Comments on: An open letter to Compassion International http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/ On copywriting, marketing, PR, web development, business, family, politics, America, etc. Thu, 03 May 2012 03:26:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kevin http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Kevin Thu, 03 May 2012 03:26:29 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-86 I don't want to disappoint you Terry. If by evolution you mean macroevolution as a way to explain the origin of the species, you're right...I believe that's ridiculous. I do believe the species have evolved through natural selection, producing the diversity of life we see now. I'm not sure what that has to do with Compassion or the HIV/AIDS hypothesis. :-) I don’t want to disappoint you Terry. If by evolution you mean macroevolution as a way to explain the origin of the species, you’re right…I believe that’s ridiculous. I do believe the species have evolved through natural selection, producing the diversity of life we see now. I’m not sure what that has to do with Compassion or the HIV/AIDS hypothesis. :-)

]]> By: dan Irvine http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-84 dan Irvine Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:22:17 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-84 Doesn't look like Compassion needs any more support.....but just in case..... The mission organization that I work for has more than 40 projects in one country alone with Compassion involving thousands of sponsored kids. I am familiar with the operation from the country leaders to the local employees on specific projects. I have never worked with an organization that has more integrity or works harder to deliver what they have promised to sponsors and sponsored children. Like any organization, there may be administrative bumps at times, but at every level Compassion delivers! Doesn’t look like Compassion needs any more support…..but just in case….. The mission organization that I work for has more than 40 projects in one country alone with Compassion involving thousands of sponsored kids. I am familiar with the operation from the country leaders to the local employees on specific projects. I have never worked with an organization that has more integrity or works harder to deliver what they have promised to sponsors and sponsored children. Like any organization, there may be administrative bumps at times, but at every level Compassion delivers!

]]> By: Ashley http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Ashley Mon, 26 Mar 2012 05:52:39 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-82 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS_denialism There are also scientists who swear by radical theories such as the existance of big foot, the lachness monster, and other such myths. Just because they're scientist, doesnt make them any more credible. Not only that, but the claims that people are somehow benefiting by letting everyone know the connection between the two is obserd. Dont you think it is a little more likely that the very few scientists who proclaim their radical views about HIV not being linked to AIDs would be trying to make their own fortune off of books and journals being published?? Sorry but thousands of people dont die every year from a "harmless passenger virus". And yes, new science is most definately more reputable than out dated science. What you have is called AIDs Denialism, and you are unfortunately just a victom of the same phsychological vulnerability that leads people to follow occult leaders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS_denialism
There are also scientists who swear by radical theories such as the existance of big foot, the lachness monster, and other such myths. Just because they’re scientist, doesnt make them any more credible. Not only that, but the claims that people are somehow benefiting by letting everyone know the connection between the two is obserd. Dont you think it is a little more likely that the very few scientists who proclaim their radical views about HIV not being linked to AIDs would be trying to make their own fortune off of books and journals being published?? Sorry but thousands of people dont die every year from a “harmless passenger virus”. And yes, new science is most definately more reputable than out dated science. What you have is called AIDs Denialism, and you are unfortunately just a victom of the same phsychological vulnerability that leads people to follow occult leaders.

