Hi everyone,
It's been a little while but we wanted to let you know that the Anslay Church of God CSP website has recently been changed to the following link:
http://www.compassion.com/thompsoncsp
This change has followed an overall update to Compassion International's website, and it still allows you to make a donation in the same secure environment as before. We'd encourage you to check it out and, as always, consider becoming a sponsor at only $20 a month.
We have been so thrilled to hear the stories and finally see pictures of the mothers and babies who are being touched through this ministry, but at the same time we have seen things slow drastically in our efforts to fully fund this project.
Would you be willing to join with us in earnest prayer that the Lord would raise up the individuals who are needed to accomplish this goal? We feel truly blessed to have shared in this vision with so many and know that these precious mothers and their children are known and loved by the living God.
They ultimately belong to Him, and there is no scheme, marketing plan, or carefully worded plea that can accomplish this goal through human means (this blog included). Our desire is to surrender our will to His as He puts this burden on our hearts. As we pray, watch, and wait, we ask that the Lord would open doors and provide for His children.
Your prayers are coveted and we join with you in joyful anticipation as His will is accomplished.
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
I Timothy 1:17
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The Ultimate Mother's Day Gift
If you've ever wondered if your gifts and sponsorships to the Child Survival Program truly make a difference, there are a group of mother's from around the world who have a message just for you.
This is even more poignant for those who are helping support Anslay Church of God Child Survival Program in Mbulu, Tanzania.
After watching the video below for about the second time, my wife suddenly recognized what seemed to be a familiar face. Sure enough, after fetching our sponsorship packet materials she realized that Aurelia Akonaay from the video was of the 35 mothers currently being supported by the Anslay CSP. (She appears at the 1:24 mark.)
It was an astonishing discovery since I'd already planned on posting it anyhow, so seeing and hearing from a person we've been supporting and praying for, was simply icing on the cake!
Though this is a true encouragement in so many ways, the fact remains that many other mothers are waiting to receive the physical and spiritual support that this CSP can provide.
As this Mother's Day draws to a close, would you consider making a one time gift or becoming a monthly sponsor, perhaps in honor of your own mother or grandmother? Click here to make one time gift, or click here to become a monthly sponsor
Your generosity will ensure that Aurelia and others just like her will be able celebrate God's wonderful gift of motherhood for the months and years to come.
This is even more poignant for those who are helping support Anslay Church of God Child Survival Program in Mbulu, Tanzania.
After watching the video below for about the second time, my wife suddenly recognized what seemed to be a familiar face. Sure enough, after fetching our sponsorship packet materials she realized that Aurelia Akonaay from the video was of the 35 mothers currently being supported by the Anslay CSP. (She appears at the 1:24 mark.)
It was an astonishing discovery since I'd already planned on posting it anyhow, so seeing and hearing from a person we've been supporting and praying for, was simply icing on the cake!
Though this is a true encouragement in so many ways, the fact remains that many other mothers are waiting to receive the physical and spiritual support that this CSP can provide.
As this Mother's Day draws to a close, would you consider making a one time gift or becoming a monthly sponsor, perhaps in honor of your own mother or grandmother? Click here to make one time gift, or click here to become a monthly sponsor
Your generosity will ensure that Aurelia and others just like her will be able celebrate God's wonderful gift of motherhood for the months and years to come.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Psalm 112
The verses in this passage need no preamble from me, but I wanted to pass them along since my friend Kirk Winter, from Compassion International recently encouraged me to read and pray through them. It's wonderful advice that I'd love to pass along to you as well.
Take joy in the knowledge that God the Father sits on the throne and that there is great blessing as you give in worship to Him.
Praise the LORD.
Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.
Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Take joy in the knowledge that God the Father sits on the throne and that there is great blessing as you give in worship to Him.
Praise the LORD.
Blessed are those who fear the LORD,
who find great delight in his commands.
Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Got Hope?
I don't know where you might find yourself today.
Perhaps you stand at a place of great hope, or maybe you're facing a situation that is so crowded with doubt, pain and worry that you struggle understand what that word truly means, or if real hope is actually attainable at all.
Though we've dedicated this blog to share the stories of needy people who live a world away, the truth is that every human heart sits in a place of great want and destitution.
