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 New Church Partners
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 committed US churches that 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 individual ministry to children in Ecuador by personally sponsoring some or all of the children who will be registered in the new Compassion student center.
Partnership Opportunity in Ecuador
Compassion Ecuador recently vetted a local church partner, targeting an area in need of an accessible local Christ-centered church that preaches and lives God’s Word. After careful investigation, Compassion International has confirmed that the mother church has the capacity and commitment needed to plant the proposed daughter church and approved providing funds for this church plant.
Iglesia de Cristo Iberoamericana in Duran. This church has partnered with Compassion since 2015 and is currently ministering to 325 children. Typical homes here are made of bamboo walls, tin roof and wood floors. Primary occupations for adults include day labor, factory work, fishing and street vending with an average family income of $200 per month. They are working on securing land (pictured right bottom) in a community called "El Eden" in the Los Rios province, approximately 50 miles away. Click here for more information.
Your Investment
Your investment of $76,926 will fund the construction of essential core structures for a new “daughter" church and launch a Compassion-assisted student center at each newly constructed facility.
Your funds will help build basic church facilities needed by the congregation and child development center such as:
- one large meeting room / sanctuary which seats 200 adults
- 3 classrooms
- kitchen / food preparation space
- restrooms
- electricity & water
Join Us
It is our privilege to present this strategic missions opportunity to help 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. We believe you will be a prayerful, effective partner with Compassion International and this soon-to-be-planted church in Ecuador. Together, we can build, plant and enable new churches for effective Christ-centered ministry among the impoverished families of this beautiful country.
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
Proposed Church Plant in El Eden
Location: El Eden, Baba Canton, Los Rios, Ecuador
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 their 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 2018
Investment Amount Requested:
$76,926
Thank you, First Baptist Church of Frisco, 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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