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FINDING HOPE AT MERCY HOUSE In the ugly reality of a Kenyan slum,pregnant girls find a home filled with love.p. 4
DEAR GOD... A glimpse into the prayers of sponsored children in Togo.p. 6
AN UNExPECTED GIFT AND UNFORGETTAblE jOY An Ethiopian project surprises mothers with a simple—but very special—gift.p. 16
FALL 2012www.compassion.ca
p. 12
S T A N D I N G B Y T H E
SANTAl
Friends,
It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner once again. There’s so much joy that this season brings, especially to children. As a father, and now a grandfather, I’ve been blessed to see the delight a special gift brings.
But there’s another kind of joy that Christmas brings, and it comes from remembering what we are celebrating at this special time of year. The birth of Jesus, the Saviour of all people, is by far the greatest Christmas present humanity has received. And it fills my heart with great joy when I see how Compassion’s ministry serves to share the hope of salvation. To see children in Togo pray, knowing there’s a God who loves them; to see simple, unexpected gifts bring great joy to children in Ethiopia as they celebrate Jesus’ birth; to see how Maureen’s faith gives her the resolve to continue in her work with teen moms in Kenya.
All these stories make me so thankful for the hope we have in our living God. I hope they do the same for you.
God bless you,
Dr. barry SlauenwhitePresident and CEOCompassion Canada
FROM THE PRESIDENT
04 Finding Hope at Mercy House06 “Dear God...”08 Your Gifts Changed Lives16 An Unexpected Gift and Unforgettable Joy18 We Believe... Show and Tell
ContentsCOMPASSION TODAY: Fall 2012
PreSIdeNt & CeO Barry SlauenwhitedIreCtOr Of MArketINg & COMMuNICAtIONS Aaron GonyouedItOr Aaron ArmstrongdeSIgNerS Sharlet Hodgson, Eric SiemensCONtrIbutOrS David Adhikary, Aaron Armstrong, Silas Irungu, Tigist Gizachew, Aveleen Schinkel, Barry Slauenwhite, Delanyo Tenge, Amber Van SchooneveldPhOtOgrAPhy David Adhikary, Chuck Bigger, Tigist Gizachew, Silas Irungu, R. Russ Salamon/Images, Delanyo Tenge
COMPASSION CANAdA heAd OffICe985 Adelaide St. S, London, ON N6E 4A3
CONtACt uSwww.compassion.ca | [email protected] | 519.668.0224
MeMberSBetter Business Bureau of CanadaCanadian Council of Christian CharitiesEvangelical Fellowship of CanadaImagine CanadaViva Network
bOArd Of dIreCtOrSChAIr Ian Lawson - Lethbridge, AlbertaVICe-ChAIr Gerry Mills - London, OntarioDavid Burton - Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaDavid Fischer - Cobourg, OntarioMark Fletcher - Halifax, Nova ScotiaMarie Geschwandtner - Ottawa, OntarioLen Hummel - Toronto, OntarioAndrew Johnson - Calgary, AlbertaRuth Mugala - Ottawa, OntarioHank Unrau - Vineland, Ontario
Compassion Today is published by Compassion Canada. Compassion and Compassion Today are registered trademarks of Compassion International. Content copyright Compassion Canada and respective holders. All rights reserved. Material within this publication may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of Compassion Canada.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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COMPASSION TODAYFall 2012 / www.compassion.ca
COMPASSION CANAdAOur MISSION In response to the Great Commission, Compassion Canada exists as an advocate for children to release them from their spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.
“We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men…” (1 Tim. 4:10b)
S T A N D I N G B Y T H E
SANTAl12
t he sun goes down quietly behind Nairobi’s iron-roofed shantytowns, a crowded collection of rickety homes
wedged between concrete buildings. Thick smog signifies the end of a busy day, and the cover of darkness brings a small respite from the daily struggle to make ends meet.
But rest doesn’t come easily for some.Molly* tosses and turns between her
tattered sheets. The 16-year-old girl doesn’t know how to break the news to her sickly mother. She is the firstborn, a pillar of hope in her family. She would have made it to a good high school. But she’s pregnant—by a married man old enough to be her father.
Under another roof not far away, Joy contemplates an abortion. Her friends told her how to swallow multiple pills for a quick fix. If that doesn’t work, a few shots of a bleach solution should do the trick. She desperately tries to forget the face of the man in the back alley, the man who attacked her on her way home from school. She worries that the baby will always remind her of that moment.
