God put us together

Comparing his life growing up in a small West Virginia town to the lives of children he's seen in Compassion projects, Michael W. Smith notes some similarities: "Kids are kids and kids everywhere seem to spend time playing in the streets," he says. "We throw rocks, balls, anything to create a game. But those similarities end when poverty is added to the situation.

"The first time I came face to face with that reality, it was overwhelming. I couldn't process all the sights, sounds and smells I was experiencing. I had gone from holding my own kids, safe and healthy in my own home, to holding a baby overseas who was probably not going to live much longer.

"I didn't intend to speak out for Compassion at first. I simply wanted to sponsor a child. I went to Ecuador and this little girl named Gavi latched onto me for the whole time I was there. I sponsored her. Then as I went to several nearby projects and saw the quality of the work, it solidified everything for me.

"The big thing was sensing the spirit of joy that transcended the projects, despite the surrounding poverty. These kids and their families are happy. They don't have anything and they lean on the Lord for everything they get. But they are happy.

"It has been a privilege to be involved in Gavi's life. Probably the most miraculous part of Gavi's story was her spiritual transformation and the ripple effect it has had on her family. Because of sponsorship, Gavi came to know the Lord.

"Now her grandmother and grandfather have come to know the Lord too. So have her cousins and nephews and aunts and uncles … 23 people in Gavi's family have come to faith in Christ — all because of her Compassion sponsorship.

"I'm glad that I was born in this day and age and that somehow God miraculously put us together. I think it was a God thing. And because it's a God thing, it's exciting to be the one to tell 15,000 concertgoers about Compassion for the first time. I love talking about Compassion."