Tony Campolo

In Honduras, I got to visit Victoria, the little girl that I support through Compassion International. She, along with her mother and two brothers, live a depressing, 12" x 12" one room shack that is patched together with pieces of wood and some discarded odds and ends picked off a garbage dump. Her home would be enough to drive most children to hopelessness.

The good news is that Victoria is more vivacious and joyful than almost any nine year old child I know. Part of that joy is related to the fact that my monthly gift through Compassion International assures her and the rest of her family, enough for a descent diet and for Victoria's education.

While in Honduras I got to visit Victoria's newly built school which, though incredibly overcrowded by American standards, is filled with boys and girls eagerly learning. The teachers there not only help these children to read and write. They also make Jesus real to them and nurture them into a biblically prescribed lifestyle.

In my wallet I carry a photograph of Victoria, supplied by Compassion, and whenever I look at that picture I pray for her. I expect to keep in touch with her into the indefinite future because, in a sense, she has become family to me.

As s speaker who travels across the country, speaking to college students, business groups and at churches, I regularly promote the Compassion program, wherever I go. This is because I know that whenever I can get someone to sponsor a child, that person will get something of the satisfaction that Victoria has given to me.

Be a life-changing voice for a child in need

Every child deserves the opportunity to be healthy, to attend school, to be safe and lovingly nurtured. But too often children of poverty are denied these opportunities and have nowhere to turn for help.

Did you know?:

• One in every four children lives in abject poverty.
• Almost 11 million children under age five die each year - from preventable causes.
• More than 120 million children of elementary school age do not attend school.
• As many as 246 million children are engaged in exploitive child labor.

Will you speak up for one precious child in need?

When you sponsor a child through Compassion International, your child sponsorship support will connect one child with a church-based, Christ-centered program, where he or she will receive:

• Educational opportunities,
• Medical checkups and vaccinations,
• Food and nutritional supplements as needed,
• Opportunities to learn life skills,
• And, most important, the chance to hear and respond to the Gospel.

Child sponsorship connects you with a child in a loving relationship that will change lives!

• Exchange letters, photos and prayers
• Become a friend
• Share your love

Change a life, forever!

As a sponsor, you are linked with one unique child who will know your name, write to you and treasure the thought that you care.

Start a wonderful relationship with a child who needs you. Sponsor a child today!

Click here to learn more about Compassion International's child sponsorship ministry.

Tony has a new video talking about his work with Compassion International.

© 2005 EAPE | P.O. Box 7238 | St. Davids, PA | 19087 | Phone: 610.341.1722 | Fax: 610.341.4372 | E-mail: eape@eastern.edu