Joy and Molly are just two of the thousands of girls in Kenya facing struggles just like these. Nearly half of all abortions in Kenya are performed on girls between the ages of 14 and 24. 300,000 of these take place in dangerous, backstreet clinics, where young girls risk serious complications and even death.
A Need fOr MerCyWhen Kristen Welch, blogger at weareTHATfamily.com, travelled to Kenya with Compassion, her heart was crushed by the suffering of the young girls she saw.
“I asked God through tears how He can allow so much human suffering, and I really felt like He asked me the same thing: How can you allow it, Kristen? What are you doing?”
Shortly after returning home, she read a heartbreaking CNN article about backstreet abortions on girls forced into prostitution to feed their families. When she realized the article spoke of the same slums she had
visited only days before, she knew God was calling her to action.
Kristen and her husband contacted Maureen Owini, a student in Compassion’s Leadership Development Program whom she befriended on her trip to Kenya, to share her plan for a maternity home for pregnant teens. Maureen grew up in the Kariobangi slum and shared in a previous issue of Compassion Today her vivid memories of passing aborted fetuses tossed carelessly amongst the garbage on her way to school.
“I had a friend who had several abortions, and she is now a prostitute with two children,” said Maureen.
While she had always felt the need to help, it wasn’t until Kristen shared her plan that Maureen knew what God had called her to do.
A HOME FOR THE HOPElESSMaureen is now director of Mercy House, a home that offers pre- and postnatal care, counseling, nutrition and housing to pregnant teens with no other options.
She understands the shame girls like Molly and Joy bear each day. “Society condemns pregnant teenage girls, but all they need is to feel loved and protected. At Mercy House, we show them the love of Jesus.” She and her staff greet the girls with warm hugs—hugs that have opened the gateway to hope beyond the girls’ painful experiences.
One girl, 16-year-old Naomi, was orphaned and brought up in a children’s home. She was withdrawn, angry and didn’t get along with other girls. She tried to abort her child several times, even after joining Mercy House,
but she failed. Naomi hated the man who impregnated her.
Her baby was born with severely wrinkled skin. She could not bring herself to hold it.
“She threw the baby at me after delivery and refused to breastfeed, even after the baby cried all night,” says Maureen.
Overwhelmed, Maureen and Kristen prayed for Naomi and, over time, saw God’s unbelievable answer. Today, Naomi loves her healthy 9-month-old baby. “It’s difficult to separate the two,” she says.
Maureen’s own relationship with Jesus and her sponsor’s example strengthen her resolve to help the girls at Mercy House. “God has been so good to me,” she says. “He sent someone I did not know to teach me how to give. My sponsor is my greatest motivation to give back.”
Today Mercy House serves eight mothers and their children. Each has a heart-rending story; some are still too afraid or too ashamed to share it. But the nurturing atmosphere in the house allows each young woman to heal and grow at her own pace, as she learns about a God who cherishes her as his daughter. And when night comes, these young women sleep soundly, more hopeful for what tomorrow will bring.
*For their protection and privacy, the names of all the young women mentioned in this story have been changed.
Finding Hope at Mercy House
reAd: Read Maureen’s story, Mercy for the Unwanted of the Slums, online at: thedifferenceisjesus.com
Society condemns pregnant teenage girls, but all they need is to feel loved and protected. At Mercy House, we show them the love of Jesus.
In the ugly reality of a Kenyan slum, pregnant girls find a home filled with love.
BY SIlAS IruNGu, CompASSIoN KENYA & AvElEEN SCHINKEl, CompASSIoN CANADA
www.compassion.ca • COMPASSION TODAY 5www.compassion.ca • COMPASSION TODAY 5
Elisabeth is 10 years old and she lives with her grandmother. Her grandmother can’t walk and isn’t able to work in the market anymore.
“I live with my grandmother who is crippled. A lot of people don’t love
her. I want God to make people love my grandmother.”
Daniel is 8 years old and lives in an area of Lomé, Togo that floods every year.
“Recently, there was a flood in our area and water took away all my
clothes. My prayer is that God would give me other clothes.”
Mawena is 9 years old and loves to recite Bible verses.
“I pray that I may love God more.”