Binding physical wounds and filling empty stomachs may be noble and beautiful, but if our words compel you to give but don’t ultimately point to the source of life itself, then our efforts are in vain and we leave you in a place of poverty.
Jesus said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:27)
What is this food that does not spoil, and how can it feed a soul that hungers for meaning, peace, and yes, hope?
That answer simply rests with Jesus himself.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
Maybe you’ve heard this story many times before, but for whatever reason you’ve chosen to fill the hunger in your life through another source. Deep inside you though, the soul’s craving remains.
Though as scripture says, every human heart has a desire for meaning and eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11), it is also clear that God placed that longing in each of our lives to point us back to himself.
Though his call is exclusive…
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
…he promises to fill that emptiness in a way that nothing else ever could.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29)
Hope is real, and it is based upon the person of Jesus Christ, the Creator and Sustainer of all things who sits at the right hand of the Father, and who promises to one day return for those who believe and call upon his holy name.
He lives today. Does he live in your heart?
I urge you not to go hungry for one more day. If you’ve got questions, or would like us to pray for and with you, please don’t hesitate to e-mail or call us directly at 937-671-4965.
Our desire for you remains the same as it does for mothers and their children in Tanzania…to see you released from poverty in Jesus’ name.
This is our greatest hope.
Perhaps you stand at a place of great hope, or maybe you're facing a situation that is so crowded with doubt, pain and worry that you struggle understand what that word truly means, or if real hope is actually attainable at all.
Though we've dedicated this blog to share the stories of needy people who live a world away, the truth is that every human heart sits in a place of great want and destitution.
Binding physical wounds and filling empty stomachs may be noble and beautiful, but if our words compel you to give but don’t ultimately point to the source of life itself, then our efforts are in vain and we leave you in a place of poverty.
Jesus said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:27)
What is this food that does not spoil, and how can it feed a soul that hungers for meaning, peace, and yes, hope?
That answer simply rests with Jesus himself.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
Maybe you’ve heard this story many times before, but for whatever reason you’ve chosen to fill the hunger in your life through another source. Deep inside you though, the soul’s craving remains.
Though as scripture says, every human heart has a desire for meaning and eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11), it is also clear that God placed that longing in each of our lives to point us back to himself.
Though his call is exclusive…
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
…he promises to fill that emptiness in a way that nothing else ever could.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29)
Hope is real, and it is based upon the person of Jesus Christ, the Creator and Sustainer of all things who sits at the right hand of the Father, and who promises to one day return for those who believe and call upon his holy name.
He lives today. Does he live in your heart?
I urge you not to go hungry for one more day. If you’ve got questions, or would like us to pray for and with you, please don’t hesitate to e-mail or call us directly at 937-671-4965.
Our desire for you remains the same as it does for mothers and their children in Tanzania…to see you released from poverty in Jesus’ name.
This is our greatest hope.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Meet Chiara Salati
In the year since our family committed to speak and pray on behalf of mothers and their children in Mbulu, Tanzania, we have often been both humbled and surprised at the way God has moved and provided for these people He loves and knows by name.
Though we've had our own plans sometimes thwarted and disappointed, more often than not, we've seen God move mightily in the hearts of people we do not even know and in ways we would never have expected.
A little more than a month ago we received an e-mail from Kirk Winter, our friend and contact at Compassion International. He told us he'd recently been contacted by a 15-year-old girl living in New York who had learned about the Child Survival Program, and felt a burden to raise funds for a CSP somewhere in the world. Would we, he asked, be interested in partnering with her as God is calling her to raise funds for a CSP?
Our answer was an enthusiastic, yes, and we were soon given the opportunity to correspond with this young lady whose name is Chiara Salati. It's been a true blessing to get to know her and her story, and she's been gracious enough to oblige our request to share it with our readers as well. As you read her words below, please pray for God's continued work in her life, and that He would use her in a powerful way as she reaches out to others on behalf of the Anslay Church of God CSP.
I still clearly remember the night that I first learned about Compassion International's Child Survival Programs. The night that I was hit in the face with the shocking truth: every three seconds, an innocent child under five years old dies from a preventable cause. It was a firm blow that I never expected to come from a simple Louie Giglio video series. But, all the same, it had. I found myself unable to understand how avoidable health hazards like dehydration, diarrhea, measles, and influenza had the final say on so many children's existences. At the time, I felt unsure of so many things. But of one thing I was certain. Something was about to change. Something had to change.
