Have a Little Compassion

Every time that we leave the country for work, I become acutely aware of the needs of people.  Whether it's food, clean water, schools, or jobs, everyone has a need for something.  I know that there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of organizations around the globe that are designed to give aid to those people.  Take your time and read through this post and click through some of the websites for a better understanding of everything that they do and offer.  


There are clean water groups like Blood Water Mission and Charity Water who take their donations and provide wells and filtration systems for people in depressed areas without clean water. Through those systems, they also are battling the AIDS pandemic in Africa. And in case you weren't already aware, almost a billion people don't have access to clean water.  One billion people.  


There are groups like Invisible Children  who are using, "...film, creativity, and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war and restore Northern Uganda to peace and prosperity." The use of child soldiers has been a reality of the people of Uganda for the last 23 years. They are abducted walking down the street to school and from their homes at night.  Once taken, they are forced to participate in killing, looting, drugs, and war, oftentimes being the ones sent to the front lines to check for land mines.  The war has been nothing short of horrific for the people who live in daily fear in Uganda, and Invisible Children is fighting to educate and bring this warlord to his knees to end the fighting. 


There are groups that many of us have heard of and maybe even been a participant of such as World Vision, Compassion International, and Holt International just to name a few.   These programs all offer child sponsorship. Don't be misled to think that every sponsorship program operates the same way.  Each group is completely unique in their focus and the way they do things.  


World Vision offers both child sponsorships as well as a huge world relief fund.  They are consistently first on the ground when there is a natural disaster and work fast and furiously to get people all of the things that need, whether that's food, water, construction materials, or medicine.  


Compassion International has "projects" set up in over 25 countries.  These projects are a partnership between Compassion and the local church in that country to offer schooling, food, and basic life skills.  And because they are partnered with the local church, they offer Bible classes for both the kids and their families.  


Holt International is a sponsorship program that deals with orphans and kids in need.  Holt is the world's largest international adoption agency, and with their new sponsorship program, money goes towards medical needs, foster care, and anything else that a child would need in those crucial first few years of life.  They work directly with adoption organizations and orphanages that are established in those countries, connecting people and children on a short-term (6-18 month) help basis.  


Like I said, these are just a few of the larger organizations that are out there.  When you think of helping people in some way, don't forget the thousands of missionaries that are on the front lines working hard in places many of these organizations can't get to.  They are building schools, medical clinics, church buildings, and helping young entrepreneurs get small business off the ground through micro-loans. (Check out Kiva and Samaritan's Purse)  They need support just like any other group, and if you believe in what they're doing, you can donate regularly to only them. They are all doing their part in trying to make this world a better, more live-able place.  


When you read about all of these things, do you roll your eyes and say to yourself, "Another person trying to make me feel bad so that I give money."?  Do you discuss the weights of the world over a $5 cup of Starbucks coffee, and then tell yourself that you don't have the money because times are difficult and the economy is bad?  There are hundreds of options and ways to make a huge difference in the world, and there are too many of us sitting around wondering what to do, yet keeping our wallets closed.  It doesn't take much.  Maybe a little bit of sacrifice for some, but if you were to really sit down and look at where all your money goes, you would realize that $20 here and $40 there once a month (or even less) really isn't a big loss.  There are too many people in the world suffering for us to sit around and be selfish. 


I have over 800 followers on Facebook and another 250 on Twitter.  That doesn't even include the occasional reader who happens upon my blog or people who read a re-tweet by someone else.  That's a lot of people who can do a lot of amazing things for this world.  So I am posting a challenge to anyone who follows me on Facebook, Twitter, or this blog to "have a little compassion" and make the sacrifice to do something.  There are great options that I've listed and there are hundreds more if you just do a search.  Get concerned about something...anything...and we can join in the change. And this isn't just for Christians. This is for humanity. We are able to better our world...which is something every human on this earth should be a part of.  But that being said, Jesus commanded it of His followers.  He commanded us to remember the least of these and to take care of the widows and orphans.  He commanded us to be His hands and feet.  So it's time to do something.  


 Let me know if you decide to do so or need a little help figuring it all out.  I'm here to help you help others and would love to hear where the journey decides to take you. :)