ABOUT COMPASSION
In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty, and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults — all for God’s glory. We also speak out for the needs of children in poverty to compel Christians worldwide to respond to God’s call to “look after orphans and widows” through advocating for children (James 1:27).
ADVANCING GOD'S KINGDOM
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV) True life and hope are found only in the redeeming gospel of Jesus Christ. Fighting poverty is more than providing economic resources — it is defeating the fatalistic lie that we are unworthy of God’s love. At the heart of all Compassion’s work is our commitment to releasing children from spiritual poverty. We pursue this commitment with as much fervor as we approach any other type of poverty.
Planting a New Church
Compassion’s church-based efforts are key to its effectiveness. Our goal is to reach a greater number of children in extreme poverty in order to offer them Jesus’ love and mercy. Our ministry depends on the efforts of frontline local church partners.
The local church identifies nearby communities that would benefit from ministry and begins to build a reputation there. Compassion comes alongside this “mother church” to support its efforts to establish a permanent “daughter church” in the new community. The mother church continues to mentor and support the new church until it matures enough to support itself. The church grows through its community involvement and its commitment to meet real needs.
Compassion International is seeking donors who are passionate about planting new churches and can provide needed funds to help establish daughter churches. Your gift would fund construction of a permanent facility for the new church and enable it to begin offering Compassion programming for up to 200 children.
Child Development Through Sponsorship
How does church planting relate to Compassion’s desire to help release children from poverty? The new church becomes the center for child development and the life-changing experience of child sponsorship. The local Compassion staff members offer a holistic development plan to registered children, aiding them in spiritual, physical and educational growth. The children are linked with sponsors who provide support, love and encouragement.
Members of your church may wish to expand their own ministry to children in Guatemala by personally sponsoring children who will be registered in the new Compassion student center as a result of this church plant.
New Partnership Opportunity in Guatemala
Compassion Guatemala has recently identified an area in need of an accessible Christ-centered church that preaches and lives God's Word in partnership with the established Iglesia del Nazareno Central in San Juan Chamelco, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. The church plant will be called Iglesia del Nazareno Misión Saquijá and located approximately one mile from the "mother church." In 2006, the church built a small wooden sanctuary and kitchen (see photo). These buildings will be used to serve children during construction of the planned expansion. The church recently purchased land adjacent to the existing buildings and plans to build a new sanctuary, kitchen, classrooms, and bathrooms.
The adults in the region work as carpenters, masons, teachers, embroiderers and tailors. Most of the homes here are made of wood with laminate roofs. There is only one other church that is sharing the gospel or evangelizing in this area. The people of Iglesia del Nazareno Central share a strong desire to expand and replicate their ministry throughout the region. The mother church staff will provide necessary support to fulfill its mission. The daughter church currently has 46 adult members and they are using the existing structures, although it is at capacity.
Pastor Carlos Enrique Cuc Mollinedo (see photo) has been chosen to lead the daughter church. He is 66 years old and from Cobán, Alta Verapaz. He and his wife, Berta, have 8 grown children. He was a member of of Iglesia del Nazareno de la Tinta, and then a preacher for 18 years. He is a graduate of the Nazarene Bible Institute of Coban, he pastored the Church of the Nazarene of Chuta la Unión, Cobán Alta Verapaz for six years. Currently he pastors the Church of the Nazarene of Saquija.
Your Investment
An investment of $76,926 will fund the construction of essential core facilities for the daughter church and provide the infrastructure for the establishment of a Compassion-assisted student center at the newly constructed facility.
Your gift will provide the basic church facilities needed by the new congregation and child development center, such as:
- one large meeting room / sanctuary which seats 200 adults
- three classrooms
- kitchen / food preparation space
- restrooms
- electricity and water
Will You Join Us?
Thank you for your interest in partnering with Compassion International on this strategic missions opportunity. We are helping grow God’s Church in an area that greatly needs the message of Jesus Christ and the accompanying care that is best delivered through the personal nurture of a loving local church. Together, we can build, plant and enable a new church for effective Christ-centered ministry among the impoverished families of this community.
Church Plant Timeline
Below is the typical schedule of establishing a new church partner. Specific details of each church plant will be scheduled and communicated as construction plans develop.
- Month 1: Donation received by Compassion International
- Month 2: Proposal matched to donation; bids solicited from screened vendors for construction
- Month 3: Funds sent to Compassion field office
- Month 4: Initial fund disbursement to vendors; construction begins
- Month 5: Initial neighborhood visitations and child registrations begin; construction continues
- Months 5-11: Construction continues; child development center staff training; caregiver orientation
- Month 12: Dedication and launch of ministry at new church
The proposed church plant in Caserio Saquijá, San Juan Chamelco, Guatemala:
Elements of our approach to planting churches:
Our Ministry Model
Three distinct foundations of how Compassion works:
We focus exclusively on children — “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16, NIV) All programs are aligned with developing children holistically (pre-natal through young adulthood) by addressing physical, spiritual, socio-emotional, economic and educational needs.
We work exclusively with the local church — Compassion believes that the Church is God’s agent for change in a broken world, which is why our programs are only offered through partnership with churches in the developing world that have the same passion for prioritizing and ministering to children.
We keep Jesus at the center of all we do — Children and families are not required to profess Jesus as Savior to participate in our programs, but we want children to hear the gospel, see living faith and be discipled in the ways of Jesus. To this end, every mother and child registered in our programs receive age-appropriate Bibles, which are replaced as children mature and develop.
“Compassion International started with one man's obedience to God's call of 'What are you going to do?' The question for us today is, 'What are we going to do?'”
— Wess Stafford, President Emeritus, Compassion International
Compassion Stats at a Glance
Numbers current as of September, 2019
Total Gift Requested:
$76,926
Thank you, Columbia Community Church, for prayerfully considering partnering with Compassion International. I would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your goals for the kingdom, or any interest you may have in experiencing Compassion's work first-hand. I would be honored to connect with you.
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