I received a mailing from Compassion International yesterday. Their literature usually brings me to tears...so many kids around the world who are hungry and hurting! The magazine I received yesterday was no exception, but this time my eyes were opened to an aspect of poverty that I hadn't really considered before: "Too often the cruelties of poverty can lead to violence against children."
President of Compassion, Wess Stafford, relayed a story in his article "We are His Hands" about sharing the gospel with children in Indonesia. He longed for the kids to grasp the truth of God's love for them, so he chose a 6 year old girl named Jessica from among the group to make his point. Scooping her up in his arms, he showed the children her fingerprints and told them that each person has a unique design on his or her finger tips. As all the children examined their fingers, he shared with them that if Jessica was the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for her. Likewise, He would have died for each of them. Later, Wess found out just how meaningful it was that he picked Jessica out of the crowd to be loved and affirmed in a special way. Just months before, she had been brutally raped by a man in her village. The doctors did their best to repair her physically, but her traumatized spirit would not heal so quickly.
When I think about it, it makes sense that crimes against children would increase with poverty levels. People feel powerless, so they find someone weak who they can exert power over. Frustrations are taken out on little ones who can't fight back. Wess shared in his article that he was also a victim of abuse when he was a child, so he knows all to well the messages that play over and over in the heart of an abused child: "Nobody cares. You don't matter. Nobody is coming to your rescue. Give up."
My heart cries out NOOOO! I care! Jesus cares! Don't give up! That's where Compassion comes in! I can't be there to wrap my arms around those little children. But Compassion can!! That's why my family sponsors children...one for each of the kids in our family. Would you consider being a sponsor too? Kids will not only be fed and clothed and protected, but they will hear the transforming message of the gospel.
www.compassion.com
President of Compassion, Wess Stafford, relayed a story in his article "We are His Hands" about sharing the gospel with children in Indonesia. He longed for the kids to grasp the truth of God's love for them, so he chose a 6 year old girl named Jessica from among the group to make his point. Scooping her up in his arms, he showed the children her fingerprints and told them that each person has a unique design on his or her finger tips. As all the children examined their fingers, he shared with them that if Jessica was the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for her. Likewise, He would have died for each of them. Later, Wess found out just how meaningful it was that he picked Jessica out of the crowd to be loved and affirmed in a special way. Just months before, she had been brutally raped by a man in her village. The doctors did their best to repair her physically, but her traumatized spirit would not heal so quickly.
When I think about it, it makes sense that crimes against children would increase with poverty levels. People feel powerless, so they find someone weak who they can exert power over. Frustrations are taken out on little ones who can't fight back. Wess shared in his article that he was also a victim of abuse when he was a child, so he knows all to well the messages that play over and over in the heart of an abused child: "Nobody cares. You don't matter. Nobody is coming to your rescue. Give up."
My heart cries out NOOOO! I care! Jesus cares! Don't give up! That's where Compassion comes in! I can't be there to wrap my arms around those little children. But Compassion can!! That's why my family sponsors children...one for each of the kids in our family. Would you consider being a sponsor too? Kids will not only be fed and clothed and protected, but they will hear the transforming message of the gospel.
www.compassion.com
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