Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Releasing Children From Poverty in Jesus' Name

Earlier this year, while reading two of my favorite blogs Shlog and Rocks In My Dryer,-yes I admit it , I'm a guy and I love reading Rocks in My Dryer. :) I learned more about an awesome organization, Compassion International. I had heard of them before and how they helped feed starving children in the world.

Compassion was about to embark on taking a group of bloggers , from around the US, on a mission trip to Uganda , to “live”blog on the conditions while they were there. Some of you may remember me blogging about it in February. Anyway, since that time, God has really continued placing this organization, and these children on my heart. Our family has sponsored a child from Uganda and I have recently signed on to blog monthly on behalf of Compassion International.

The blogging part is exciting for me, because since February,it has been my continual prayer, that God would somehow "use me” in whatever way-big or small-to help these children.

Compassion’s slogan is “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name”, and it is my hope and prayer now that God would use my blogging, to help reach these suffering kids, who are in such great need of basic things that you and I take for granted.

THE #1 NEED IS FOOD!

Currently we are in a Global Food Crisis, the World Food Programme, has called it a “silent tsunami”. This is affecting every family in every nation. Food prices for popular items like rice, wheat and beans have DOUBLED in last year. Though these prices have affected all budgets, it’s the poor who bear the brunt of the inflation. These higher prices are forcing people who normally survive on $1 per day, to spend approximately 80% of their budgets just on food.

As a result, many people, including millions of children, are going hungry. The higher the prices go, the more people will be plunged into poverty. In Bangladesh 95% of the 11,782 children Compassion serves are affected. Many are eating only at the church based center. In Haiti, inflation rates have risen by 40%, pushing up food prices as well. All 60,000 children, served by Compassion in Haiti, have been affected as well.


What is causing the crisis, you might be asking?
· Rising fuel costs-of course!
· Rising food demand from populous nations like India and China
· Natural disasters destroying crop yields, all over the world

HOW WE CAN HELP
Compassion International has launched the Global Food Crisis Fund to bring aid to those who are most adversely affected by the rising food costs. More information is available and donations can be made at
https://www.compassion.com/contribution/giving/global-food-crisis.htm

Donations to the fund will provide:
· Food vouchers to children
· Seed and Agricultural tools so that families can grow their own food as well as earn extra income
· Supplemental nutrition services offered at Compassion-assisted centers around the world.


Compassion International has set aside WEDNESDAY JUNE 25TH as a day of fasting and prayer to honor the victims of the global food crisis and to pray for them.


OTHER AVAILABLE RESOURCES:
http://blog.compassion.com/a-day-of-fasting-and-prayer
http://blog.compassion.com/the-silent-tsunami/
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/11277
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080601/32614CompassionInternationalPreparesForWorldFoodCrisis.htm
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/compassion.prepares.for.world.food.crisis/19191.htm

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Poverty has become a major problem. Its bigger than what people perceive. Its the responsibility of every person to help the needy. I came across a community http://www.orkut.co.in/Community.aspx?cmm=47234928 which is about The United Nations' campaign to End Poverty by 2015. The campaign revolves around 8 major goals which, if accomplished, would ensure eradication of poverty.

Unknown said...

I truly agree with consciousness awakening part of the post.!Nice article.
People rating poverty as poor from their hearts is the first step towards any revolution to be taking place..

The Millennium Development goals of the UN..works this principle..!
@ ayesha i m also a member of this community and glad to be a part of it .

JenniferLayne said...

I'm not familiar with any campaigns, but I am super excited to read your blogs. It's fun to see your heart for these kids. I need reminded often that the world is so much more than just my little corner of it.

:)Sissy