Poverty

Survivors of the Haiti earthquake that struck the country almost a year ago have witnessed many disaster relief organizations come and go, but the underlying problems that plagued the nation well before the tragedy still remain.

This is the reason that child development ministry, Compassion International, is committed to walking alongside the lost and damaged children of Haiti, guiding them through the entire recovery process.

“Our program is holistic,” said Edouard Lassegue, vice president of the Latin America region at Compassion International, to The Christian Post. “We work with these children for years and we are in it for the long run because we believe in long-term development.” more >>

Almost a year has passed since the devastating earthquake hit close to Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, leaving over a million people homeless.

Since the disaster that struck the highly populated area on January 12, 2010, survivors continue to struggle to rebuild their lives in the poorest country of the west.

It is in this desperate time that a Festival of Hope will be held with Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He is set to lead the event in response to an invitation from 75 Haitian pastors eager to deliver the message of the Gospel as a reminder of hope and God’s love for the survivors. more >>

ATLANTA – The 22,000 students that attended the Passion 2011 conference were the most generous in the history of the event.

University-age students, known for regularly joking about being broke, collectively donated $1.1 million, far exceeding the $500,000 goal as well as the $668,000 total for Passion 2010. Students donated specifically to nine global aid projects through Passion's Do Something Now campaign, which seeks to teach young adults to exchange self-centered lives for God-centered ones that focus on the needy.

"Together, we are a force for good, making a massive difference in the lives of people around the globe in Jesus' name," states the Passion vision for the Do Something Now campaign. "At the core of it all is a desire to wed worship and justice, believing that what God wants most is not just another song, but a reflection of His love and mercy among the poor, the imprisoned, the voiceless and the oppressed." more >>

ATLANTA – Attendees of the Passion conference on Sunday heard about and watched a video of founder Louie Giglio traveling to Haiti to meet a family that survived the earthquake that destroyed their home and killed two family members. What the crowd did not expect was to see Ernest Leo and his 7-year-old daughter, Therissa, walk out on stage.

The surprise was palpable as an arena-wide gasp occurred, which was quickly followed by applause.

Giglio declared that the Passion movement “will be anything God wants us to be for them (the Leos).” He called on the 22,000 students at the Passion conference to donate $1 each that night to a college trust fund for Therissa so attendees can experience how collectively the church can be a force for good in the world. more >>

LONDON – The winter days are typically cold and dark but while most people can return to a nice warm home at the end of the day, for those living on the streets the freezing temperatures can be deadly.

There are 20 church winter shelters up and running in London but Sally Leigh says demand is outstripping supply – each of the existing shelters already has a waiting list.

“We could do with more shelters,” said Leigh, London and Shelters Coordinator for Housing Justice. more >>

Central Nigeria’s lethal Christmas Eve attacks were religiously motivated despite the African nation’s complicated past of economically and socially fueled infighting, says a mission organization.

“There are always disputes over land,” said Rae Burnett, vice president and Africa director of Christian Aid Mission. However, Burnett insisted that last week’s attacks were the result of Muslim and Christian disputes.

“It’s political in the sense that Muslims wand to take over Nigeria,” she stated. “They want their way. They want more Sharia (Islamic law).” more >>