Contributed by Laura Walls in Ideas for your Ministry, You're New. What's Next, 1:1 Wonders, and Meet Other CAs "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." - Psalm 32:23 NLT It's amazing how God can use small things to move our hearts in big and unexpected ways. For Child Ambassador Rachel Royster, God used a tiny forget-me-not flower to take her life in a whole new direction while bringing transformation to many children's lives through sponsorship. In 2014, Rachel visited Alaska with her grandmother and began looking for a special way to remember the trip. She knew the state flower of Alaska is the forget-me-not and she started looking for a forget-me-not ring. She found just what she was looking for online and learned the ring was made in Armenia, a country she knew very little about. Rachel was curious. What did the forget-me-not flower have to do with a country in eastern Europe? What Rachel found moved her to tears. In 1915, a genocide happened in Armenia and 1.5 million Armenians were killed. Rachel was stunned. How could generations grow up without learning about the Armenian genocide? How could so many lives lost be forgotten? Rachel determined not to forget and started looking for ways she could help Armenia and get to know an Armenian child through sponsorship. Through her research, Rachel found World Vision. As she looked on the World Vision website, she found herself drawn to a little boy named Roman who touched her heart with his sad eyes. After sponsoring Roman, Rachel really wanted to do more. First, she started talking to a good friend about sponsoring a child named Arman and then, when her friend didn't sponsor, Rachel decided to sponsor Arman herself! Working at her family's coffee shop, Rachel didn't have a large income but she did have a creative idea. She realized that, because she is paid weekly, she could take one monthly sponsorship payment from each check, enabling her to sponsor two more Armenian children - a girl named Anahit and a boy named Sos (pronounced Sose) but she still longed to do more. Not long after her fourth sponsorship, Rachel received an email about becoming a volunteer Child Ambassador with World Vision, followed by a call. Rachel was excited, "This is something I can do." But just to confirm her plans, she reached out to a friend. "I told them I was thinking about signing up to be a Child Ambassador and, if I did, would they sponsor?" When her friend said yes, Rachel made it official, becoming a member of the Child Ambassador team in July of 2018. Just 6 months later, Rachel has connected 14 children to sponsors! How does Rachel do it? 1) Pray. Rachel shares that it all starts with prayer. "Pray that you will be led to the right person. Pray that the Lord will give you the right words to say." 2) Make a list. Next Rachel made a list of people she thought might be interested in sponsorship. She added personal notes beside each name, writing down things like how many children they have in their family or previous countries where they've traveled. She uses these notes to order picture folders with that person in mind. For example, she might order a picture folder of a girl from India for someone who's traveled there. 3) Reach out. After that, Rachel began to go down her list. She messaged and emailed people and let them know, "I’m volunteering with World Vision now and thought you might be interested in this. Then I ask them if they want to meet up." 4) Prepare. Rachel has some tips for the meeting. "Be kind of prepared. Think about the things you would want to know if you were sponsoring, so you have some things in mind to say. " 5) Consider putting together a sponsorship portfolio. Rachel put her letters and pictures from her sponsored children in a binder to share her story of sponsorship. "Through the book, people get to see that you mean something to the children." For example, "People really like seeing where Roman writes that 'they light a candle in church' for me and my family." In her binder, Rachel has sections for each child with their name and profile. She makes copies of two of their letters, highlighting the areas that are especially meaningful - like when Anahit wrote that she wants to meet Rachel and the letter from Arman's grandmother, thanking Rachel for being their friend. She includes a photo page of each one growing up. She also shows the itemized list and photo from when she's given special gifts, as she knows this helps answer the question, "How do I know the money goes to the child?" 6) Briefly explain and invite. Rachel then explains how World Vision's sponsorship model works and invites them to sponsor a particular child that she feels led to talk about. 7) Thank them for meeting. Whether they sponsor or not, Rachel always thanks them for their time and tells them she appreciates them. What about when people say no? It hasn't always been easy. Rachel has heard a lot of "no," too. Some people already sponsor, others reply that they're involved with other charities, and some people simply don't respond to her message at all, even though she can see they read it. "That can feel a little sad." Rachel openly shares. "It’s really easy to get disappointed when people say no. Some people I was almost positive would say yes, said no." How does Rachel handle the disappointment? "It's important to pray about things and try not to take on too much responsibility. It’s easy to feel like it’s all my responsibility but God loves these children and they will be taken care of. I just have to be willing to speak about it. If you will talk to people as you feel led, then you’ve done your part and God will take care of the rest of it." But Rachel has also experienced some happy surprises. "It’s really been cool to see people sponsor that I didn’t think would be interested!" But though she feels nervous and uncertain of herself at times, she's also learned that overall, people are interested and no one has ever been rude or upset with her for asking about it. Rachel reminds herself, "God wants these kids sponsored. It’s so much more important to him. I just need to get out there and do it." A Look at Rachel's Sponsorship PortfolioCreating a portfolio specifically to share sponsorship can be a great way to share with people about the beauty of sponsorship! Here's a look at how