As I mentioned briefly before, my church, Main Street Baptist in Oneonta, NY, had been going through a Louie Giglio video series. That one particular night, Louie talked about Compassion International, the Child Survival Programs, and the desperate needs of children around the world. Throughout the evening I couldn't help thinking what a wonderful mission that would be. But for someone else of course. Deep down inside, although I thought it would be great, I really didn't want to be the one to get the ball rolling.
Although I tried, I could not get the Compassion project out of my head in the days and weeks that followed. In that time, World War III was being waged between two fierce opponents know as my heart, and my head. While my heart was telling me to take a giant leap of faith and reach for my dreams, my mind was keeping me well informed of reality and telling me that I was insane. After bringing the idea to several people, including two of MSBC's pastors, I still came away with mixed feelings. Some people thought it was a great mission, but didn't want to be the ones to take responsibility for it. Others on the other hand, agreed with my head and thought I was crazy. They told me that they'd believe it when they saw it. Although the clouds of doubt were beginning to swirl around me, I was determined to give this mission my best shot.
For close to a year, I continued my search for someone who would back my ideas up. Someone who was significant in my church, that people would respect and listen too. I felt that as a teenager, I wasn't qualified to be the one to do God's work. I was ready to supply the inspiration, enthusiasm and my own physical and mental energy. But at that point, I felt that was all I was capable of. I prayed that God would put someone in my path that would help me get a CSP project started. It wasn't long after, surprisingly, that God showed me who that person was: me. When I finally accepted that this was a project God meant for me to start on my own, I was inspired once again to make my dream into a reality.
My trust and patience were tried for another time as I battled the complications of getting in contact with Compassion International directly. I sent multiple emails, even a few different ways, but received no reply. I tried to reach CI by way of telephone but had no success with that either. Finally, as a last resort, I sent a letter to CI in Colorado. There was nothing further to do but wait. Wait and see. I knew that if it was God's will that I undertake this project, He would see to it that the letter arrived.
I was surprised by a phone call, a week or two later, from Doug West, a CI advocate. Yet again I was re-energized and re-inspired to continue with this assignment. I was ecstatic that I had finally accomplished the first step to putting things in motion. With Doug's encouragement and guidance, I managed to set up a website and get my hands on further fund raising materials.
Things were still unfolding as Doug was in the process of identifying a Child Survival Program that I could raise funds for and support. Suddenly, God amazed and blessed me by bringing Jeff and Julie Thompson into the picture. Doug introduced them to me over email as CI advocates from OH who had raised the initial funds for a project with the Anslay Church of God in Mbulu, Tanzania. He expressed his excitement that Jeff, Julie, and I might be able to team up and tackle this mission together. I knew immediately that, for the millionth time, God had answered my prayers. So here I am, joining in this project to bring hope to children in Mbulu!!
Everything is still moving slowly and my biggest goal at the moment is to present this mission to my church. I am praying that God opens hearts to step out in faith and join me for HIS Glory. How beautiful it would be to see my fellow sisters and brothers in Christ, come together to overcome poverty and death itself!!! Please join me in prayer for MSBC, Tanzania, and the many people involved. Thank you and God bless you for all your support!!!
Though we've had our own plans sometimes thwarted and disappointed, more often than not, we've seen God move mightily in the hearts of people we do not even know and in ways we would never have expected.
A little more than a month ago we received an e-mail from Kirk Winter, our friend and contact at Compassion International. He told us he'd recently been contacted by a 15-year-old girl living in New York who had learned about the Child Survival Program, and felt a burden to raise funds for a CSP somewhere in the world. Would we, he asked, be interested in partnering with her as God is calling her to raise funds for a CSP?
Our answer was an enthusiastic, yes, and we were soon given the opportunity to correspond with this young lady whose name is Chiara Salati. It's been a true blessing to get to know her and her story, and she's been gracious enough to oblige our request to share it with our readers as well. As you read her words below, please pray for God's continued work in her life, and that He would use her in a powerful way as she reaches out to others on behalf of the Anslay Church of God CSP.