Estelle is 11 years old and is an orphan. She doesn’t have the stability or security
that a family provides.
“I am an orphan. I want God to give me my daily bread.”
Lucien is 11 years old and tries hard in school, but he still has a hard time
understanding his lessons.
“I cannot succeed in school. May God help me to understand
what is taught.”
Yvette is 8 years old and lives with her mother in a polluted, dangerous marketplace.
“Mom and I sleep where she sells. The place is not good at all. I want God to
give us a suitable shelter.”
BY DElANYo TENGE, CompASSIoN ToGo & AmBEr vAN SCHooNEvElD, CompASSIoN CANADA
Dear God...
You can learn a lot about a child’s life through their prayers. A glimpse into the prayers of sponsored children
in Togo is a reminder that our children are facing real challenges every day—and an excellent reminder to keep
praying for them each day ourselves.
Elisabeth
Daniel
Mawena
Estelle
Lucien
Yvette
www.compassion.ca • COMPASSION TODAY 7
Last Christmas, you showed us once again how the love of Jesus spills over in your lives through Gifts of Compassion. Rather than being just another to-do to check off on your Christmas list, these gifts have changed children’s day-to-day lives.
Here are just a few of the hundreds of ways you helped to change the daily reality of a child through your gifts:
Milk Every DayMany parents around the world struggle with disabilities and are unable to provide enough food for their children. Smitha and Satyam were two of them. But with the simple gift of a cow, their family has more than doubled their income, and they can now afford to feed their children.
“My husband, Satyam, is working as a helper in a tea shop and earns 200 rupees per day, but this job is only 15 to 20 days a month. We have three children. My first daughter is mentally retarded. My husband is deaf and dumb, and he cannot get a better job. In this helpless situation, we received a cow and a calf. Through that we get 7 litres of milk, and we sell it to the vendors. Now our income per day is 140 rupees. With that we are able to lead our family peacefully.”~Smitha
Healing from LeukemiaThirteen-year-old Daysi from Otavalo, Ecuador, has missed out on a lot of childhood. She has been battling leukemia for two years and regularly gets radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Your gifts to support major medical needs helped pay for Daysi’s treatment, transportation and food.
“We didn’t know what to do, nor how to pay the hospital. I am happy for the opportunity to live. It means everything, because without this help I would not be alive. May God bless you for giving me the opportunity to have health and return to life.”~Daysi
yOur gIftSChANged lIVeS
BY AmBEr vAN SCHooNEvElD, CompASSIoN CANADA
SMITHA & SON WITH THEIR COW
DAYSI WITH HER PET DOG
Lunch Time!Compassion-assisted children in Bangladesh are among the poorest in the world. They get five tasty meals a week at their Compassion centres, and without this support, many would be malnourished. But many of our church partners don’t have the basic infrastructure to make meals for children in a hygienic manner. Through your gifts to build kitchens, children in Bangladesh are now eating healthy and safe meals.
“We had a small kitchen made of mud walls. It created a lot of smoke, which wasn’t hygienic and interrupted the cooking. Cooks couldn’t work properly due to the constraint of space. The floor of that kitchen was muddy during rainy season. The rain water entered into this kitchen as the roof and side wall were not good. It was very difficult to prepare food in that situation. We didn’t have room for storing the firewood, so when it rained, it got wet. We had lots of problems before our new hygienic kitchen. Now we have the hygienic kitchen, which is healthy for both children and staff. Cooks don’t struggle to cook. The children are getting food on time and they have a nice place where they can sit and eat.” ~Prodip, manager of BD-404
Eunice Goes to CampMost Compassion-assisted children have never ventured outside of their own community. Through your gifts, children in Ghana got to go to summer camp, seeing historic sites like the Cape Coast castle. But more importantly, child development workers were trained on how to prevent abuse and children deepened their faith in God.