Rachel put her portfolio together. Contributed by Laura Walls with Melodee Miller Melodee Miller is filled with a beautiful, joyful grace and her cheerful kindness is contagious! She cares about people, especially children, and makes those around her feel valued and loved. She's such a special part of the Child Ambassador team! Melodee lives in Washington with her husband and four children. This year, she ran a half marathon with a special goal - for every mile she ran, she linked a child with a sponsor. This creative idea caught fire and inspired her friends and family across the country! I hope that as you hear her share her story, you're inspired to see that you don't need a particular set of talents as a child ambassador. Just follow God's lead and be open to Him guiding you in ways you never expected! Mel, did you ever think that you'd run 13 miles? Ha! No! I have never been athletic in my life! I’ve always been the artsy theater and choir girl. This was completely new for me! What motivated you to do the half marathon and link it to sponsorship? Getting to the point of doing the half marathon was definitely a journey for me. As I said before, I’ve never been the athletic type. Over the last couple of years though, I’ve been trying to work on being healthy and living a healthy life. One, I want to be that example for my kids and two, I want to take care of the one body God gave me. I had been working out somewhat consistently when I met people who run for Team World Vision. I was really inspired by them and their training for half marathons to raise money for clean water. I wanted to try to see if I could train for a half marathon too. It was partly for me just to see if I could do it, but I didn’t want it just to be about me. I wanted to align it with something. I thought about raising money for clean water or anti-human trafficking. Then it hit me to do what I’m already doing as a child ambassador, asking people to sponsor! That takes care of clean water, anti-human-trafficking and more! I was so excited to be running for children all around the world! What steps did you take to achieve that goal? I followed the Team World Vision training plan they have laid out on their website. It worked great! It also helped to have my husband join me. He kept me motivated and it was wonderful having a partner to train with! How did you enlist the support of family and friends? Was it hard? Honestly, it was all through Facebook! I was so hesitant to share what I was doing for so long because I still wasn’t sure if I could really do it. Finally, about 3 weeks before I ran the half I decided to announce what I was doing on a Facebook live video. I got such a great response that I kept making videos (I even convinced my husband to do a couple with me) and people came out of the woodwork to sponsor kids! It was awesome! How was the run itself? So good! I didn’t die!! Ha!! Seriously though, it was a really special run. I had taken one of my old World Vision t-shirts and wrote every name of who sponsored inside a heart with the name of the child they sponsored. I did that for anyone who also became a Refugee Responder. I wore the shirt for the run. At every mile my husband and I prayed for the sponsor and the sponsored child. It made the run go by really fast and I felt so connected to every name written on my shirt. It really was so special! What were the results? My hope in the beginning was to have 13 kids sponsored, one for each mile I was running, and 1 Refugee Responder as the cherry on top for the .1 mile of the 1/2 marathon. In the end, 15 kids were sponsored and 3 people signed up as refugee responders!! God is awesome!! What would you tell others who might be considering trying something similar? Or those who think they could never run that far? Go for it! If I can do it, the one who has never been athletic, then you can do it too! If it’s something that God is laying on your heart to do, then God will give you all you need to make it happen! Do you have any tips for CAs who are trying to find their niche in this ministry? I think one of the most beautiful things about being a CA is that you can completely tailor your ministry to your life style and personality. There is no one right way to be a CA. Seek God and see where the Spirit leads you. I fully believe that if you honor God with your gifts and talents in this ministry then God will bless it and bring people to sponsor those kids! And be open to God doing something new in your life that will bring you down a path you never thought you would see yourself doing, like running a half-marathon! Update!!! Mel is running another race for sponsorship on June 10th and needs our prayers and encouragement! Head over to the CA Facebook page and cheer her on!!! Contributed by Laura Walls in Ideas for your Ministry
We were bumping along a dirt road in rural Africa last year, talking about the inspiring people we've met on Vision Trips when Megan had a huge brainstorm. "You, know, we've heard so many incredible stories on the last three Vision Trips - and from three different regions of the world. Wouldn't it be amazing if there was a way to create a resource for CAs so they could share these stories at home? Cambodia could represent Asia, Nicaragua could represent Latin America, and Rwanda could represent Africa. Really, we already have all the stories we'd need to create it!" She looked at me and did that thing she does when she's had an idea spark. It's this quick gesture like she's bookmarking a thought to save it for later. And I'm pretty sure that's what she did because a few weeks later, I got a call with this idea and a proposition. Would I be willing to take my notes and some of the pictures from the last three Vision Trips and turn them into a Global Dinners resource based on regions? There would be invitations, recipes, and a script - really everything a Child Ambassador could need to make it easy. Like an event in a box! It was one of those "Am I dreaming?" moments. Would I be willing to help create a World Vision Experience for our team? Ummm, YES! Like a million times over, YES!!!! But later, as I started working on the project, reality set in. I kept picturing World Vision CEO, Rich Stearns, at one of the Child Ambassador conferences teasing, "We're the people who don't get invited back