In a conversation with a friend a few years ago, we began discussing international child sponsorship. We wrestled back-and-forth for some time, discussing both the good and the bad. Since that initial conversation, I have repeated that discussion time-and-again, including a lengthy conversation with a colleague who was himself sponsored as a child in the Dominican Republic. His insights have informed this post significantly. It is a sensitive issue and I pray, even while I write this, that my reflections are gracious and balanced.
Child sponsorship has been a wildly successful in connecting donors with poor children around the world. Billions of dollars are funneled every year to international organizations through child sponsorship programs. Letters are written back-and-forth and funds are given faithfully every month. But, is it doing long-term good? Or could it actually be perpetuating the problems it claims to solve?
I am reminded of Christ’s admonition to us… “Be shrewd as serpents and kind as doves” (Matt 10:16). In that light, I will highlight both the good and the bad of child sponsorship programs and allow you to disseminate accordingly. First, a few strengths of child sponsorship:
- Jesus had a special place in his heart for children (Matt 19:14). Without exception, children are our world’s most vulnerable demographic. Christians are mandated to defend and protect orphans throughout Scripture.
- The majority of people which enter into a relationship with Christ do so before the age of 18. How can we ignore this important demographic? The data supports this as a strategic age upon which the Church should focus.
- Helping children can change the future. As children are educated, equipped and mentored, we have the opportunity to train the next generation of leaders.
- Many organizations are “doing it right” and I am convinced that Compassion International, to be very specific, does child sponsorship better than anyone else. The centrality of the Gospel in their curriculum, their close partnership with local churches, their laser-focused precision on children, and their grounded and principled operations set them a notch above all others.
That being said, not all child sponsorship programs are as effective. While “helping children” is an amiable aim, we need to examine the long-term impacts. Several important considerations:
- These programs can undermine the role of parents. I had a friend who visited a community in Ghana and an angry mother chased him out of her neighborhood saying, “I can take care of my own children!” She thought my friend was with a child sponsorship organization. An extreme example, but worth considering. God’s design includes parents as providers for their children. Only a small percentage of sponsored children are truly orphaned.
- Child sponsorship can have the same impacts of a bad welfare system. In an email I recently received, a friend shared a story which communicated just that. “My sister is a missionary in Chile…She knows of families that live off the money they get from child sponsorship programs. As one child outgrows the sponsorship program, the parents have another child so they can continue to qualify for the funding.” Yikes.
- These programs can pitch wealthy Americans as the “great heroes” to the poor children in the developing world. Are we sending a message which paints a picture of the donor as the healer and the child as the patient? The nature of this type of relationship can be unhealthy.
- Many of these programs are wrought with fraud. A friend who worked in Congo shared that one of the Christian child sponsorship program directors wrote (not translated) the kids’ letters to the donors. She would often come to his office and he would have piles of letters which he authored, pretending to be the sponsored children.
- Jealousy is alive and well. My colleague who was sponsored as a child talked about how it stirred up jealousy among his peers. He would receive special gifts (baseball gloves, toys, etc.), a better education, hot meals, and a chance for college scholarships and the un-sponsored children would not.
- Child sponsorship can encourage dependency. Poorly designed charitable aid can put a choke-hold on ingenuity and entrepreneurship. Our goal should always be to help those on the margins stand on their own feet so that continued support is no longer needed. I have met with countless friends working in orphanages and with sponsorship programs who have expressed concerns about kids who graduate from their programs being unable to fend for themselves.
I’ll end with a suggestion from an expert, Jonathan Martin. Jonathan was a missionary in Asia for over ten years and is currently a missions pastor in Portland Oregon. His fantastic book, Giving Wisely?, devotes a chapter specifically to this issue. He ends with a list of four hard questions which he suggests we all ask the agencies through whom we sponsor children:
- How does this program seek to get the children out of a cycle of dependency?
- How does it encourage work?
- How does it keep the responsibility upon the shoulders of the parents and the society to take care of its own?
- What time frame does the agency have for getting the community to stand on its own feet so sponsorship is no longer needed in a given village?
No intervention or program is perfect (as I’ve written previously) and this is not an indictment of an entire approach, but rather a call to prudence and accountability. Not all child sponsorship is created equal.