]]> By: Annonimous (please do not post my name even though it is part of my email address) http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Annonimous (please do not post my name even though it is part of my email address) Sun, 11 Mar 2012 18:36:13 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-81 I worked for Compassion and resigned from my position last year after deciding that it was better to have no job than to work for that company. (It's hard for me to call it a ministry because of what I experienced while being employed there.) That being said, they truly are doing wonderful things. The children are real and their lives are being changed. The growth they (Compassion) experienced in a relatively short period of time has made it difficult for them to keep up with the volume of communication being sent between the sponsor and child, but when I left they were trying to find ways to better that now and long term while staying within their means financially. My problem with Compassion is not what they are doing but what they could be doing better. The 80% bring spent on "Projects" implies that this money is going toward food, clothing, hygiene, schooling, etc... Some of it is but a large chunk of what we would consider overhead is being sheltered in that catigory. Project funds could be anything that is somehow tied directly or indirectly to the development of the projects. An example of this is a team building event for a group that is based out of corporate headquarters in Colorado but primary role is the development of project curriculum... This is considered a project expense. I believe this is a reasonable expense but it's misleading when applied to the 80% project funds. There is a lot of waste at Compassion. A lot of funds being spent inappropriately or being used to help fund other ministries that are misconstrued interpretations of the Bible (the ministry where they are trying to eliminate all poor people. Great idea, not what the Bible teaches. They are saying the when Jesus said that the poor will always be with you he meant literally you as in a specific person in the crowd rather then you as a people; there will always be poor people. That person is no longer living and therefore we should no longer have poor people. We need to be helping who we can but God never promised we'd never have poor people.) Another issue I have with compassion is the way they treat their employees. A lot is being done "in the name of Jesus" that goes against how Christians should treat one another. The employees are overworked in a lot of cases and expected to carry a high workload that constantly interferes with their personal and family lives. There is also a level of fakeness among the employees that is overwhelming. You are constantly trying to prove that you are Christain enough rather than being real with where you're at. Not to say that if you aren't living a life that is in line with the scripture that you should still work there; I don't know how to explain it unless you experience it first hand. They are very intrusive and condemning. They target people and make them feel like bad people when they're not and eventually these people quit like I did or they are fired. My boss was let go after being told by his director that he wouldn't lose his job and that he would fight for him should it look like that would happen and he was walked out by security that week. Very shady. It's not a ministry. It's just like any other corporation. Now that is just corporate headquarters. The men and women working in the field are outstanding people who a lot of times go without because they believe so strongly in their mission. They truly are amazing. It is a shame that money is being spent so frivolously at the "GMC" (Global Ministry Center) rather than going to the field office as implied. One last thing that is important to point out. While the money being sent to the field MAY go toward the children's food, clothing, schooling, etc... Not every child recieves these benefits. You may think that your money is providing all these things but your particular child is only getting after school tutoring or sunday school. Your specific child may not be receiving what is being implied when you signed up to be a sponsor. It's not the advocates fault either! Most advocates (volunteers) and employees believe the children are receiving all these things. I didn't discover this to be untrue until right before I left. I could no longer in good faith be affiliated with this organization. Compassion International is not what it appears to be HOWEVER each individual child that has a sponsor is being affected in a way that will change their life. Having someone write them from across the globe to tell them they love them, support them, and care about them far outweighs anything that is going on at the GMC. I just feel that they could be doing so much more and I would NEVER recommend that you work there. I worked for Compassion and resigned from my position last year after deciding that it was better to have no job than to work for that company. (It’s hard for me to call it a ministry because of what I experienced while being employed there.) That being said, they truly are doing wonderful things. The children are real and their lives are being changed. The growth they (Compassion) experienced in a relatively short period of time has made it difficult for them to keep up with the volume of communication being sent between the sponsor and child, but when I left they were trying to find ways to better that now and long term while staying within their means financially.
My problem with Compassion is not what they are doing but what they could be doing better. The 80% bring spent on “Projects” implies that this money is going toward food, clothing, hygiene, schooling, etc… Some of it is but a large chunk of what we would consider overhead is being sheltered in that catigory. Project funds could be anything that is somehow tied directly or indirectly to the development of the projects. An example of this is a team building event for a group that is based out of corporate headquarters in Colorado but primary role is the development of project curriculum… This is considered a project expense. I believe this is a reasonable expense but it’s misleading when applied to the 80% project funds. There is a lot of waste at Compassion. A lot of funds being spent inappropriately or being used to help fund other ministries that are misconstrued interpretations of the Bible (the ministry where they are trying to eliminate all poor people. Great idea, not what the Bible teaches. They are saying the when Jesus said that the poor will always be with you he meant literally you as in a specific person in the crowd rather then you as a people; there will always be poor people. That person is no longer living and therefore we should no longer have poor people. We need to be helping who we can but God never promised we’d never have poor people.)
Another issue I have with compassion is the way they treat their employees. A lot is being done “in the name of Jesus” that goes against how Christians should treat one another. The employees are overworked in a lot of cases and expected to carry a high workload that constantly interferes with their personal and family lives. There is also a level of fakeness among the employees that is overwhelming. You are constantly trying to prove that you are Christain enough rather than being real with where you’re at. Not to say that if you aren’t living a life that is in line with the scripture that you should still work there; I don’t know how to explain it unless you experience it first hand. They are very intrusive and condemning. They target people and make them feel like bad people when they’re not and eventually these people quit like I did or they are fired. My boss was let go after being told by his director that he wouldn’t lose his job and that he would fight for him should it look like that would happen and he was walked out by security that week. Very shady. It’s not a ministry. It’s just like any other corporation.
Now that is just corporate headquarters. The men and women working in the field are outstanding people who a lot of times go without because they believe so strongly in their mission. They truly are amazing. It is a shame that money is being spent so frivolously at the “GMC” (Global Ministry Center) rather than going to the field office as implied.
One last thing that is important to point out. While the money being sent to the field MAY go toward the children’s food, clothing, schooling, etc… Not every child recieves these benefits. You may think that your money is providing all these things but your particular child is only getting after school tutoring or sunday school. Your specific child may not be receiving what is being implied when you signed up to be a sponsor. It’s not the advocates fault either! Most advocates (volunteers) and employees believe the children are receiving all these things. I didn’t discover this to be untrue until right before I left. I could no longer in good faith be affiliated with this organization.
Compassion International is not what it appears to be HOWEVER each individual child that has a sponsor is being affected in a way that will change their life. Having someone write them from across the globe to tell them they love them, support them, and care about them far outweighs anything that is going on at the GMC. I just feel that they could be doing so much more and I would NEVER recommend that you work there.