to dinner," because as World Vision staff and volunteers, we inevitably end up talking about people living in abject poverty and asking them to sponsor a child! I was like, "Oh my goodness. How on earth am I going to create a Global Dinner resource that people will actually WANT to host?!! It needs to be fun, light, and interactive but it also needs to talk about hard things. How is that going to work?" So I researched Experiential Dinners, Mystery Dinners, and Experiential Events looking for tips and ideas. And I lost a lot of sleep praying desperate, middle-of-the-night prayers for the Lord to give me wisdom and creativity! One particular weekend, I also called all of my prayer warrior friends and family and asked them to pray, too, and that was the weekend that the idea really fell into place. (Drumroll, please!) What if we could make the dinner itself, like a Vision Trip?! You see, Vision Trips are so transformative - you come away from them overflowing with hope and joy!!! What if we could bottle up that experience and give it to Child Ambassadors and their guests?? And with that thought, the details began to fall into place. As the host for the dinner, each Child Ambassador will act as a "guide" to the country and take their guests to "visit the field" by having guests read Story Cards aloud after dinner. (For example, a guest will read, "Your name is Seraphine. You are 28 years old. You have three children - Claudine, who is five years old; Vincent, who is four years old; and Jean Claude, your dear baby, who is just 7 months old. You moved to this area recently and you are a stranger here…") Each Story Card is the true story of a person we met in the field on a Vision Trip. And the best part ( and I think maybe one of my favorite parts) is that the Experience Global Dinners incorporate one of the things I read was most important about any experiential event - space for people to think and consider what they've learned. It happens like this: There are four story cards, with the most memorable stories we've heard on trips - the last one being the story of a child. After one of your guests reads the second-person story of a child ("You are Jean Marie…"), you, as the host, will loop the whole experience together by explaining that child sponsorship is the key to all of the transformation and hope that they've heard. You'll then give a very gentle, inspiring, but pressure-free invitation to sponsor a child and leave the room to go get dessert ready. Yep. Leaving the room at that point is the secret and a key to the evening. You see, they need space to think, consider, read picture folders, and pray. And you have a super valid reason to leave - dessert needs to be served. (Yay, dessert!) It also keeps the evening from feeling pressure-filled or awkward (thereby avoiding that worry we all have - that we'll be stuck standing there, staring at our guests with an intense, questioning gaze after asking them to sponsor a child. Cringe). When you come back into the room, you will ask them if they have any questions and then let them know that dessert is ready. Hurray! There will be a celebration of sponsorship with dessert and/or a celebration of friendship and the seeds that were planted through your effort and faithfulness in sharing! Either way, you will have made some fun memories with your guests, heard some inspiring stories, and learned a lot about whatever country you selected! Frequently Asked Questions How do I get order a kit? Go to volunteers.worldvision.org and click on the "supplies" tab. Scroll down to the bottom to the "materials" drop-down box and select a kit. You can choose from Cambodia, Nicaragua, or Rwanda. All three dinners are similar in format but the stories are different and unique to the countries and cultures of each. Please only order what you will use. If you have questions on the stories in each, let me know and I'd be happy to answer them! Also don't forget to order picture folders! The kits don't have picture folders so be sure to order those at least two weeks before your dinner. Also, did you know you can request picture folders from a particular country? For the dinners, try requesting picture folders from the country you've chosen for the dinner! Is this meant for a small group? You'll receive 12 invitations but you can make the group smaller or larger. The size of the group is up to you! Some Child Ambassadors are hoping to modify it to use it at their church and make the dinner a potluck, with guests bringing an ethnic dish to share! This seems like a really cool idea and I'm hoping to do that myself, once I get settled in from our cross-country move at the end of this month! Would I only invite those friends of mine who haven't already sponsored a child? This is a great question! I'd say invite a mix of both, if you like! People who already sponsor can share their stories of sponsorship which might encourage other guests to sponsor, too! Plus, current sponsors will be encouraged when they learn how FAR their sponsorship dollars go and might even consider sponsoring another child! Will guests arrive knowing what the dinner is about? The invitation was designed to look like a boarding pass and has the World Vision logo. It invites the guest to "Escape the Ordinary" and "experience the food, culture, and stories" of the country you choose. (You can choose Rwanda, Cambodia, or Nicaragua). So they'll know in advance that this is about World Vision but whether they sponsor or not, they'll enjoy an interesting and fun night! Do I have to follow the script? The script is only there as a guide to help you - you're free to personalize your experience to your guests. The only part I'd recommend following a little more closely is the part with the Story Cards that takes place after dinner. There is a script that you will read in between each card that will explain important context for the stories. This will lead into the invitation to sponsor. What if I don't like to cook? There's always takeout! You'll likely be able to find takeout from a restaurant that serves food from the region or consider turning it into a fun group effort and ask guests to bring a dish to share from that region, as well! What if my guests don't like ethnic food? You could serve just one ethnic item and keep the rest familiar if you or if