I still clearly remember the night that I first learned about Compassion International's Child Survival Programs. The night that I was hit in the face with the shocking truth: every three seconds, an innocent child under five years old dies from a preventable cause. It was a firm blow that I never expected to come from a simple Louie Giglio video series. But, all the same, it had. I found myself unable to understand how avoidable health hazards like dehydration, diarrhea, measles, and influenza had the final say on so many children's existences. At the time, I felt unsure of so many things. But of one thing I was certain. Something was about to change. Something had to change.
As I mentioned briefly before, my church, Main Street Baptist in Oneonta, NY, had been going through a Louie Giglio video series. That one particular night, Louie talked about Compassion International, the Child Survival Programs, and the desperate needs of children around the world. Throughout the evening I couldn't help thinking what a wonderful mission that would be. But for someone else of course. Deep down inside, although I thought it would be great, I really didn't want to be the one to get the ball rolling.
Although I tried, I could not get the Compassion project out of my head in the days and weeks that followed. In that time, World War III was being waged between two fierce opponents know as my heart, and my head. While my heart was telling me to take a giant leap of faith and reach for my dreams, my mind was keeping me well informed of reality and telling me that I was insane. After bringing the idea to several people, including two of MSBC's pastors, I still came away with mixed feelings. Some people thought it was a great mission, but didn't want to be the ones to take responsibility for it. Others on the other hand, agreed with my head and thought I was crazy. They told me that they'd believe it when they saw it. Although the clouds of doubt were beginning to swirl around me, I was determined to give this mission my best shot.
For close to a year, I continued my search for someone who would back my ideas up. Someone who was significant in my church, that people would respect and listen too. I felt that as a teenager, I wasn't qualified to be the one to do God's work. I was ready to supply the inspiration, enthusiasm and my own physical and mental energy. But at that point, I felt that was all I was capable of. I prayed that God would put someone in my path that would help me get a CSP project started. It wasn't long after, surprisingly, that God showed me who that person was: me. When I finally accepted that this was a project God meant for me to start on my own, I was inspired once again to make my dream into a reality.
My trust and patience were tried for another time as I battled the complications of getting in contact with Compassion International directly. I sent multiple emails, even a few different ways, but received no reply. I tried to reach CI by way of telephone but had no success with that either. Finally, as a last resort, I sent a letter to CI in Colorado. There was nothing further to do but wait. Wait and see. I knew that if it was God's will that I undertake this project, He would see to it that the letter arrived.
I was surprised by a phone call, a week or two later, from Doug West, a CI advocate. Yet again I was re-energized and re-inspired to continue with this assignment. I was ecstatic that I had finally accomplished the first step to putting things in motion. With Doug's encouragement and guidance, I managed to set up a website and get my hands on further fund raising materials.
Things were still unfolding as Doug was in the process of identifying a Child Survival Program that I could raise funds for and support. Suddenly, God amazed and blessed me by bringing Jeff and Julie Thompson into the picture. Doug introduced them to me over email as CI advocates from OH who had raised the initial funds for a project with the Anslay Church of God in Mbulu, Tanzania. He expressed his excitement that Jeff, Julie, and I might be able to team up and tackle this mission together. I knew immediately that, for the millionth time, God had answered my prayers. So here I am, joining in this project to bring hope to children in Mbulu!!
Everything is still moving slowly and my biggest goal at the moment is to present this mission to my church. I am praying that God opens hearts to step out in faith and join me for HIS Glory. How beautiful it would be to see my fellow sisters and brothers in Christ, come together to overcome poverty and death itself!!! Please join me in prayer for MSBC, Tanzania, and the many people involved. Thank you and God bless you for all your support!!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Now Hear Izzy!
Hi everyone,
As usual, I've taken my sweet time in between posts but the opportunity to jump back into it was prompted by none other than my daughter Isabelle. Two nights ago she spoke up as I was tucking her into bed.
"Daddy, I think I really need a blog like you and mommy."
"You do?" I replied. "Why is that? What would you write about?"
"Oh, I thought maybe I could write about Africa, or Haiti, or about the adoption."
I paused for a moment before speaking, imagining the thought of my six-year-old casting forth her thoughts into cyberspace.
