Where The Action Is!

Today was a great day. Actually, this whole weekend was pretty great by my standards which are pretty high. I guess greatness for some might mean getting to sleep in or getting a new car. Today I heard a man who, as a child, lived in a 10 foot by 10 slum shack with his mother and seven brothers and sisters. In Uganda some hold life in little value (his father had been shot and killed in front of his mother) and when you are poor -- really poor--and hungry -- really hungry you don't think much of yourself.

But at eight years old, a woman in the United Kingdom became his sponsor through Compassion International. This means that the woman sent $34 a month to make it possible for him to get food, medical attention and go to school. The woman also corresponded with him on a regular basis, letting him know that she loved him and prayed for him.

He grew in age, in knowledge and in faith. Because of Compassion International and a woman in England who he never met in person, he graduated high school. Then he qualified to go to college in Uganda under another Compassion Program. He graduated with a degree in accounting but his faith in God led him to seek a position in Christian Ministry as a youth pastor.

Not to stop there, he desired to be able to work with other pastors in Uganda, who had little formal education. He received a scholarship to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where he will study for two years and take his Masters Degree in Religious Studies back to Uganda.

About 2,700 people at RiverTree Christian Church heard this story about what the Compassion sponsorship did for a dirty, hungry little boy who had little expectation of living to adulthood and now speaks six languages and is about to get his Masters Degree. Before the message from the Ugandan, members of the Church already sponsored about 900 children in third world countries through Compassion. Now there are about 1,200 children sponsored by members of RiverTree Church. THAT'S ACTION!

Last night ChildReach Ministries, another organization to help children at risk, held it's 4th annual "Ball" at a local country club. We provided photography of the couples with all the proceeds going to ChildReach Ministries. The night was very gratifying in a year of bleak economic outlook. About 100 people attended the event.

The country club donated the space. A popular band provided the music (there is nothing like a live band at an event like that). The band donated it's services free too! Another man payed for all of the food served. An auction was held and things were bought. The things were all donated. My Rotary Club presented a check to help pay for the text books for a school in Ecuador that ChildReach runs.

This was a great weekend!

....except the Cleveland Cavs lost their first home game. There are probably those die hard fans who now think that this was a lousy weekend. They missed the real action.