives extra meaning to our birthday celebrations.

In August 2010 I traveled to Peru to see Compassion’s ministry first hand, and in January 2012 my husband traveled to Nicaragua to meet Josseling, whom we’ve sponsored for 9 years.  These recent trips opened our eyes to a hurting world and have ignited a passion in us in terms of advocating for these children. We are grateful for opportunities to share in the work God is doing through Compassion.

After 18 years of involvement with Compassion, I can verify that this ministry works. In her final letter to me after six years of sponsorship, Judith wrote…

“If I look back into my life, I’ve very much impressed and comforted of what good you have done in me. Your help has shown light in my life. I’m educated. I never knew in my life I would have such kind of education compared to my family’s poor standard of living. Jill Foley, though we shall no longer more communicate, I will never forget you. I will keep on remembering you in my prayers because what you have done in my life is great. May the Lord Jesus give you prolonged life. May you live to be remembered.”

We have also met several graduates of the program, and each one has a unique and special story of hope and opportunity that came about because of sponsorship.

God is using the ministry of Compassion International to change lives. If you want to sponsor your own child, simply go to Compassion’s website and begin browsing through the profiles of children who are waiting. You can make a difference in the life of one child.

About Jill Foley Jill is a homeschooling mom to two daughters. In addition to being passionate about child sponsorship, she likes to hike, garden, run and play violin. Jill blogs about Compassion at Compassion Family and about simple living at Daily Bread.