your guests aren't adventurous eaters. Any other suggestions? The only other thing I'd suggest is mailing a thank you note to your guests following your dinner. It would be really sweet to thank them for taking an evening out to be part of your Experience Dinner, for sponsoring a child (if they did), and that you enjoyed having them! Update: Since the time of this interview, Melodee Miller and her family are living out a great, new adventure! For the next ten months, they're traveling across the United States in an RV and taking time to build memories as a family and experience new places and friendships along the way! You can read about their adventures on their personal blog: milleradventure.blog/ Welcome to the blog, Melodee! Tell us a little about yourself! I live in Shoreline, WA. It’s just north of Seattle. I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve been married to my husband, Josh, for over 13 years. We have 4 kids, Caleb (11), Lydia (9), Asher (7), and Eva (5). I’m (mostly) a stay at home mom. My husband runs his own electrical company. We are very blessed to be able to have me stay home and not have to work. That being said, I do work part time with a local non-profit theatre group called Dandylyon Drama. We work in the local schools running after school theatre programs. I direct the school musical once a year at my kids school. It’s a lot of fun and a great way for me to get my creative outlet while getting to have a positive impact in kids lives that live in my community. How did God lead you to the Child Ambassador team? I’ve always had a heart for children and missions. When my youngest was a year old I was really crying out to God wanting to do more but not sure what I could do with 4 young kids. We were already sponsoring our little boy, Mubarek, in Ethiopia at the time. Then a postcard came in the mail asking for people to join the Child Ambassador Team. It was as if the heavens parted and God spoke. I knew this is what God had for me to be a part of even while in the midst of raising my kids. What are some of the ways that you've shared about sponsorship? I mostly share one on one with people or on Facebook. I have had a table at my church a couple times too. You've shared quite often at tables at the Farmer's Market. Do you have any favorite stories about ways the Lord worked and/or connections made? I love having a table at the local Farmers Market! I’ve had a few people sponsor at the market but it’s mostly a time of getting people familiar with who WV is and planting the seeds for sponsorship. I’ve had wonderful conversations with people not only from the community but with people from all over the world who have come to live in the Seattle area. One of my favorite stories is from the opening day at this last summer’s market. This lady was snapping pictures of her son’s booth across from mine. She was getting tired and saw I had chairs and asked to sit down. Of course I said yes and the instant she sat down she looked around my booth and said, “Oh! World Vision! Here all these other people are here to make money, my son included, and you’re here doing God’s work! Well sign me up!” I was so surprised! I asked her if she wanted to sponsor a child and she said yes and to just pick a child out for her. I was so excited to pick a little girl from Ethiopia that I had been praying for a sponsor for. The lady stayed for a while and I learned that her family were refugees from North Korea to South Korea when she was a little girl. Then when she moved to America with her husband he died while she was pregnant with their 3rd child. She kept saying how people in America just don’t get it and she was so happy to help others struggling around the world. I was in complete awe with how God orchestrated that whole interaction! How do you engage someone walking by your table? We (anyone who is a vendor) can’t call out to people as they go by. We just have to wait for people to come to us. So I try to make my booth look as inviting as possible with chairs and colorful displays. I have a table set up with coloring pictures and crayons. I have a little basket of candy from around the world too. I make sure to stand near the front of my booth, not behind anything, and smile and say hello to people as they walk by. Sometimes people come over to check out my booth and sometimes people just keep on walking. I pray a lot as I’m standing there for God to bring the people He wants me to talk to. As for tips for sharing in that setting, I’d say have your “elevator speech” down. Also listen for ways to engage with the person your speaking to based on what they share with you. Ask them questions and show you’re genuinely interested in them as a person and not just as a potential donor. They need to know they’re valued just as much as the children you are trying to get sponsored. Thanks so much for sharing with us, Mel!!! We are all so excited for you and your family as you step out into your newest adventure. May God grant you and your family His abiding peace, joy, and love as you develop new friendships and discover new landscapes. Contributed by Paula Hemphill in Ideas for your Ministry Did you know that October 11th is International Day of the Girl, friends? It is! And I have a fun suggestion for how you can celebrate this year. A few years ago, CNN released an absolutely beautiful, well made, high-dollar documentary called Girl Rising. I had the honor of hosting a showing of this film in Nashville-- while other CAs around the country were also able to do the same in their cities. It was amazing to see how God worked to bring this film to the big screen across the nation-- educating and empowering our countrymen to help be the change we wish to see in the world. So, for International Day of the Girl, throw a movie night party! Invite friends to your house and show it. Rent out a room at your local library. Ask your church if you can host a film night. Depending on your locale you could make snacks or set up a concession stand with all proceeds going to benefit girls growing up in developing countries. Don't forget to take a few minutes at the beginning and the end to share about World Vision, sponsorship, and how we can all make a difference for girls around the world. Here's a checklist to help you get started in your planning!
