Compassion Family: How Did YOU Hear About Compassion?

Friday, September 14, 2012

How Did YOU Hear About Compassion?

A discussion over at Compassion's blog the other day made me reminisce about when I first heard about Compassion's ministry.

It was 1994 and I was a junior Eastern Mennonite University. Being a Christian college, we had chapel three times a week and it was during one of those chapel services that I was introduced to the work of Compassion International. Bart Campolo spoke to us and I don't remember at all what he said, but I do remember being compelled to sponsor a child. After chapel, I went back to my dorm room, found an old copy of CCM magazine and cut out a Compassion ad, requesting a child to sponsor.

And that child was Judith. Sweet, precious Judith from Kenya.

I would love to meet Mr. Campolo someday and thank him for sharing the ministry of Compassion with me that day. It was the beginning of a life-long journey....a journey that has and continues to change my life.

One year ago today I met two of my "heroes"....

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Although I didn't hear about Compassion through their efforts, I have always appreciated and admired their willingness to use their influence to spread the work of Compassion. Although I was extremely nervous and didn't know what to say to them, I did remember to thank them for their years and years of dedication to this ministry. It was really cool to hear them present Compassion together.

So how about you....

How did YOU hear about Compassion?

I would love to hear your story in the comments.

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Jennifer · 655 weeks ago

I first heard Compassion presented at the Ichthus Festival in Wilmore, KY when I was in 8th grade. I heard it every year as I went to the festival through my high school years. I never felt compelled to sponsor during all those years. I ended up attending college at Asbury College (now Asbury University), which is also in Wilmore where Ichthus is held. In my senior year, Bart Compolo came to speak at our chapel service, which we had three times a week. He was in town to be a keynote speaker at Ichthus that weekend.
I can't explain why, but I was compelled that I had to sponsor a child that day. It seemed the most illogical decision, since Josh and I were going to be graduating and we had no idea where we were going or where we were going to work. But, I went in the lobby and picked a child out of the 100 or more available. I selected Karla from Peru because we had friends who had went to Peru the summer before on a missions trip and thought they may go back after college permanently. They ended up going on the mission field, but on the other side of the world. But I ended up sponsoring Karla for over 7 years, until she left the program.
So, our Compassion roots are about the same - Bart Compolo speaking at a college chapel. So cool!

1 reply · active 655 weeks ago

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fiddlejill 88p · 655 weeks ago

Very cool - thanks for sharing. There was someone else who commented over at the Compassion blog that they, too, sponsored a child after hearing Bart Campolo speak at their chapel.

And then you and I met on a trip to Peru

Matthew 25:31-46
Don't be a goat! Sponsor a child today.
www.compassion.com/jillfoley

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Rebecca · 655 weeks ago

I learned about Compassion through a chapel at my college too! It was one of the last weeks of my senior year, so a few months later when I graduated and got a job, sponsoring a child was one of the first things I did.

2 replies · active 655 weeks ago

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fiddlejill 88p · 655 weeks ago

I think people underestimate the impact they can have on college students! Who spoke about Compassion - do you remember?
Thanks for sharing.

Matthew 25:31-46
Don't be a goat! Sponsor a child today.
www.compassion.com/jillfoley

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Rebecca · 655 weeks ago

No, I don't remember who is was, but I went to Simpson University which is in Redding (Northern California), so I don't know if there is a specific person for that region? I believe it was a man. I don't remember the person, but I remember the impression that they left :)

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Jenn · 655 weeks ago

I had heard about Compassion for years being a Christian and attending many Christian events that Compassion would sponsor. Neil and I would always look at the sponsor pamphlets that they would hand out, talk about it for a little bit and then decide that we would use our money closer to home because we weren't really sure about giving to someone so far away nor to an organization that we weren't certain would really send the money to the children. I did do research over time and our heart started to soften...and then you Jill, came into our life at Harvest and well .....the rest is history. I just wish you would come sooner so all those uncertain years would not have been wasted. I am so glad you put all those questions to rest. I am so glad I can call you a friend and are part of HCC. And thank you for introducing so many others to Compassion through your blog and your work at HCC.

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Friday, September 14, 2012

How Did YOU Hear About Compassion?

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