Dr. Wess Stafford, President of Compassion International, is an internationally recognized advocate for children in poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion is one of the world’s largest Christian child development agencies, partnering with more than 65 denominations and thousands of local churches in order to serve more than one million children in 24 countries. Though he’s earned degrees from Moody Bible Institute, Biola University, Wheaton College, and Michigan State University, his life experiences are what have uniquely prepared him for his role at Compassion International. He is the author of Too Small to Ignore; Why Children Are the Next Big Thing.
Notes from this session follow.
- Video about Wess Stafford.
- How do we leverage the pain and hurts in our lives for good?
- My passion for children and the poor comes from my own story.
- They’re not going to care what you know until they know why you care.
- Told the story of how he suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse for years at the school for missionary children where he was boarded. (So infuriating! Upsetting!)
- Poverty and abuse speak the same language around the world, “Give up”
- What is it that moves you to tears?
- God has given each of us a story that can be redeemed for His glory.
- There’s a 30 minute exercise in the summit guide.
- Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting, it means giving up the right for revenge.
- Unforgiveness is an open invitation to Satan’s bondage on your life.
Hi Paul,
Joseph And I met Wes Stafford at the AIDS conference in california. he autographed his book for us!
Molly
That’s cool! His story of abuse at the missionary boarding school was the most emotional session of any leadership summit in 7 or 8 years I’ve been attending them.
I was totally devastated with hope by this session, this man, his love for Christ and people. Now to start taking the small steps that are needed to make the big change – living towards freedom.
Joyce thanks for the comment. Yeah, very powerful session! Forgiveness is an amazing thing.