Girl Rising Movie Night – cheat sheet
Contributed by Celeste Sherman and edited by Laura Walls in Ideas for your Ministry 3 years ago, we decided that our ministries, due to Stu’s physical condition with ALS, needed to be honed down. We were youth leaders, church chair, missions chair, church board, Child Ambassadors and also new to the Leadership Team. Our criteria for what needed to be stripped away was -- anything we did MUST be KINGDOM work. Which is why we now entirely focus our service to World Vision. Sharing our hearts for the Syrian people and allowing God’s people to respond by becoming Refugee Responders IS building the KINGDOM. We are so very blessed that God allows us to do that. And we will continue to speak for the least of these, as long as He gives us strength and voice. Child Ambassadors have focused on many targeted campaigns over the past years: clean water, education, child protection, the ‘margins’, and now the refugee crisis. I confess, some of these have had a greater impact on me and have allowed my husband, Stu, and I to share with more passion. One in particular, was child protection. As a mom and dad of two beautiful girls, I cannot imagine what parents go through when their daughter is stolen from them. We shared passionately, from the heart, and people responded. The refugee crisis has a similar impact on us. We've been moved to respond for the following reasons: We believe children should be carefree! I’m a teacher: a teacher who LOVES summer. I spend many summer days hanging out at the beach. I love people watching, but the people I love watching the most are the kids, perhaps, because they love summer as much as I do! I love watching them play chicken with the waves, build sand castles with their dads, chase seagulls and then scream with delight. There is no crying at the beach. Children should always have that carefree existence. So, when I watch videos of children…. babies, telling about the horrors of war that they themselves witnessed, it deeply touches me. They talk about how they cry at night because they are scared of the sounds of planes. They miss their friends, their houses, and in some case their parents. No child should have to carry these burdens. Every child should be tucked in, given butterfly kisses, and float off to night filled with sweet dreams. We know what it's like to have life come to a grinding halt. We have a glimpse of what it is like to have your world turned upside down. 3 years ago, Stu was diagnosed with a terminal illness, ALS. We felt like we were sucker punched. Our world turned upside down. Then, God showed up. His peace and protection surrounded us. His people ministered to us. We were restored. 2 years later, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Based on past experience, we knew God and His people had our backs. Terminal is not a term we use anymore. God gave us hope and a future, and we are convinced that these infirmities that He allowed in our lives, make us more sensitive to the difficulties of those around us. For example, normally a car breakdown would cause much stress. Our car broke down on the way home from my first 5 hour-long chemo infusion. I laughed as I told my daughter that upon calling AAA I played the cancer card and said we needed a tow truck right away. Her reply, “as if a guy with a walker and a service dog isn’t pathetic enough!” Compared to some of the other serious issues with our health we faced, a broke down car was pretty minor. I’m sure the Syrian’s would long for the day to have a deadline on a work report, or a flat tire, or having to meet payment for the monthly the bills. We have an idea of what it’s like to have your world come to a screeching halt. We also know what God’s peace and provision does to take away that mindset and give hope for a future. I want my Syrian friends to know that same peace and hope when God shows up and His people respond. We want the love of God to be known. Very dear friends of ours are missionaries to the Muslims. We are in awe as they share with us God’s working to draw the Muslims unto Himself. Henry Blackabee says: ‘He (God) wants to demonstrate His nature, His strength, His provision, and His kindness to His people and a watching world. This is the only way the world will come to know Him.’ We want to see God be glorified through World Vision as these workers assist these precious people: to those Christians, many who have faced severe persecution and to the Muslims, as God makes Himself known to them. Our missionary friends tell us of the many who are coming to know Jesus, even in secret. We will be surprised, one day, when it is the Muslim-background Believers who will make up the Majority Church. We want to be part of that movement. The church needs to be a part of that movement. It is our job to let them know what can be done! And that, my fellow CA’s, is why we ALL do what we do with passion and excellence. Speak you heart, find YOUR passion, let the world know and watch God work. Would you like to host a Refugee Sunday at a church in your area? Here are 4 steps to get started! 1. Watch some of the videos below, read some current articles like this one recently written by World Vision's president Rich Stearns, and pray that the Lord would break your heart for what breaks his. 2. Visit volunteers.worldvision.org and click on the "resources" tab. Look for the "Refugee Response Initiative." On this page, you'll find TONS of videos, articles, talks, email templates to send churches, a powerpoint, and virtually all you need to host your own Refugee Sunday! 