]]> By: Terry http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Terry Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:40:03 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-80 Kevin, you lost all credibility when you asserted that global warming was a fraud...well actually when you said AIDS was a fraud! I have absolutley no qualms about people providing different points of view, but I also have no qualms about labelling these views as ridiculous if it merits such a label. Kevin I suppose you don't believe in evolution either. Kevin, you lost all credibility when you asserted that global warming was a fraud…well actually when you said AIDS was a fraud!

I have absolutley no qualms about people providing different points of view, but I also have no qualms about labelling these views as ridiculous if it merits such a label.

Kevin I suppose you don’t believe in evolution either.

]]> By: Thomas Sayles http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Thomas Sayles Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:29:19 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-79 During the past decades, the two organizations that I have been associated with are Compassion Int. and Assist International, both organizations meet my standards of providing a high level of integrity and dedication. While I don't have to agree on how they do everything, what and why they do it, is commendable, honorable, and most importantly meets the Biblical standards. I have seen the letters in El Salvador, the children, where they live, the schools, the training programs, and so forth. If you need proof, I could write long stories of the children, their first names only, how they live, where they live (approximately) and so forth insofar as not in violating confidences. During the past decades, the two organizations that I have been associated with are Compassion Int. and Assist International, both organizations meet my standards of providing a high level of integrity and dedication. While I don’t have to agree on how they do everything, what and why they do it, is commendable, honorable, and most importantly meets the Biblical standards. I have seen the letters in El Salvador, the children, where they live, the schools, the training programs, and so forth. If you need proof, I could write long stories of the children, their first names only, how they live, where they live (approximately) and so forth insofar as not in violating confidences.

]]> By: Thomas Sayles http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Thomas Sayles Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:12:13 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-78 I have first hand knowledge the organization is real, the people are wonderful and I would work with them again. I personally want to thank Jorge, Roberto, Alexandria, Jose, and David in El Salvador for being so helpful and dedicated. The money goes to the children and they are in desperate need for the most basic of human needs to survive. 99.99 percent of Americans have no understanding of the conditions these children are living under. I was there, saw it for myself. I have first hand knowledge the organization is real, the people are wonderful and I would work with them again. I personally want to thank Jorge, Roberto, Alexandria, Jose, and David in El Salvador for being so helpful and dedicated. The money goes to the children and they are in desperate need for the most basic of human needs to survive. 99.99 percent of Americans have no understanding of the conditions these children are living under. I was there, saw it for myself.

