Colorado-Based Ministry Expands into 22nd Country

Bringing Compassion to Bangladesh

By Kenneth Chan, Wednesday, June 30, 2004

In response to requests made by churches in Bangladesh, an evangelical Christian child development ministry recently opened its newest office in the poverty-stricken country, making Bangladesh the 22nd country in which the ministry is operating. According to Compassion International president, Dr. Wesley Stafford, "By partnering with local churches in the community, Compassion intends to bring hope to the children in this country."

Bangladesh, only slightly larger than the state of Iowa, is home to more than 140 million people. According to Bangladesh University, 75 percent of children below the age of 12 are malnourished and 85 percent of the population lives in poverty. "The poverty in Bangladesh is staggering," said Stafford.

Currently in Asia, Compassion serves more than 140,000 impoverished children in four countries in the south and southeast regions. Bangladesh will be the fifth in the region.

Mark Yeadon, Compassion's vice president of Child Ministry, said partner churches have been identified and the task now is to find the poorest children in the country to participate in Compassion's Ministry.

"Soon, sponsors will be able to support these children in Bangladesh, providing hope and encouragement to those who need it the most," he said.

For more than 50 years, Compassion has ministered to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of children across the world. Yeadon stated that through its valued partnership with local churches, Compassion is able to fulfill its mission to help release children from poverty in Jesus' name and enable them to become responsible, fulfilled adults.

"Our ministry in Bangladesh is in response to requests made by Bangladesh churches," Yeadon said. "We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for the evangelical community to minister to impoverished children in South Asia."

Founded by Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean war orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training. Since then Compassion International has dedicated itself to the long-term holistic development of children living in poverty.

Today, Compassion helps more than 600,000 children in more than 20 countries, working with more than 65 denominations and hundreds of indigenous church partners in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean.