Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14
Make a Difference: Sponsor a Child
I’m Gwyn DenHerder, a sponsor for Compassion International, a program that helps millions of children trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty. It’s a cycle that robs them of their childhood, their dreams, and their hope for a better future.
I’ve been a sponsor for five years, and a couple of months ago Samrawit, the first girl I sponsored, graduated from the program. In her last letter to me, she told me how she’d found a job and was going to be able to support her mom and her cat now. After Samrawit graduated, I started sponsoring Hanna, another girl from Ethiopia. In her first letter to me, she sent this drawing of her house. Being a sponsor has been nothing but joy, and I’ve loved hearing from the girls what they are up to.
But I’d sponsor them even without the lovely letters. Compassion International is not just a charity; it’s a lifeline for these children. It’s a promise of a brighter tomorrow, a tomorrow where hunger is replaced by nourishment, where despair is replaced by joy, and where poverty is replaced by opportunity.
Imagine for a moment, a child who wakes up every day not knowing if there will be food on the table, not knowing if they will ever get a chance to go to school, not knowing if they will ever escape the cycle of poverty. Imagine if that child was your son or daughter, sibling or grandchild. This is the reality for millions of children around the world. But with your support, we will change that reality.
Through Compassion International’s sponsorship program, you can change a child’s life. With just a small contribution each month, you can provide essential needs like food, education, healthcare, and emotional support to a child in need. You can give them the tools they need to break free from the chains of poverty and build a better future for themselves and their communities.
But it’s not just about meeting their physical needs; it’s about restoring their dignity and giving them hope. When you sponsor a child through Compassion International, you’re not just providing material support; you’re giving them access to Christ. You’re showing them that He cares, that someone is always there for them. Jesus saw great importance in children, which was unusual for his time. Today the church is called to see that same importance.
And the impact of your support goes far beyond the individual child. It ripples through families, communities, and entire nations, breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a ripple effect of positive change. For the same amount as your cell phone plan costs, you can help a child access school, healthy food, and a loving church community, just like we have here.
If you feel called, I urge you to help make a difference. Below there is a link to sponsor a child, or go to Compassion.com. Together, we can be the voice for the voiceless, the hope for the hopeless, and the change-makers our world so desperately needs. Together, let’s follow the commands of Jesus and give every child the chance to dream, to thrive, and to know Christ.
Thank you.
Emmanuel Reformed Church 