3. You can order Refugee Responder folders on the "supplies" tab of the volunteers site or order a Refugee Sunday kit. (Enter your CA Source Code under "Role at Your Church.") 4. Research the churches in your area. Hop online and read their mission statements and the ministries they're involved in. Pick one of the churches to go to and visit on a Sunday and then take a minute to introduce yourself to the pastor. Let him know that you're a child ambassador with World Vision and that you are working with area churches to host Refugee Sunday (and/or Hope Sunday sponsorship) events. Ask him if you could send an email that explains more and then follow that email up with a request to meet for a few minutes sometime. Be sure to keep your CA Leadership Team member informed of your plans so they can help you along the way and pray for you!!! Contributed by Laura Walls in Meet Other CAs and Ideas for your Ministry I heard Vicki speak at my first Child Ambassador conference nearly eight years ago. In my mind, she was legendary for getting about 100 children sponsored each year! At the conference, Vicki shared her "30 second spiel" - a quick overview she gives to potential sponsors about World Vision's work. Hearing her, my jaw dropped. In a friendly, engaging, and unbelievably fast way, she summarized the key points of World Vision's work in under a minute. She went on to explain that she looks for sponsors wherever she goes - even the grocery store! Today, Vicki continues to inspire me and I'm so grateful I've had the chance to know her as a both a co-laboring child ambassador and as a dear friend! I believe her journey as a child ambassador will be an inspiration to many as we take intentional steps of faith to be bold in sharing sponsorship! About thirteen years ago, Vicki Casper was filled with a longing to do something more for others. "I believe everyone needs love and care and I really love children. God has always provided for me so how could I not help others to have what they need, too?" Already a child sponsor, she was looking through her World Vision magazine when she saw it - the very first advertisement for the new volunteer Child Ambassador program. Immediately, she knew this was exactly what she was looking for and was filled with joy! But her first couple of years as a child ambassador were more challenging then Vicki expected. "I remember going to my first conference and we were all talking and just surprised at how hard it was to find sponsors. We thought it would be easier." But early on, she realized something. "I realized that it even though it was hard, if you just keep asking, you will find sponsors." And with every sponsorship, came encouragement. Her first sponsors were her new neighbors. "A young couple moved in across the street. They didn’t have much money but they were my first sponsors and seeing how willing they were to help, even though they didn't have a lot... I was so encouraged." Vicki wants all child ambassadors to experience the joy of finding a sponsor for a child. "You don't have to find sponsors for that many kids each year... I'm really encouraged by just finding sponsors, one by one. The sponsors are so happy about it and God gives you this joy, too, because you’re doing something he wants you to do." Pivotal to her success in finding sponsors is discipline. "I’m really disciplined. I don’t always have a lot of time but when I go home, I make a list of people I can connect with and places to share. I think of these connections in my regular life. I've left picture folders on the kitchen counter and sometimes my kids’ friends have brought one home and sponsored. I’ve left picture folders on the table beside me at a restaurant and a waitress once sponsored three, right there.' Look for the smaller ways to share, the everyday things that happen in communities - like restaurants, your hairdresser, places you walk by every day - whatever you’re doing, wherever you are, talk about sponsorship. "I make sure that I'm always thinking of someone to approach for sponsorship or that I have an event I'm planning for. And I write my list. It might take a while but I work through that list. I don’t let up on it. We need to be disciplined in doing this work. This is for Jesus. And this is such an important work! I look for sponsors every day. All the time. I may not ask someone every day but I think about it every day. And I walk and pray about it every day. We really need to pray about this ministry and keep it in the forefront of our minds. It is a ministry. We need God to help us and we need to be in prayer in it." Being brave is also key. "Sometimes, God just tells me, go up and ask that person to sponsor a child. It’s about losing the fear. I think that’s the main problem with all of us – we’re afraid. But we need to ask and ask and ask because you just never know. I've seen moms who are on the street. They aren't afraid to ask for something for their children and we shouldn’t be afraid to ask, either, because these kids need us. Vicki has so much practical experience to offer child ambassadors and has put together a great resource! In it, you'll find wonderful tips for making this ministry a doable part of your daily routine! Click below to download, "Everyday Sponsorship." compiled/edited by Paula Hemphill in Meet Other CAs By now you've probably heard about our special campaign for this month: Ask August, where each day in the month of August, you do one thing for your World Vision ministry. If you're anything like