Sponsoring a child makes everything more personal. This truth hit home for me when Typhoon Haiyan struck, because my sponsored child lives in the Philippines. I wrote about Mariecris, her fate, and how she’s impacting my family on the Food for the Hungry blog.
Author Archives: Wendy McMahan
5 disturbing barriers that keep kids out of school
I’m blogging today over at Food for the Hungry about back-to-school season. We take it for granted in the United States that our kids will go to school, but in developing countries, it’s not as easy. From my experience, I’ve seen five barriers that keep kids from attending school in poor places. To ensure that …
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Picture your church in the Philippines
Today I’m posting over at FH about the Philippines. Here’s an excerpt. In Camarines Norte (“cah-mah-REEN-es NOR-tay), over half of the population lives below the poverty line. Children are vulnerable to chronic hunger. They go to school in classrooms that are bursting at the seams, sometimes with class sizes of 60 children or more. It’s …
Free Christmas materials for pastors
Yes, it’s July and I’m talking about Christmas. No, I don’t approve of Christmas displays at Costco and Target in July. But YES, I am talking about Christmas because your pastors are talking about Christmas, and that means this is the time for them to hear about Hope Tree! Here’s an excerpt from today’s blog over at …
Best 3 practices for raising generous children
I am always thinking about how to raise my children to be good global citizens even though they are growing up in one of the most hedonistic cultures in today’s world. I haven’t figured it out by any stretch of the imagination, but today on the FH blog I shared three ways that I’m working …
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The Healthiest Way to Give
Today I’m going back to one of the most basic lessons about poverty–one that everyone needs to understand but very few people actually get. It’s the infamous issue of dependency. Listen to this 20-minute episode to become an instant expert on the topic… or at least to get started with what you need to know. …
A Life Surrendered to God
Many college students have big dreams about how they’ll use their university degrees to change the world. But for many of us, real life sets in shortly after we graduate. There are loans to pay back, rent to cover, salaries that draw us in, love interests that anchor us to a particular city. Many times, …
The Purpose of the Poor
Is there a positive purpose to poverty? Marty Martin shares his thoughts on the purpose of the poor, which he says is “the elevation of all humanity.” The story of Lazarus and the rich man, told by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31, illuminates the idea that the opportunity to respond to people in poverty is actually …
Best Practices in Orphan Care
An interview with Amanda Cox, coordinator for the Faith to Action Initiative. Amanda focuses on best practices in orphan care, emphasizing that God’s plan for children involves families. She discusses times when orphanage care is a necessary option, and other times when family-based options for orphans can be found. Mentioned in this episode: Download From …
How to Say “I Love You”
When we walk with people living in poverty, communicating God’s love is one of the most important messages we bear. For those who feel forgotten by God and devalued by the world, the truth of God’s love can transform everything. A beautiful truth about mankind is that God made us in His image. Genesis 1:26-27 …