There are many ways to fight poverty and share the love of Jesus. Some organizations improve access to safe water. Others provide literacy training and education. Many focus on nutrition and hunger, medical care or disaster relief.
At Compassion, we focus on children. They’re the heart of everything we do. While our programs touch on many of the poverty-reducing strategies listed above, they all revolve around one clear goal:
Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.
Why children? To fight the enormous, complex problem of global poverty, why did we choose the most vulnerable, least influential, most soft spoken voices? Children don’t have a lot of money or political power or social standing. They aren’t (yet) world leaders, doctors or respected economists.
So, what do children bring to the table? A lot. Here are five reasons why children are the heart of Compassion.
1. They Matter to Jesus
There are many stories in the Bible about how precious children are to Jesus. In Mark 10, people brought little children to Jesus for him to lay his hands on them. Thinking Jesus wouldn’t want to bother with children, the disciples rebuked them — but they were wrong.
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” — Mark 10:14
In Matthew 18:1 (NIV), the disciples asked Jesus a question: “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” How do you think Jesus responded?
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” — Matthew 18:3-5, NIV
Jesus welcomes children with open arms. He loves them, cares for them and places them in positions of honor. And as his followers, we must do the same.
2. They’re Ready for the Gospel
We read in Proverbs 22:6 (NIV), “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Have you ever heard of the 4-14 window? According to research, this is the age range when most people will decide to follow Jesus.
As a Christ-centered ministry, we know we’re called to share the gospel. We also know just how life-changing a relationship with Jesus is, especially for the vulnerable. That’s why we deliver the good news to children living in poverty, the most vulnerable of all of God’s children around the world.
3. There Are Millions Living in Poverty
According to UNICEF, 412 million children live in extreme poverty around the world. This is more than half of the world’s population living in extreme poverty (700 million, according to World Bank). These children must survive on less than $3 per day, which is far from enough for necessities like food, safe water and medical care.
No child should be without the basics they need to thrive, which is why we’re working to serve the millions. Currently, Compassion cares for 2.4 million children around the world (and counting).
4. They Are the Most Vulnerable
In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us that when we serve the least of those among us, we serve him. And children living in poverty are among the least of the least.
Children are the hardest hit by poverty’s effects but the least able to do anything about their circumstances. They’re the most impacted by malnutrition, and they’re often the earliest to succumb to disease.
In 2023, 4.8 million children lost their lives before reaching the age of 5, mostly due to preventable and treatable diseases like pneumonia and malaria.
At Compassion, care begins in the womb through our Survival program, which provides prenatal care for both mom and baby. As children grow, we continue to serve them through our sponsorship program, which delivers customized care based on each child’s unique needs.
5. They Have a Lifetime Ahead of Them
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of working with children is the incredible potential for lifelong change.
In speaking about his book, “Too Small to Ignore,” President Emeritus of Compassion International, Dr. Wess Stafford, shared:
“When a child is small, it takes very little effort to make an impact for good or an impact that can destroy them. A child’s life can be launched or derailed, and the effects will last a lifetime.”
When children are cared for — mind, body and soul — they know they’re loved and valued by Jesus. This truth empowers them to reach for and achieve freedom from child poverty. And when they do, they inspire others around them to do the same.
