Experiencing Compassion and Sharing God’s Love
Two weekends ago, Mt. Bethel hosted the Compassion Journey, launching an exciting new Missions’ partnership with Compassion International (Compassion). Our Mt. Bethel family, including over 200 Mt. Bethel Christian Academy students and faculty, and local and extended communities took the Journey where they learned about Compassion’s mission and responded to the need of sponsoring children in Ethiopia.
Compassion works throughout the world to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. They work with local churches in impoverished regions to establish centers where children in these regions may receive education, health care, supplemental nutrition, and loving adult care, all from a Biblical perspective. Mt. Bethel has partnered with a local church and Compassion center in Ethiopia.
For the Journey experience at Mt. Bethel, people were able to see and hear first-hand true stories of extreme poverty and hope. At the end of the interactive experience, guests had the opportunity to sponsor a child. We are delighted to report that more than 200 children were sponsored through Mt. Bethel’s Compassion Journey weekend! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Many participants were touched by what they experienced on the Journey. One family from Woodstock shared their take-aways. Faryal Sterger brought her daughters, Kassy (13) and Abby (11), because she wanted them to have a glimpse of what life is like for a child living in poverty. Both girls noticed the broken-down buildings, the trash, and especially the sparse and unclean water that are part of the daily surroundings for many impoverished children. According to Abby, “If a person wants to be more grateful for what they have, they should come see this.” Her big sister Kassy felt hopeful about how a Compassion sponsorship can help. “Hearing how the sponsorship helped with school expenses and other daily needs shows that being a sponsor really does make a difference,” said Kassy.
Mt. Bethel member Judy Boyce was also impacted by the Compassion Journey. Judy has sponsored a child for many years but gained valuable insight from the exhibit, hearing the first-hand account of a sponsored child’s life. “This really opened my eyes to what the child I sponsor goes through,” said Judy. “It also helped me understand how important and meaningful it is for the child to hear from me through letters. Sometimes it can be easier to offer money than to be involved, and this was a great reminder that we need to do both.”
Thank you to all who participated; thank you for taking the journey, for inviting friends and neighbors, and especially for sponsoring a child. Mt. Bethel Church family and community continues to show the very heart of God as we serve and connect with each other here and around the world.
Please go online for more information on the many ways you may continue to participate with our other Missions partners whose ministries are having profound impact locally, regionally, and around the world.