At Compassion, we’re constantly in awe of everything our staff members do to help release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. We also know that some of the most important contributions to our mission come from those not found on a Compassion staff list: the pastors of our local church partners.
From stepping in during crises to working faithfully and consistently in desperate circumstances, pastors have important work to do — empowering local churches to know, love and protect the children they serve.
Be inspired by these stories of pastors and their work on behalf of Compassion around the world.
A Haven Amid Destruction in Haiti
In August of 2021, a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the southwestern region of Haiti. It’s estimated that 800,000 people, including 340,000 children, were affected. Soraya was one of them.
Soraya and her grandmother Ana’s small home was destroyed. Out of options, with only a tent for shelter, they found a source of help for their immediate needs in their church pastor.
He took Soraya and Ana into his home, keeping them from being forced to sleep on the streets. And through the Compassion center, the small family received medical care and nutritious food — even Soraya’s favorite cereal — a source of comfort in such chaos.
“With Jesus, I have hope. And I feel grateful because my community, Compassion, my church, my pastor and God are all there to help me.” — Ana
A Redemption Story in Kenya
When Pastor Richard took up the task of leading a church in his home region of Kenya, he saw the massive challenges in his way.
Poverty ran rampant in his community due to unrelenting violence between two rival groups. And harmful cultural practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) were all too common.
So Richard got to work, founding a nursery school at his church and praying that it would also serve as a haven for children. But even with his help, parents couldn’t pay the fees required to fund the school. Sadly, the school failed.
“Sending the children away after giving them a glimpse of hope was the most agonizing part. Although the same shame of failure still lingered over me, I purposed to serve my congregation faithfully.” — Pastor Richard
About a year later, Compassion was expanding its ministry into the area, and Richard was asked to host a meeting at his church. The meeting lit a fire in his heart — to partner with Compassion and rekindle his dream of building safe community for children.
With help from Compassion startup funds and contributions from Richard’s congregation, his church reopened the nursery school. Soon, the church launched a full child development center serving 150 registered children.
Richard watched with joy as stories of transformation unfolded around him. John, one of the first registered children at the center, transformed from a malnourished toddler into a growing young boy with access to education and a dream of becoming a teacher.
Sharing the Gospel in a Trash Dump in Bolivia
The community of Normandia in Bolivia was surrounded by trash on three sides, affecting the health of the children living there. Pastor Raúl and his wife, Sister Graciela, felt God’s call to serve these little ones.
They began gathering the children under a tree to sing and hear Bible stories. While hope began to rise, the duo wanted to do more. After discovering Compassion, they knew they had found a partner to help them do just that.
They raised funds to construct a church building that would house a Compassion center. Soon, the Comunidad y Servicios Cristianos was up and running, serving the children and families of Normandia.
Here, the children receive nutritious meals and critical medical care. Many of the children, including Ricardo, afflicted by disease due to their surroundings, are now healthy and thriving — all because a pastor said yes to God’s calling.
Through faithfulness and a willingness to serve the least of these, these pastors show how local churches become places of hope — transforming lives of children and families in their communities.