me, this challenge is absolutely terrifying and one you may not want to participate in, but the one consistent thing for every CA in this ministry is that this work takes all of us out of our comfort zones and makes us do some things that we might think are crazy. But that doesn't mean that stepping out into the challenge isn't scary. It is. And I find that the best way to combat fear is to sit down with my friends and talk about it. So, today I'd like to share with you the hearts of some of my friends. Here is some advice to keep you asking throughout August-- even when the going gets tough! In this work-- even when I hear no after no-- I'm reminded of the scripture that says that we "have not, because we ask not." That's pretty simple. God is alive and well, He wants to move in His creation, but He wants us to be a part of it; He want us to be involved. He enjoys when we are involved in His wonderful works. With this in mind, He likes it when we ask for things that are close to His heart. The foreigner is very close to his heart. Leviticus 19:34 commands us to "treat [foreigners] as [our] native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." Not to get too deep in this, but fast forward to today's Christian. We were foreigners in the land of captivity (Egypt), captive to sin, but we have been brought out of darkness and into His marvelous light," so now we have a responsibility to treat others, who are still foreigners as well as we would treat ourselves. We are compelled to move according to the Biblical command. In a more practical sense: How do I keep going after someone says no? Easy. Every no, puts you one step closer to a yes. Babe Ruth, the home run king was also a leader in strikeouts. Those who strike out the most, can also have the potential to score the most. Be ok with striking out. If you're fearful, I think 1 Peter 5:7 says it pretty well. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." The second suggestion is a bit more practical. Prepare. Know what you want to say and have it ready to go at any moment. Just start. Start with what you are most comfortable and then work up to things that are a bit more "difficult." You will notice that as you continue, your confidence will grow, and before you know it, you'll be doing things that you never dreamed of. But you have to start. Be nice to yourself. Within any challenge the hardest critic is always yourself. Don't be so hard on yourself if you don't hit a daily task, or make connections, or setup special services. Just keep going. If you forgot to do something, don't fret, just pick up where you left off. Remember, God loves you and cares for you. - Javy Diaz (pictured left) You might not know how to start these daily asks/conversations. I don't either, so I blame it on World Vision, CA’s! I say, "Hey, I have been challenged this month to make one ask a day, and you are lucky enough to be that ask. Would you just hear what I have to say? No obligation.” You might not feel like you know enough to make daily asks, but that's ok! Every time I share, I have to prepare myself with information. Looking for the stories of refugee children, learning more about the situation people are living in, learning to be a good resource for people who are seeking answers. This is always a growing experience for me….like the Grinch, my heart grows 3 extra sizes. If you're afraid, remember you are not advocating for yourself. You are speaking on behalf of a forgotten group of people. Share your heart and your passion. Make it personal. What would you do if your sisters or brothers were forced from their home? Wouldn’t the church, your friends, neighbors all work together to help? People want to help, but don’t know what to do. World Vision responds to the need and uses our resources in the most effective way possible. Don’t be shy about telling all the good that World Vision is doing in the refugee camps (child safe zones, counseling, schooling). I talked to my friend today and shared about this video I saw last night (children of war, i think?), where the little boy who’s parents were killed, said: i love my parents and they USED to love me. If that doesn’t break your heart….. Remember that if you're hearing no a lot eventually, there will be a yes. It is not my job to get people to do this. It is my job to inform and ask. God does the rest. When we take the pressure off ourselves to GET a sponsorship or an Refugee Responder our job becomes easier. I like to say that getting sponsorships is not in my job description. Asking is. Ask August is a challenge. Make it a fun challenge and not a burden. Wear a key around your neck. maybe people will ask YOU! Remember, it's okay for people to say no. - Celeste Sherman Contributed by Wendy Hemphill and Shannon Legler, edited by Katherine Jones in Ideas for your Ministry As Child Ambassadors, we want to seek out every opportunity to encourage, teach, team-build, and increase our networks of compassionate souls. One very practical way we can accomplish all of these things is by a hosting a party for writing letters to our sponsored children. The benefits are multiple. For the kids, it means blessing them with a tangible expression of their sponsor’s love and care. For sponsors, it means allowing them a guided opportunity to connect with their kids, which in turn expands their sense of purpose. There’s a communal benefit as well as sponsors share their stories, bringing them into the bigger picture of child sponsorship, while also offering them a time of genuine fellowship.
