41 Reasons...

As many of you know by now I'm trying to get 41 children sponsored through Compassion International for my 41st birthday which is March 8th. I thought it might be helpful if I were to give you 41 reasons to sponsor a child.  So, in no particular order here are 41 reasons to sponsor a child:

1. It gives you the chance to be a world missionary without ever leaving your home.
2. You can write to your child.
3. Your child will write to you.
4. It gives you the opportunity to explore a new culture.
5. It reminds you that the church is universal.
6. It is a reason to try new foods.
7. If you have children, it is a great way to introduce them to the issues that children around the world are facing.
8. It's my birthday and I have asked you to.
9. Compassion is Christ centered.
10. Compassion is child focused.
11. Compassion is church based.
12. Compassion is committed to integrity.
13. Compassion has received Charity Navigator's highest rating for over 10 years.
14. Compassion has a holistic approach to child sponsorship meeting the spiritual, physical, social, and      economic needs of the child.
15. It's biblical. "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18
16. Because more than 6 million children die each year from malnutrition.
17. There are 1.8 million diarrheal-related deaths per year among young children.
18. About 2.5 billion people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation - roughly two-fifths of the world's population. 
19. Approximately 1.8 million children die each year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This is around 5,000 deaths a day.
20. About 1 million children each year are diagnosed with intestinal worms causing malnutrition due to the lack of sanitation. 
21. An estimated 130 million of the world's 15- to 24- year-olds cannot read or write.
22. One in six children 5 to 14 years old — about 16 percent of all children in this age group — is        involved in child labor in developing countries. 
23. After drug dealing, human trafficking (both sex trafficking and trafficking for forced labor) is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today, and it is the fastest growing.
24. Worldwide, there are nearly two million children in the commercial sex trade.
25. There are an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 children, women and men trafficked across international  borders annually. 
26. An estimated 20 million children worldwide have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict   and human rights violations.
27. Because Dr. Seuss reminds us that, "A person's a person, no matter how small."
28. Because of what you see in this video (it's long I know but what you really need to see starts at the 3:34 mark through the 10 minute mark - trust me you want to see this): http://vimeo.com/7072300.
29. For the chance to one day meet the child that you sponsor.
30. Because it may mean that you'll have to sacrifice - and that actually is a good thing.
31. Because if it was your child you'd be praying for someone who would provide the hope to your child that you are unable to do.
32. It is your chance to literally change the world.
33. I promised to eat a bowl of broccoli if I get 41 sponsored children by my birthday.
34. It will not only change the life of a child, it will change your life as well.
35. Because of the joy and excitement you will experience each time you get a letter from your child.
36. Because I've already written 35 other reasons!
37. Simply because it's the right thing to do.
38. Because not only will you be changing the life of the child but you will also be changing that child's family and impacting that child's community.
39. Did I mention that it is biblical? Isaiah 58:6-7 - "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
40. Did I mention that I've agreed to eat a bowl of broccoli if I get 41 children sponsored? Did I mention   that I gag just at the smell of broccoli? 

              And reason number 41 that you should sponsor a child through Compassion is:

41. Because you can.

Now please go on over to Compassion and sponsor a child. Also, if you would please pass this on to encourage others to encourage them, that would be great. Finally, after you sponsor a child please message me and let me know so I can know how we are doing in reaching 41.  Thank you!