“Since Eunice came back from camp, she is taking her Bible studies more seriously. She came back a transformed girl. She reads her Bible without being prompted. She calls her siblings together to tell them Bible stories and about Jesus. She is even helping her younger siblings to also read the Bible. She has become very responsible and very neat. She used to be disorderly with her clothes but now she gathers her things and washes them as soon as they get dirty. I pray that God will bless the donors so that they would continue to fund such events.”~Joseph, Eunice’s dad
EUNICE pARTICIpATING AT CAMp
CHILDREN EATING A HEALTHY MEAL
You’ve seen how lives were changed through last year’s Gifts of Compassion. This Christmas, help us
do even more with gifts that help children and their families overcome poverty by:
Meet real needs & bring real joy with
gIftS Of COMPASSION
www.compassion.ca/shopFind this year’s giFts online:
Give a Gift that meets a real need and brinGs real joy to the life of a child.
learning new skillsearning an income staying healthy++
obody stands by Joy’s family. They are in the lowest caste of society and are neglected and deprived. Their community doesn’t care whether they are hungry or sick.
This 12-year-old boy and his family are part of the Santal tribe, one of the poorest people groups in Bangladesh. While the rest of Bangladesh progressed—gaining education and infrastructure—the Santal stagnated in the old ways. They live in mud homes with thatched roofs and don’t have latrines or basic sanitation.
It’s common for both a child’s mom and dad to be addicted to homemade wine. They have many festivals to worship their gods—the sun, the moon, trees and snakes—and the festivals always include getting drunk.
BY DAvID ADHIKArY, CompASSIoN BANGlADESH & AmBEr vAN SCHooNEvElD, CompASSIoN CANADA
S t a n d i n g b y t h e
S a n t a lA SMALL AND PERSECUTED CHURCH IN BANGLADESH IS REACHING OUT TO HELP THOSE WHOM OTHERS IN SOCIETY WOULDN’T GIVE A SECOND GLANCE.
n
www.compassion.ca • COMPASSION TODAY 13
Joy’s family still goes through hardship every day. They start the day with hunger and end the same way. His parents work all day long in the field. Other than their neighbours of the same caste, no one visits them or cares about them. But they have peace, knowing that there is a God who cares about their needs and a church that will stand by them.
Joy’s mother, Fulmoti, said, “These people from the church centre often visit us and ask about our children. They provide food and education for my boy at the centre. We are illiterate people and don’t understand religious culture. But I and my husband decided that, if these people are caring about us, then we should receive their religion.”
For Joy’s parents, religion is just a part of life. Their tribe worships various nature gods, as well as several Hindu gods. But because they sensed the love and concern shown by the centre staff and pastor, Christianity gained special meaning in their lives. Joy’s family never expected someone with clean clothes and gentle voices to visit
their house. They now have a relationship with God because they experienced His love through the centre staff and pastor.
WhAt MAkeS All the dIffereNCeThis is what makes Compassion different than other child-focused organizations in Bangladesh. It is the touch of Jesus that makes all the difference. Because the gospel is the focus of Compassion’s work, the partnership between the Church and Compassion is natural.
“The gospel is like the seed. We realized that we need to bring the gospel to the
nearest community. The words of the gospel not only save their souls but release them from superstitions,” said Solomon. “Previously, they believed that the sun is god. But we helped them to understand that there is a God who created the sun and sent His only Son Jesus for us.”
“The gospel is central to our every work at the centre. It gives us passion and desire to bring more souls to Christ. It is the torch that reveals the truth,” he said.
For Michael, a social worker for Compassion, the gospel is the inspiration for all they do.
“The gospel motivates us to work hard for the children. Jesus dedicated His life to the poor, needy and sick people. As His followers, we should do the same. When I see the changes in the lives of our children, like Joy, I praise God. When I first met Joy, I never expected him to transform in such a way.
They are from a very low caste. Nobody cares about them. They developed a relationship with God not by accident, but because they have experienced the true love which the gospel tells about.”
The work is not easy. There are religious barriers, fundamentalism and persecution.
But the awesome power of the gospel motivates the workers to stand by the deprived families and to love them. This love brought these families to a relationship with God. This love changed Joy’s life.
The people don’t own the land they live on, but work as field hands gathering other people’s crops for about $1 a day. With this limited income, they are often hungry and sick. The parents can’t afford to send their kids to school, so the kids play in the fields until they too start working at a young age. And, thus, the cycle continues for generation after generation of Santal children.
But there is one group of people that cares about the Santal—the Church.
A PerSeCuted, but MIghty ChurChThe small and persecuted Church in Bangladesh is reaching out to help those whom others in society wouldn’t give a second glance. About 90 percent of Bangladesh is Muslim (a). About 10 percent is Hindu (b). And just about 0.3 percent is Christian (c).
