The BIG idea about Compassion Sunday

Children are God’s blessing to the world. But poverty robs children of their childhood and takes away their future. One-third of our world’s children struggle just to survive. Millions suffer from hunger and disease, cannot attend school and are victims of neglect and abuse.

These circumstances force children to take on adult cares and responsibilities very early in life. Children trapped by poverty are among the most vulnerable—and the most at risk.

You can help your church respond to this injustice one child at a time by hosting a Compassion Sunday event.

God can use your church to share His deep love for children living in poverty—and to show how each of us can intervene in the life of at least one child.

Poverty is big. But God’s heart for the poor is bigger. This Compassion Sunday, churches across Australia will join in sharing His heart for children in poverty with their congregations through presentations, videos, worship and more.

Compassion Sunday will help you and your church:

• respond to the Bible’s call to help the poor
• engage practically and creatively with issues of poverty
• deepen prayer, worship and ministry
• spark a new sense of mission

Most of all, by encouraging your church family to pray and take action in this way, you’ll be giving more children living in extreme poverty a future and a hope—all through the intervention of Christ-centred, child-focused and church-based programs in their local communities.

Some potential outcomes for your church’s ministry, mission and worship will be:

Engaging with the Bible

Hosting a Compassion Sunday event is a way to lead your congregation into a deeper understanding of the Bible’s teachings regarding poverty and our mandate to care for those in need.

Changing lives

Reaching out to the poor in Jesus’ name can be a powerful catalyst for spiritual growth. Church members will be transformed as they begin to open their hearts to individual children.

Growing mission

Involvement can motivate prayer and renew enthusiasm for mission, deepen relationships and create a renewed sense of togetherness.

Inspiring Christians

By providing tangible resources as well as practical action opportunities, Compassion Sunday equips your ministry to engage the entire church creatively with a loving response to poverty.

For more detailed information about what would be involved in hosting a Compassion Sunday event in your church, see book 2 of the Compassion Sunday Planning Pack – For Your Church Leader .