On Sundays April 28 and May 5, we recognized Compassion International at Calvary by drawing awareness to the incredible impact the ministry is having in the lives of children all around the world.
More than just statistics (of which there is plenty to share), it’s the Compassion stories that move us the most. On May 5, we had the opportunity to hear from Julene Mayer as she shared her Compassion story – a beautiful story of the difference sponsorship has made in the life of Karen from El Salvador. If you were here on May 5, there is no doubt that you were moved as Julene shared.
Over the years, Calvary has risen up and responded to the needs of children around the world, sponsoring a total of 179 children from 24 countries. When you stop to think about it, this is incredible. That’s 179 children who have a chance of being released from poverty. 179 children who have an opportunity to hear about Jesus’ love for them.
Calvary family, thank you for your partnership with Compassion!
If you missed Julene’s story on May 5, you can find it below. Let it be an encouragement to all of us in the impact one can have in the life of a child.
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I am Julene Mayer, a Compassion sponsor. My husband Greg and I began sponsoring Karen from El Salvador when she was 5 years old. In 2007 her project worker wrote that Karen was seriously undernourished when she came to the project. Thanks to the Compassion nutrition program she recovered.
In 2016, Karen wrote:
”I greet you with much love, and I want to thank you for sponsoring me…My best friend is Jesus because he died for me on the cross. I ask you to pray for me so I can achieve my goals. I want to tell you that my latest check-up was on the 16th of April…and the doctor told me that I was very healthy. He congratulated me for having a good weight and height... I thank God for the help that I have at the project. They have motivated me to study and to follow my dream of becoming a professional and to be a support to my family and society. One of my greatest desires is to go to High School.”
June 2018 we received this final letter from Karen:
“I greet you very affectionately, hoping in God that you are receiving great things in your life. The reason for this letter is to thank you for all this time you have been sponsoring. It has been a blessing for me and my family since I will soon reach the age of completion of the project. I feel very grateful to you for having sponsored me all this time…..I feel very blessed that you have chosen me as your sponsored child. You changed my life. I thank God, Compassion and the project, and you for being part of my life. I hope you can continue sponsoring someone else. I say goodbye with great joy for this time with you. I will always take you in my prayers. I hope God blesses you so much for helping me so much. I say goodbye to you.”
How do I sum up 11 years of sponsorship with Karen? My heart is full from how Karen has enriched my life. I thank God for her, for Compassion International, and for the opportunity and privilege God has given me to make a difference in a child’s life.
There are many children waiting to be “freed from poverty, in Jesus name.” If you take part in sponsorship, you will be blessed.
1 John 3:17-18 says “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion, how can God’s love be in that person? ….Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
A child’s life can change when someone like you cares for one of “the least of these.”
If you are interested in sponsoring a child, we encourage you to contact the church office or Compassion International for more information.