]]> By: Martin http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Martin Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:10:47 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-76 CI is an outstanding ministry. We just returned from Nicaragua where we visited 8 Compassion projects. In each project we saw children being fed and educated. We were allowed to see the on site record keeping for children and randomly choose the record we wanted to review. A representative from Compassion was present, the school accountant and school coordinator were all present when a record was reviewed. Compassion was incredibly careful about confidentiality, meticulous in record keeping. With us were three people who have been sponsoring children for years. The children greeted these people with open arms. I am impressed with Compassion International. God bless CI is an outstanding ministry. We just returned from Nicaragua where we visited 8 Compassion projects. In each project we saw children being fed and educated. We were allowed to see the on site record keeping for children and randomly choose the record we wanted to review. A representative from Compassion was present, the school accountant and school coordinator were all present when a record was reviewed. Compassion was incredibly careful about confidentiality, meticulous in record keeping. With us were three people who have been sponsoring children for years. The children greeted these people with open arms. I am impressed with Compassion International. God bless

]]> By: Kevin http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Kevin Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:26:36 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-71 For the record, I decided to reply in private to Mr. Lain. God bless you brother for supporting Compassion. I believe it's a great organization. For those who want to actually do something as "preposterous" as examining an opposing point of view on the subject of the HIV/AIDS link, I highly recommend this book: Dr. Peter Duesberg Inventing the AIDS Virus http://www.amazon.com/Inventing-AIDS-Virus-Peter-Duesberg/dp/0895263998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320854894&sr=8-1 God bless.... For the record, I decided to reply in private to Mr. Lain. God bless you brother for supporting Compassion. I believe it’s a great organization.

For those who want to actually do something as “preposterous” as examining an opposing point of view on the subject of the HIV/AIDS link, I highly recommend this book:

Dr. Peter Duesberg
Inventing the AIDS Virus
http://www.amazon.com/Inventing-AIDS-Virus-Peter-Duesberg/dp/0895263998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320854894&sr=8-1

God bless….

]]> By: Billy Lain http://kevinmharper.com/2010/01/an-open-letter-to-compassion-international/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Billy Lain Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:48:08 +0000 http://kevinmharper.com/?p=22#comment-70 The assertion that the opportunistic infections that arise from the diagnostic criteria required before a diagnosis of AIDS can be given are not caused because of an infection of the HIV virus is too ludicrous to even be discussed. Of course it stands to reason that such a ridiculous assertion is somehow tied to global warning speaks volumns about Mr. Harper and the ultra right-wing slant of his beliefs. Mr. Harper has probably never met a consipracy theory in which he isn't a staunch believer, and my experience with them is don't try to confuse them with truth. I have sponsored a child through Compassion International for several years. I also contribute extra each month to go towards AIDS relief in impoverished countries. I have investigated Compassion International extensively and am confident that it is a wonderful organization that is committed to actually practicing Christian morales, ethics, values, and principles instead of just talking about them. The assertion that the opportunistic infections that arise from the diagnostic criteria required before a diagnosis of AIDS can be given are not caused because of an infection of the HIV virus is too ludicrous to even be discussed. Of course it stands to reason that such a ridiculous assertion is somehow tied to global warning speaks volumns about Mr. Harper and the ultra right-wing slant of his beliefs. Mr. Harper has probably never met a consipracy theory in which he isn’t a staunch believer, and my experience with them is don’t try to confuse them with truth.

I have sponsored a child through Compassion International for several years. I also contribute extra each month to go towards AIDS relief in impoverished countries. I have investigated Compassion International extensively and am confident that it is a wonderful organization that is committed to actually practicing Christian morales, ethics, values, and principles instead of just talking about them.

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