What they are doing is dangerous. Although Bangladesh guarantees freedom of worship, in February of this year, Christian orphanage workers in Bangladesh were attacked by angry mobs. In March, Christian missionaries were also attacked by an angry mob. Those who become Christians may face death
threats. And even in areas where violence is uncommon, Christians may be ostracized or denied rights.
Nonetheless, the church is faithful in sharing God’s message of love.
Reverend Das, a pastor of a church partnering with Compassion, said, “We went to the nearest village last year where Joy lives. There are a few other children from that
community who are registered in Compassion. Along with some Compassion workers and church members, we started to share the good news with the families.”
God used their faithfulness in a big way. “These families are living way below the
poverty line. We tried to share their burden and pray for them. They were touched by our approach. Along with Joy’s family, 21 more families decided to start a relationship with God. They are now regular members of our church.”
Now Joy’s family is experiencing transformation. The centre manager, Mr. Solomon, has noticed the change in Joy’s life.
“When Joy was registered in Compassion, he was a silent boy suffering from malnutrition. His health has improved in the last few years, and he is doing well in school. Most importantly, he developed a relationship with God. He reads the Bible and prays at home. His parents also developed a relationship with God, and he receives support from his family. Joy is a well-mannered boy and liked by his friends for his helpful attitude,” he said.
“THE GOSPEL IS CENTRAL TO OUR EVERY WORK AT THE CENTRE.”
“THERE IS ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT CARES ABOUT THE SANTAL—
THE CHURCH.”
0.3%OF THE
pOpULATION OF BANGLADESH IS ChrIStIAN.
cb
a
www.compassion.ca • COMPASSION TODAY 1514 COMPASSION TODAY • Spring 2012
BY TIGIST GIZACHEW, COMPASSION ETHIOPIA & AVELEEN SCHINKEL, COMPASSION CANADA
important day an exciting celebration, sharing the good news of Jesus’ birth with the children and their families. Staff and volunteers spend time decorating the church and preparing both traditional foods and modern treats to serve. Children who attend the project receive a gift, often clothing or other necessities, through the Compassion Gift Fund.
However, the staff felt that something different needed to be done for the children and their parents, something outside their usual festivities. This year was going to be especially memorable.
“The last two Christmases we bought the children normal clothing,” says Ms. Danse, a team lead for the project. “This year, we discussed buying them traditional clothing. We know that it’s something the mothers wished they could buy for their children, but for someone who struggles daily to put food on the table it was impossible.” The staff and the project committee agreed, and an outfit was purchased for each child.
The day before the project’s grand Christmas celebration, the mothers were gathered together to receive their child’s gift. Their reactions were unforgettable. “It was very emotional for us to see the reaction of the mothers,” says Ms. Danse. “It was something they never expected.”
Meskerem says the parents were taken completely by surprise. “For most of us, this was something we wished we could buy for our children, but it was something we put at the very bottom of the list of things we wanted to provide. I just don’t know what to say to the people who satisfied our desires.”
The church brimmed with thanksgiving, the voices of the children, parents, and staff blending together as they sang and clapped and worshipped. The pastor shared with them the story of the first Christmas, the true meaning behind their celebrations. “More than the gift, we told the mothers to think about the greater meaning of Christmas. We told them to think about the Saviour who is born for us to give each one of us the most precious gift of all, and that is eternal life.”
When these children were enrolled in the program, their mothers were filled with gratitude for the education and growth they witnessed in their children’s lives, a way out of poverty through Jesus. Receiving such an unexpected gift was yet another reminder of Christ’s amazing gift to us, the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place.
“Being in the program is the happiest thing that happened in our life,” says Meskerem. “I am happy to see my daughter grow up listening to the word of God.”
The staff felt that something different needed to be done for the children and their parents . . . This year was going to be especially memorable.
An Ethiopian project surprises mothers with a simple—but very special—gift.
Israel walked eagerly through the door, strands of small white beads looped festively around her neck. Her smile gleamed as white as her new dress as she rushed to join the other children, each wearing
a similar, yet uniquely decorated, outfit. Israel’s mother, Meskerem, admired the Christmas decorations adorning the inside of the church, adding to an already exceptional celebration at an Ethiopian Compassion project. As in many countries, Christmas in Ethiopia is widely celebrated amongst both orthodox and evangelical Christians. People flock to the churches, wearing traditional white clothing known as ‘Habesha Libs’,
worn only on holidays and special occasions. Afterward, families and friends gather together to celebrate, sharing the customary meal of flat, sourdough bread, chicken stew, and homemade beverages.