Interested in hosting a letter-writing party of your own? Here’s how: First, determine the date, time, and place. Most CAs invite sponsors to their home, but you can do it anywhere that works for you: at your church, community center, or local library—wherever suits your purposes best. Next, send your invitations. Be sure to include the 5Ws: Who, What, Where, Why, & When. Facebook or group-email invitations are fine, but personal invitations go a long way, whether they’re by individual email, phone call, or handwritten note. Request RSVPs so that you may better prepare for the event. For the party itself, experienced CAs suggest that you keep it casual, and always offer some light refreshment—snacks, coffee, tea. Ahead of time, you may want to ask a few sponsors to be prepared to tell their sponsorship story, which helps to build a true fellowship among sponsors. After you’ve hosted your first party, start planning the next one! Every-other month works for many CAs and their sponsors. Try not to be discouraged if attendance is low, or nil. It happens, but you can still benefit yourself by using the time set aside to correspond with your own sponsored kids. But what to put in those letters? This is a question that stumps even seasoned CAs and sponsors. Here are some ideas you can share with sponsors to make letter writing easier and more enjoyable for both writer and recipient. First, always keep your sponsored kids in your thoughts. This means getting into the habit of not only keeping them in your prayers, but looking at the world through a filter of what you can share with your kids. Turn a watchful eye on life and surroundings to find creative things to write about: the bird nesting above your door, a family get-together, your walk to work, or hanging out with your friends' pets—all of these can turn into treasure-troves of topics to write about. Pictures, pictures, pictures! Nothing connects kids to experiences like photos. Try snapping photos on your phone whenever anything catches your eye, so that you’ll have a nice stockpile to pick through when you write. If you dislike having your own picture taken, this may be just the thing to get you to come out of your shell a bit, because you know that kids love to receive pictures of their sponsors. Take a few selfies for a good cause—especially while holding pictures or letters they've sent to you! Think like a penpal. If you ever longed for a penpal as a child, think back and harness that feeling. Consider what you would have wanted to hear from your new friend in another part of the world and the sorts of things you would have wanted to see. And be reassured by how thrilling it is for a child to receive a letter from someone far away. Don't be shy or fret too much—hearing from you is exciting in itself! Keep it simple. There are a lot of big subjects or depthy thoughts that you might love to hear from your sponsored kids, but more often than not, anything that isn't phrased simply and clearly gets missed in translation. Keep phrases very simple and follow an easy line of thought, which in turn helps facilitate a more personal response. Be thoughtful with your questions. Asking questions is great! But tying them to other relevant topics is even better. Do more than just ask for random facts. Instead, try linking questions to facts you’ve shared about yourself, or about something else mentioned in your letter. For instance, when explaining that autumn here is a time for sharing stories and songs, you might ask if they have any favorite songs or stories of their own. "Time" is a good topic. This might be a little specific, but successful letter-writers have found it surprisingly effective. Talk about things that naturally show a progression of time. Not only does that help the kids link one letter to the next, but it helps the sponsor as well. Mention the changing weather, for instance, or update them on how those nesting birds above your door are doing, or take pictures of how the trees look at different times of the year, etc. This also helps to build upon the letters that came before, instead of each point of contact being its own isolated island. Differences are fascinating, but commonalities are meaningful. When coming up with things to write to about, try to search for ways in which your lives are similar and spin concepts in a way that kids might most identify with. Instead of talking about your vacation to Chicago for your sister's birthday, for instance, talk about traveling very far to visit family you haven't seen in a long time. Dig into the pictures, video, and information about your sponsored child's community for inspiration, and pay attention to their likes and hobbies. There are so many things our lives have in common—family, travel, celebrations, art, nature, music, dancing. And you’ll always find more when you think to look. Most importantly, relax and put your heart into it. Hearing from you at all, especially with regularity, will be enough to show your sponsored children that you care. As long as you keep your them in your thoughts and reach out to them in any way (even a postcard whenever you think about it), they will get the message. And the more you reach out to them, the more they'll come to know that they are truly a part of your life. Contributed by Laura Walls in Ideas for your Ministry Getting together with friends, your life/small group, or family to share a meal is a wonderful way to share your ministry as a child ambassador! By choosing a menu from a specific region of the world, you can invite others to experience the culture and flavors of faraway places and help them to identify with the children who live there.
Here are a few steps to get you started! 1. Choose your location. World Vision works in nearly 100 countries! Browse through their list and see which countries offer sponsorship or perhaps choose to have a Syrian meal and have a few Refugee Responder folders available. 2. Order your Picture Folders. Once you've selected a region, hop online to the volunteers site and order your picture folders or refugee responder folders. You can specify what country the children are from by typing your request in the box that says "notes." Allow at least two weeks for delivery. 3. Select your Menu. Now for the fun part! There are some fantastic resources online that will help you create a special feast for your guests. Following are just a few links to some great-tasting regional meals!
4. Write out your Invitations. Put your invitation list together and pick a date! Be sure to let people know that this meal will be a fun chance for you all to learn and experience another region together and that there will be an opportunity to help children from that region if anyone feels led. 5. Consider watching a film from your selected country or even make a craft! Try watching Journey to Jamaa (free to order from the volunteers site on the supplies page) or stream a foreign film from Netflix. It can be a great way to further immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of another country. If you're the crafty type or having a gathering that involves kids, consider making a craft from the country you've selected! There are tons of ideas out there - especially on Pinterest! 6. Prepare your heart and home. You've chosen your country, selected your meal and possibly an activity, now take some time to prepare your heart. Learn about the country's history and needs by searching on World Vision's country profiles. Take some time to pray for the children and families who live there and for the staff who serve them. Pray for your guests and for your time together. Once your heart is ready, put your shopping list together and purchase your groceries! 7. Open the Doors! It's the big day! Through prayer, your heart is ready, your food is prepared, and your guests are arriving! Enjoy this time of fellowship together and remember to be bold on behalf of the children we serve! Don't forget to invite them to sponsor a child or help refugee children. Even if they aren't able to make that commitment at this time, it may plant a seed for a later opportunity! Please share with us how it went. We'd love to hear your stories and see photos of your meal together!!! |
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