Ride for Compassion 2015

ethiopia

What’s your image of Ethiopia? Are your ideas about the country still shaped by the famine that filled our television screens around 30 years ago in the mid-eighties? Thankfully much has changed since that time. Ethiopia is not a totally dry wasteland. In fact, it’s a land of rolling green hills where improved infrastructure and living conditions are driving the country forward. Everywhere you look in the capital city of Addis Ababa you see cranes and construction machinery as new buildings take shape. This hardly seems like the country that sparked Band Aid back in 1984.

Unfortunately though, not everyone is enjoying the benefits of the developments. There are still many battling poverty.

I was in Ethiopia in July last year and I saw conditions that confirmed that there is still much to be done there. Thankfully Compassion is there and is serving the poorest of the poor. That’s why I’m so glad that the Ride for Compassion is supporting a project in Ethiopia this year that will see thousands have access to hygienic toilet and showering facilities, dramatically reducing the risk of disease and illness.

Ride for Compassion 2015

Every year since 2009 I’ve traveled between Albany and Perth, a distance of over 500 kilometres, by bicycle. Next week I’ll be out there again. The ride will involve over 20 cyclists riding around 520 kilometres from Albany to Perth.

If you’ve been reading my blog for any time you’ll know that I work for Compassion, but I’m not supporting Compassion simply because it’s my job to do so.

I work for Compassion because I am convinced that there is no more effective organisation serving the world’s poor. I have seen no other method of working with those in poverty that even comes close to the way that Compassion is working.

I’ve seen Compassion’s work first hand in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Thailand. Every time I visit another church that is partnering with Compassion I am amazed at the change it is making in the lives of the most vulnerable members of our world, children.

If you’d like to make a difference in the lives of children who desperately need your support, simply visit my fundraising page.

I can assure you that your money will be well spent in releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

For the 14th consecutive year, Compassion International has earned the highest rating for U.S. charities from Charity Navigator—the nation’s largest charity evaluator. The 4-out-of-4 stars rating places Compassion International in the top one-percent of non-profits reviewed by Charity Navigator.

Let me thank you in anticipation of your support for children in poverty.



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Typhoon Haiyan and Compassion Australia

compassiontyphoon

As most of us know, one of the strongest tropical cyclones on record hit the Philippines on Friday. Typhoon Haiyan has pounded the central areas of the Philippines with heavy rains, flooding, and strong winds.

Electricity and communications are out across several major cities making rescue and aid efforts even more difficult.

One of the agencies already working in the affected area is Compassion.

I spoke on the phone to Compassion Australia Communications Manager, Amy Lanham this morning about what’s happening. While it’s difficult for them to get a full picture of the situation they have had some promising preliminary reports about those involved in the hundreds of Compassion projects in the affected areas..

You can hear my chat with Amy by clicking on the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

Compassion is taking donations to help those in the Philippines. Donations will make a difference across a number of areas.

Donating to the Disaster Relief Fund will provide urgent relief for typhoon victims. Any money raised above the need will bring immediate aid to Compassion assisted children affected by future disasters.

When you donate to the Disaster Relief Fund, you help Compassion provide vital assistance that helps restore families of Compassion-assisted children decimated by disaster. Your support helps to provide:

* Emergency food and water
* Temporary shelters (tarps, tents etc)
* Child-safe zones/reunion areas
* Emergency medical care
* Personal items (toiletries, nappies, clothes, bedding, stoves etc)
* Basic sanitation
* Cooking utensils
* Trauma counselling
* Spiritual support
* School supplies

Please pray for the children, families, staff and churches that are suffering at this time.

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
— Acts 20:35 (NIV)



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Australia’s Commitment to Foreign Aid

Both major political parties in Australia have promised to help lift more people, particularly children, out of poverty by increasing Australia’s foreign aid program to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income by 2015. At the moment it’s just 0.35 per cent.

However, over the last few weeks, various statements by Prime Minister Gillard and news reports have suggested that this commitment may be postponed. With over a billion people still living in poverty and 21,000 children still dying every day, Compassion Australia is just one of the aid agencies calling on the government to keep their promise. Their Executive Director of Advocacy, DJ Konz, joined me on my Morning Cafe radio program to discuss the issue this week.

We all know that when we have to tighten our financial belts at home we have to decide what’s essential and what extras we can live without. The Australian government’s in a similar position as they try to bring the budget back in to surplus. I asked DJ why it’s essential for Australia that we keep sending money overseas.



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A wonderfully woolly story

You really must read this post.



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