But in a country where poverty is rampant, those of lower income are unable to participate. Traditional dishes and elaborate festivities are low on the list of necessities, as many parents find it a daily challenge to have enough food for their children. New clothing is a rare luxury. The opportunity to give their children a small gift at Christmas simply doesn’t exist.
Each year, Compassion’s staff in Ethiopia work to make this
An Unexpected Gift& Unforgettable Joy
www.compassion.ca • COMPASSION TODAY 1716 COMPASSION TODAY • Spring 2012
W HEN I WAS IN KINDERGARTEN, ONE OF MY FAVOURITE DAYS WAS SHOW-AND-TELL DAY.
I’d get to bring in a toy (like my Super-Grover from Sesame Street) and tell my classmates all about why it was so awesome.
In a way, the Christian faith is like that too.Throughout the Scriptures, we see this
really interesting interaction between words and deeds. It looks like this: proclamation then confirmation. Take a look at the way Matthew illustrates this pattern from Jesus’ ministry (Matt. 4:23-8:4). There we see Jesus going about to the synagogues teaching “and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and
healing every disease and every affliction among the people” (Matt. 4:23 ESV). Great crowds draw near and He teaches. They are astonished “for He was teaching them as one who had authority” (Matt. 7:29 ESV). Then, after He was done teaching, Jesus comes down from the mountain and heals a leper as great crowds continue to follow him (Matt. 8:1-4).
When Jesus sent out first the Twelve (Matt. 10:7-8) and then the Seventy Two (Luke 10:1-12), He commanded that they both proclaim that the Kingdom had come near and heal the sick and cast out demons. When the early church began scattering because of persecution, they “went about preaching the word.” Philip went to Samaria to proclaim Christ, “and the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did” (Acts 8:4-6).
The pattern we see over and over is gospel proclamation accompanied by signs to confirm the message’s truthfulness.
This pattern is important because it reminds us that words and deeds always go together. Our deeds are a sign our faith is real. “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17 ESV) The truth of our profession of faith will be proven by what we do.
But there’s always a temptation to get the relationship confused. For some, the temptation is to see deeds as having little or no value. The danger of this approach is that how we live can become secondary—we might preach a good message, but how we live shows we don’t believe it. A good message from a bad messenger is more easily dismissed.
For others, though, the temptation is to put far too strong an emphasis on our works. I once read a book in which the author explained that when his organization distributed aid to an African village, the entire community heard the gospel—though not a single word had been spoken. I’m thrilled whenever an NGO does great work, but the
problem is that we give deeds the same power as gospel proclamation.
Works are important. What we do matters. Our deeds serve as a wonderful confirmation of our testimony and can serve as the launch point for a conversation about the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
But deeds alone don’t make disciples. And making
disciples is the mission of every Christian.
One of the things I love about this ministry is Compassion’s understanding of the importance of sharing the gospel. It’s not just because of poverty’s roots in the fall of mankind; Compassion
understands that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17 ESV).
Faith—true, saving faith—only comes when the gospel, “the word of Christ,” is proclaimed. The Holy Spirit breathes life into the spiritually dead. He reconciles sinners to the Father, transforming “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3) into “sons of God” (Gal. 3:26)—that they would walk according to the good works God has prepared for them (cf. Eph. 2:10).
Because Maureen heard the gospel and responded, she is now helping pregnant teen girls find hope at Mercy House (p. 4). Because the church in Bangladesh believes so strongly that the love of God is the only thing powerful enough to change lives, they’re risking persecution to share the message with unreached peoples (p. 12). Because you have received God’s greatest gift of salvation, you now share your abundance with children in need (p. 8).
We are called to go out to all nations, making disciples and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matt. 28:19-20). When the gospel is preached, children and families come to know the Lord Jesus and become His disciples—thus changing their communities from the inside out.
We show and we tell. That’s what making disciples is all about.
SHOW & TELLWE BELIEVE...SERIES
Christians shoW and tell. that’s What making disCiples is
all about.
www.compassion.ca • COMPASSION TODAY 19