Great insight Chris! This is a tough article on a tough topic. I have talked with Chris about this subject and I wanted to also ensure every reader that Chris has a passionate heart for children and we have to remember he is looking at the root of the dilema and not the quick fix. Focusing on all children and not just the one he sees on a promotional piece.
Really good info Chris!
I also have a question…how does this topic differ from adopting locally?
I have been having a similar discussion with a friend in relation to aid agencies in developing countries. I hope your thoughts encourage others to do their research before giving to these various groups overseas. There are organizations that are doing it right so it is important to find those and send the help where it can truly accomplish what it was intended for.
Chris, can you elaborate on your adoption question? I am curious about the connection you are making there.
Carrie and Chris,
I guess I am wondering if the same underlying issues surround adopting children in the states as well? Do you need to do research on adoption agencies? Are we still painting the wrong picture in the states with adoption as well? I am not sure I just havent heard that side discussed much.
Chris & Carrie,
Thanks for your feedback. Appreciate your thoughts. Though, I do take all comments from Kentucky Wildcats with a grain of salt ;). No organizations are perfect, but I agree with you, Carrie, in that we need to be diligent in ensuring we are entrusting our valuable resources with organizations which will steward them well.
Chris
Chris (x2),
To be honest, I don’t know very many people who have adopted from within the states. In fact, I think the reason most people go overseas and understand more about the process in other countries is because our own system has a great deal of flaws. If a family is willing to go through all the steps, however, I am a big advocate. There are so many children out there that need love. As a teacher, there are a lot of days I would take half of my classroom home with me if I could.
And on an unrelated side note, you should both be glad to receive comments from KY Wildcat fans at any time…it means you’re being brushed with greatness 🙂 Have a great day, guys!
Great article! I think those four questions at the end are really good ones to ask of sponsorship agencies as well as a variation for other aid organizations. I feel comfortable sponsoring Compassion kids for those reasons, even while I realize Compassion is not a perfect organization. I’ve often thought about the risk some charities and short-term missions run of creating dependency and jealousy, and making wealthy westerners seem to be the savior instead of Jesus. I think the book “When Helping Hurts,” speaks on this subject. Now that we can educate ourselves somewhat on the global impact of our actions, I think we have the responsibility to be led by common sense and the Holy Spirit to make good of our good intentions.
Chris, I appreciate this post a lot because I have never thought about child sponsorship as anything but good. I’ve had kids through Compassion since college and now we support two that Liam corresponds with. I will say that I have felt pangs of guilt sometimes and worried about the occasional long stretches that I’ve gone without writing, wondering if other sponsored kids are getting letters all the time and the kids I sponsored were feeling abandoned. I’m glad to know that you have found Compassion to be a good organization. I also think a benefit you are missing is the potential kid-to-kid connection. I know that it impacts my six year old that we pray for a six year old in Rwanda and another in Brazil every night. It helps all of us see the world, God’s love and our responsibility as “to whom much has been given” in a personal way that’s much bigger than our own backyard.
As always, Amy… wonderful thoughts. So much appreciate your feedback and think the positive/benefit you mentioned is an incredibly important one. I can’t believe I didn’t mention that, honestly. The personal connection and awareness of our own wealth/privilege which comes through a friendship and connection to children in poor countries around the globe is so valuable for both children and adults. Thanks for adding to the list!
Chris H
great thoughts chris, as always. praying for you, alli and your soon-to-be kiddo. take care my friend.
Very good thoughts, Chris. And great questions to ask.
I have a positive story in regard to child sponsorship. Michaela and I volunteered one time for a Compassion booth at a concert (we each sponsor a child). While we were there we got to meet a young man who had been sponsored as a child in Africa. He got to go to college through Compassion and He became the pastor of a local church at a very young age while also working as an accountant. He felt convicted by the Holy Spirit for teaching things that he wasn’t sure were true so he applied through Compassion to go to seminary. He is currently studying and when he finishes will go back to his town/village and continue to work as an accountant and pastor his church. Not only is he putting back into his community by pastoring his church, but he is earning his money outside the church so that he will not be a financial burden to those he is serving (which I’m sure many have to do). He was a very honest, confident and humble person and I hope that Compassion is helping many more kids to become that type of man or woman.