“Everyone Can Help One Child,” said Twila Paris.

Recently Twila, World Vision and a Korean Kids Choir held a worship/informational service at First Covenant Church.

The stories and visuals stood in stark contrast to my cush life. My poorest/deprived day is unimagined wealth to a majority of the world.

Especially to the children.

I can give up some “extras” in my life to help a child. A cup of designer coffee . . . a Thrifty’s ice cream cone . . . an item from McDonald’s Dollar menu . . . a pair of clearance shoes from Wal-Mart . . . a gas station car wash.

Below are four ways you can help a child.

World Vision Opportunities
Of course, the intent of this evening was to present the extreme needs of the world’s children with the hope some would be sponsored.

The cost? $30.00 a month.

Some of us spend that amount without thinking. If that is you, would you consider sponsoring a child through World Vision?

$0.87 of every dollar goes directly to the child.

That monthly $26.10 gives your child clean water, nutritious food, health care, educational opportunities and spiritual nurture. Check out their website to sign up and to see other aid opportunities.

CAMA Services Opportunites
Our church is affiliated with the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) denomination. We are known worldwide for our extensive missionary outreach programs. One arm of aid outreach is through CAMA services.

“CAMA” stands for Compassion and Mercy Associates. “Services” refers to a variety of relief and development ministries that flesh out the good news of God’s love for people—body and soul.

The CAMA services webpage has links to four areas of aid: relief services, medical services, CAMA crafts and priority projects. Each of these links lists ways you can help . . . with very few dollars in some cases. I.e. Under priority projects, “A gift of $15 a month provides needed supplies for an orphan.”

$15.00 is one afternoon at the movies.

Through CAMA your money can feed & clothe an orphan, provide a livelihood to a tsunami survivor, supply basic necessities (yes, still!) to a hurricane Katrina victim, dig pure wells and fit them with filters, or renovate a kindergarten in Israel.

You can be part of the emergency effort “to send food, blankets, mattresses and other relief supplies to Lebanese refugees who are streaming into [Beruit] communities.”

Your donation can be one time or ongoing. Whatever you and God decide.

Global Fellowship Opportunities
This non-profit organization supports and encourages 900+ missionaries & church planters worldwide in 14 countries around the world. The founders, Don & Kathy Oates have been involved in missions work for the past 20 years.

$50.00 a month pays for all the needs of a national church planter/evangelist.

Or you could help by supporting one child in one of the five orphanages in Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka. Or your money could go towards providing free health care for women and children. Go to the website for more opportunites.

Any dollar amount is helpful. A one time gift or ongoing.

100% of every dollar goes to the field. Don and Kathy take no salary for their work with Global Fellowship.

Operation Christmas Child thru Samaritan’s Purse
Each year our church participates in this program. Each November we strive to beat last year’s number of filled shoeboxes. It doesn’t have to cost a lot to fill a shoebox.

Kathy, our coordinator, says, “It’s our job to be good stewards of our money. The cost of filling one shoebox is a great investment.”“The blessing goes from the child upwards to the parents who often don’t have the financial means to give a gift to their child.

“For some children this is the first gift they’ve ever received.”

“Then the blessings go outwards to the community. And whole communities have been changed by one simple shoebox.”

Click here to get information or get a pamphlet from church in September.

THE POINT?
The point is everybody can help a child.

I did it. Won’t you prayerfully consider how much you can share?

Do you have any other ideas on how we can help a child in need?