"I'll talk to mommy about it." I said. She smiled broadly, as if my response was tantamount to a resounding thumbs up for her big idea.
"In the mean time," I continued, "what if you wrote something about the Child Survival Program?" Her smile got bigger and before I knew it she jumped out of her bed and ran out of the room, fetching two fresh sheets of paper. It was late, but I didn't have the heart to tell her that this little project would have to wait until morning. I'm glad I didn't.
Less than ten minutes later she emerged from the room with her heart spilled out on the pages, written in a little girl's scrawl that will fade away much too soon for her Daddy. Her thoughts though, made my heart leap, and made her parents give serious thought to letting this little girl put pen to paper more often. More on that soon. In the mean time, I'll simply be quiet and let Izzy's words speak for themselves. Here are her thoughts...
Babies and mommys in Africa need a lot of help right now.
Think about it.
What if you were a mom in Africa and you could not feed your kids or babies or yourself? That is exactly what is happening right now, so sponsor and help a mommy and baby and it will save a kid's, baby's and a mom's life! :)
So, like I said, sponsor a person now and help a life grow and grow, and the most exciting thing is that they will learn about Jesus and God in the Bible!
So go to Compassion and have fun! The CSP is waiting. A kid is waiting to be saved, and if you sponsor them they will get everything they need- love and care.
Make a choice to save a life or not, and to help them be happy and know that they are loved. All you need to do is make a choice to be smart and sponsor a mom, so go to the CSP now! :)
What more can I possibly add to that? Oh yes, click here to help a mom and a baby now.
As usual, I've taken my sweet time in between posts but the opportunity to jump back into it was prompted by none other than my daughter Isabelle. Two nights ago she spoke up as I was tucking her into bed.
"Daddy, I think I really need a blog like you and mommy."
"You do?" I replied. "Why is that? What would you write about?"
"Oh, I thought maybe I could write about Africa, or Haiti, or about the adoption."
I paused for a moment before speaking, imagining the thought of my six-year-old casting forth her thoughts into cyberspace.
"I'll talk to mommy about it." I said. She smiled broadly, as if my response was tantamount to a resounding thumbs up for her big idea.
"In the mean time," I continued, "what if you wrote something about the Child Survival Program?" Her smile got bigger and before I knew it she jumped out of her bed and ran out of the room, fetching two fresh sheets of paper. It was late, but I didn't have the heart to tell her that this little project would have to wait until morning. I'm glad I didn't.
Less than ten minutes later she emerged from the room with her heart spilled out on the pages, written in a little girl's scrawl that will fade away much too soon for her Daddy. Her thoughts though, made my heart leap, and made her parents give serious thought to letting this little girl put pen to paper more often. More on that soon. In the mean time, I'll simply be quiet and let Izzy's words speak for themselves. Here are her thoughts...
Babies and mommys in Africa need a lot of help right now.
Think about it.
What if you were a mom in Africa and you could not feed your kids or babies or yourself? That is exactly what is happening right now, so sponsor and help a mommy and baby and it will save a kid's, baby's and a mom's life! :)
So, like I said, sponsor a person now and help a life grow and grow, and the most exciting thing is that they will learn about Jesus and God in the Bible!
So go to Compassion and have fun! The CSP is waiting. A kid is waiting to be saved, and if you sponsor them they will get everything they need- love and care.
Make a choice to save a life or not, and to help them be happy and know that they are loved. All you need to do is make a choice to be smart and sponsor a mom, so go to the CSP now! :)
What more can I possibly add to that? Oh yes, click here to help a mom and a baby now.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Stories of Survival
Hi everyone. We recently came across one of Compassion International's blog posts about Pastor David Platt and his congregation at the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. We've featured Dr. Platt on the blog before, but what you may not have known is that his church is actively involved in sponsoring 21 Child Survival Programs throughout the country of India! The post briefly provides a firsthand account of how the CSP has played an amazing role in the life of one young mother and her child. You can read her story here. This inspiring story is indicative of how God is working to save lives through so many other CSP's around the world. This same work is taking place now in Mbulu, Tanzania, but the CSP is still short of being fully funded and we need your help. Accomplishing this goal will not only sustain the ministry in Mbulu, but it will open the door of hope to countless others whose stories have yet to be told. You can give now by clicking here.
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