Moving Together For Compassion
Video of Salvador “Jimmy” Melado, President of Compassion International
Single acts of compassion have eternal impact and have great potential for transformation… and we ought to consider that one of our goals as members in the body of Christ is the total transformation of a child; When we consider the cost (as in, “Count the cost before building a house”), we should not be surprised if we come to the proper conclusion that to nurture and care for a child with the ultimate goal of transformation requires much focus.
It’s been said that it takes a village to raise a child; but the village doesn’t contribute to anything without a leader… and we don’t need mere leadership; No, if we were to do the job right, if we were to reach out goals right for our children, then it’s STRONG leadership that’s needed.
We ought to realize that if our leadership WAS to be strong, it ought to be foundational – that is, grounded by principles or practices applicable to our homes, just as they would apply to our different neighbors across the world.
On the ride to Manila I came to the realization that the Gospel that we preach is not formulated by our own being and works, but as inspired as all Scripture is: inspired by the Holy Spirit, who breathes it into people from all walks of life and spanning millennia, spanning generations.
It is a Gospel that is as borderless as it is timeless. Infinite, as it is eternal. To that note, it should apply to us by way of bringing us together, in spite of our differences.
As such, it has been stressed: We. Must. Move. Together. Christ prayed for unity among other wonderful things, in John 17. And we’re brought to consider the choice of words – for we were not told to Plan. Together., not to Think. Together., but emphasis is that we, before anything else, move together.
Movement precedes methods. Or, we move, and figure out the methodologies later. But this does have its pitfalls as well, considering that the methodologies we may come up with aren’t for optimization, but for cutting corners.
Too many disasters have come from our short-sightedness, leading to cutting corners. Again, we’re reminded, that though the emphasis is in movement, the whole statement begins with ‘We’, and ends in ‘Together’. Movement may precede methods, but it’s unity that precedes movement…
… and what precedes this unity? Friends, if we are to call ourselves members of the body of CHRIST, then it is Christ, who is the embodiment of God’s Grace, the embodiment of the Gospel – it is CHRIST who brings us together first, and forever. Indeed, in Him we have been made, and in Him all things stay together (Colossians 1:17).
We come together realizing how clear we are on the non negotiables, or the things that will never change; and we already discussed the first thing. Jimmy says that we are, first and foremost, CHRIST CENTERED.
Second, we are to be CHILD FOCUSED. Consider that we follow Christ’s Great Commission most effectively by sharing the Great Commandment… to our children and the youth, first and foremost.
And if they know, receive and appreciate how God loves them with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and how they can love one another as Christ loves them, their own love for God (with their own heart, soul, mind and strength) and for themselves will follow suit.
But it’s not a mere sit down and sharing to them. Again, it takes strong leadership of an entire village… and more than words, it takes mentorship, interaction, and experience.
We’re really all about Child Transformation instead of mere Child Sponsorship. To that end, we meet people – and not just the children, but their parents, their communities – where they are. In our direct or indirect Gospel-fueled and Gospel-inspired leadership (involving mentorship, interaction and experience) we may very well be speaking that vital seed to that one child.
As Christ has transformed us, so we are able to foster transformation… and by the power of the Holy Spirit latched on to our own simple acts of love, we bring this transformation, not only to our households, but the future generations.
Additional items:
- Communicate the Gospel with your simple acts of love.
- Application will always precede knowledge, and not the other way around. Ptr. Walter Caput reminds, ‘Experience is the best teacher’.
- We disagree on our methods to remember our message.
- “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus name”? Ptr. Walter begs to differ: “Discipling children to transform themselves”. He continues in reflection: Pastors are practitioners more than mere motivational speakers. We rely on internal power (Power that Comes from Above, the Holy Spirit), versus external circumstances.
- Assets can become liabilities.
- We need to understand FIRST before we bring others to understand. Understand to be understood.
- Balance dynamics and mechanics
- Discipleship requires commitments… and simple acts of love are simple acts of commitment.
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#Bible #CompassionPh #Youth #Gospel #Inspiration #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #Christianity #PracticalChristianity #BenefitsOfSalvation #Reflections #Revelations
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