Church-to-Church Partnership

Earlier this year, New Covenant began a "church-to-church" (C2C) partnership through Compassion International with a church in India. One of the key reasons we enthusiastically jumped at the chance to enter into this partnership is because we are partnering with a local church to empower them to do prayer care, and share in their community.

Here is a great blog article that explains more of how this works: How Does Our Partnership With Local Churches Really Work?

Poverty in Perspective

I am amazed at how our church stepped up and sponsored over 155 children with Compassion. What a great demonstration of the global care.

I realize there are plenty in need here in our own backyard. But this article puts the difference into perspective:

Here at home, poverty is a single mom in Detroit trying to keep food on the table. In Africa, poverty is a 14-year-old orphaned head-of-household trying to find fresh water for himself and his siblings. The challenge isn't to choose one over the other. The task is to view two harsh realities through a common lens of compassion and assistance.

read more...

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Want to make a real difference in advancing God’s Kingdom to overcome poverty? Consider becoming involved with a global care opportunity by supporting a Compassion Leadership Development Program (LDP) Student. This program gives specially selected Compassion sponsored children the opportunity to attend a university and be participants rather than bystanders. Their education includes a full college curriculum, courses in Christian leadership training, and Compassion-taught seminars, workshops and retreats on the development of Christian character and leadership potential.

“LDP sponsors and donors are special instruments that the Lord uses to raise up godly leaders who will eventually break the cycle of poverty,” says Michelle, a LDP student. “You are unveiling the darkness that the enemy has placed over us by giving us dreams, hope and a future!”

Through the Leadership Development Program, hundreds of students like Michelle are energized, mentored and strengthened in their faith each year as they prepare for lives of leadership in their churches and communities. Drop by the Compassion table in the lobby this Sunday or go to their website to find out more.

Thank You!

Over the last month, Pastor Bob has led us on a journey as we considered God's Kingdom disrupted, restored, and advanced. He reminded us that one of the signs that the Kingdom of God is near is that the poor are given good news. As the Kingdom of God intersects the physical world, lives are changed and people are set free.

This last Sunday we threw out a challenge: We asked all of you at New Covenant to consider sponsoring one of 76 Compassion children at our India C2C partner church. In case we were able to find sponsors for all 76, we also had 120 packets for children at two nearby church development centers.

Your response was incredible. After the first service, we already had over 20 packets gone. By the last service, you sponsored 95 kids, including 73 of our partner church children (and the other three are claimed -- just need the forms to be completed). Your generosity is overwhelming. As a church, in one Sunday alone, we have committed to giving $43,320 a year to release children from poverty in Jesus' name. And we are not done yet.

This coming Sunday, we have 100 more Compassion children available to be sponsored. We also will be sharing two other ways you can get involved. So come on Sunday and learn how you can be a part of the Kingdom Unleashed!

Why We Are Offering Compassion Children to Sponsor in India

In the last few weeks, I have been asked a great question: Why sponsor a child from our Partner Church Compassion project in India? Why not suggest people go to the Compassion website and choose a child?

Of course, there are many needy children at Compassion projects in other parts of the world. And I would celebrate each and every one that is sponsored. I have been told by Compassion workers in India that our region is one of the poorest areas Compassion works anywhere in the world. But the most important reason is not the size of the need -- it is the relationship we are building with our partner church in India. They have added new children to their program, and we are being offered the first chance to sponsor as many as 76 of these children. What a wonderful and tangible way to show global care -- to reach out and link arms with our partner church to release a child from poverty in Jesus' name.

Regardless of whether you sponsor a child or not, please join me in praying that we can find a sponsor for each and every child at our partner site. In fact, if we do, we have another 100 packets of children who are equally needy in nearby Compassion projects. My prayer is that we sponsor at least 100 Compassion children in the coming weeks.

Here is a heart wrenching article about the female infanticide that still happens in India: http://blog.compassion.com/infanticide-in-india/.