Convoy/Compassion – El Salvador

 

A group of pastors and I spent two days with Convoy of Hope leaders and two days with Compassion International.

I have always loved what these organizations do but learned so much more during our time together. I was, and am, totally impressed with how both organizations are local church-based ministries. In other words, it’s based in the local church and the ministry doesn’t happen without the local church.

Convoy of Hope

Convoy of Hope was founded in 1994 in El Salvador and now works in 33 countries. Currently, more than 500,000 children are fed worldwide, more than 34,000 women and girls are empowered, and more than 25,000 participants have benefited from the Agriculture Program. In Salvador alone, they feed 72,000 kids! All done at the local church.

Convoy of Hope has received The Four Star Award every year since 2002. This award is the highest honor from Charity Navigator – America’s largest and most widely used charity evaluator.

This prestigious award places Convoy of Hope in the top 1% of rated charities. And, it’s all local church based.

Compassion International

For more than 70 years Compassion International has worked to develop children into all God intends them to be. They are advocates for children, working to release them from the shackles of poverty. Through a holistic approach to child development, we carefully blend physical, social, economic and spiritual care together…in Jesus’ name.

On average, a child they minister to spends 4,000 hours in safe, nurturing programs, is at least 50 percent more likely to graduate college and is 35 percent more likely to find white-collar employment as an adult.

Their response to a world in need, filled with millions of children living in poverty, is simple: Love like Jesus did. Serve in Jesus’ name.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the physical threats of poverty as well as its emotional and spiritual messages of worthlessness. By working in Jesus’ name Compassion speaks messages of love and hope.

The coolest part is that it’s the local churches that serve as development centers for all that Compassion does.