Sponsorship can be an important means
to spread the gospel. Compassion’s brochure, for example, is unequivocal: “in
response to the Great Commission … to
be an advocate for children, to release
them from their spiritual, economic,
social and physical poverty and to enable them to become responsible and
fulfilled Christian adults.”
As Armstrong puts it: “We can’t
hope for lasting change other than
physical … if the children don’t have
the opportunity to hear and respond to
the gospel in a way that’s culturally appropriate and sensitive.”
Likewise, materials from I.N. Network Canada (based in Collingwood,
Ont.) state that “linking Christians in
both the developed and the developing
world in partnership to evangelize, disciple and strengthen communities is the
most effective way to reach the world
for Christ.”
Over the past few months, I.N. has
been grappling with its focus and purpose. On the one hand, a “clear gospel
mission and, on the other, practical international development work – building schools, hospitals and local economies,” says executive director David
Marshall.
“A confusing message unless you
view it holistically,” he says. “Evangelism
and social action express God’s concern
for the world. Jesus never separated the
two so why should we?” Marshall cites
the example of child prostitution: “Our
involvement must go beyond physically
freeing a child from this form of slavery. For how does a woman or young
girl ever recover fully from that except
through the power of God?”
This holistic approach may explain I.N.’s rapid growth – up 20 per
cent from last year to a total of 3,700
Canadian sponsors. After all, many
Christian donors want to know their
sponsored children will be taught about
Jesus. Burt agrees. She says ministry is an
important consideration for the Salva-
What Child Sponsorship Provides
a typical child sponsorship package, depending on the agency, can provide things
like education, health care, clean water, improved sanitation, school uniforms
and supplies for children and their communities. Community-based projects
can also include vocational training for youth and adults and the equipping of peer
educators for things like health issues and hiv/aids prevention. Child sponsorship can
also help provide seeds, tools and training for children’s families.
Child sponsorship usually costs between $35 and $40 a month per sponsored
child. sponsors normally receive at least one annual update telling them how their
sponsored child is doing. most agencies encourage sponsors to write letters to their
sponsored child and to build a relationship. n
tion Army’s 1,917 Canadian sponsors.
And it’s “a big deal” to the Marshes
who admit they’d probably move their
sponsorship dollars elsewhere if Compassion didn’t have such a strong spiritual component.
“I want it all – physical and spiritual,” explains Anna. “The poverty must
be addressed, of course, but I want those
children to have the possibility of a life
transformed by Jesus.”
Not every child sponsorship agency
approaches the issue of sharing the gospel in the same way.
Careforce programs are run by
Christian groups but administered by
mostly non-Christian volunteers and
designed for children across the religious
spectrum. CCF says it chooses its communities “not by creed but by need.”
While World Vision is “unabashedly
faith-based,” its policy prohibits proselytizing. “My hope is that the development
work reflects the best of Christian faith,”
Messenger explains. “As St. Francis said,
‘Preach the gospel at all times and, when
necessary, use words.’ ”
But that policy may be due in part
to World Vision’s reach. It operates in
nearly 100 countries, some of which are
openly hostile to the Christian faith.
Some organizations skirt the evangelizing issue altogether by the way they
function. For example, the Salvation
Army operates through its own local
missions so “children always come under
the ministry of the gospel,” says Burt.
Because the Salvation Army already has
a mission in place and it operates out of
that mission, it’s understood that learning about Jesus is part of the program.
David Marsh agrees the spiritual
must come alongside the practical: “I
believe there are emotional and spiritual
components to the deficiencies that arise
from poverty. Sponsorship offers people
dignity by giving them the tools to care
for themselves and lets them know others are concerned about their plight.”
The spiritual tools provided by missions, adds Anna, are “just as valuable
as the physical tools. They can change
your life and your perspective.”
But for four-year-old Philip Marsh,
it’s a lot simpler. To demonstrate how
much he “likes” the boy he will sponsor
next year, he will send him stickers.
Alex Newman of Toronto is a contributing writer at Faith Today.
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