One week after tsunamis swamped the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and other South Asian countries on December 26, 2004  wreaking havoc and devastation in many of these nations, the Christian international relief organization World Vision hit the ground running. On their website they put out an appeal for generous donations, and to the press promised to raise $50 million for victims of the tsunamis—an amount that dwarfs the annual budgets of nearly every other Christian relief agency. If any Christian group has the economic muscle to follow through on such a grand promise, World Vision does.

World Vision Logo

World Vision has substantial political clout. Its international director Dean Hirsch collaborates with the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization. It’s a major player in its field, commanding the respect of secular and Christian agencies alike. World Vision has offices in 100 countries and employs 22,000 workers, most of whom are native to the countries they work in.

The success of World Vision hasn’t come without its growing pain and a good deal of conflict. Really understanding what World Vision is today is not possible unless we become acquainted with the man who envisioned the organization and gave it the compassionate mission it carries out. It is the “broken heart” of Bob Pierce that ties together an increasingly diverse and complex body of people working on behalf of the most desperate and needy in nearly every part of the globe.

Bob Pierce....broken heart

In 1947, Robert Pierce was working for a religious non-profit organization called Youth for Christ, whose mission was to evangelize the world with the gospel of Christ. The young evangelist started on his trip to  China with only enough money to buy a ticket to Honolulu. In Honolulu, Pierce, at a missionary’s invitation, agreed to speak to the children of a mission school about the love of Jesus. After the meeting was over, a little girl named White Jade had rushed home to tell her family about her new-found faith in Jesus. Her father responded by disowning her and throwing her out of his house. Disoriented and desperate, the girl turned to the missionary, Tena Hoelkeboer, who had invited her to the meeting. But the woman was already housing six children. Hoelkeboer told Pierce that if she could be given $5 a year, she would add a seventh child to her growing brood. Pierce took her up on the challenge, even though finances were already tight back home. The plight of a little White Jade  had captured Pierce’s attention.

Bob Pierce....founder of World Vision

Pierce eventually made it to China, where he preached at various prestigious churches, including the Moore Memorial Methodist Church in Shanghai. He met with great success as thousands made public commitments as followers of Christ during four months of evangelistic rallies. While in China Pierce saw widespread hunger.

Filled with compassion, Pierce took his promise much further—White Jade was the catalyst that drove Pierce to launch World Vision in 1950. Following his trip to China, Pierce hauled a movie camera across South Korea, where the storm clouds of war were gathering. There he encountered desolate mothers and children wandering the highways in bitter cold as their husbands went off to war. And he found Korean Christians housing women and children far beyond their capacity, much as Hoelkeboer had in China. Overcome by the suffering he witnessed around him, Pierce wrote a line on the fly-leaf of his Bible: “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” It would become his life’s theme and his passion.

Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.

Upon his return to North America, Pierce showed harrowing pictures to church audiences, asking for money to help the children. He showed their faces and begged Christians to “adopt” one.

Pierce recognized the need for someone to manage the growing enterprise. His choice of Ted Engstrom, a friend from his early days with Youth for Christ, would prove to be providential, for reasons as yet unanticipated by Pierce.

There’s a flip side to the success story of Bob Pierce. Having an impetuous nature, Pierce rubbed people the wrong way. When World Vision’s board of directors proposed organizational changes that would make Pierce more financially accountable, he lost his cool and tendered his resignation. The next day—to the Pierce family’s astonishment—the board accepted his offer, replacing him with Engstrom as World Vision’s new chief.

Even sadder was the strain Pierce’s long tours away from home placed on his family. Following his resignation from World Vision, Pierce and Lorraine took a “goodbye tour” of Asia, and one of his daughters, Sharon, pled with him over the phone to come home early as she missed him desperately. Characteristically, he refused. Desperate, Sharon slashed her wrists. Though unsuccessful at first, she eventually succeeded in committing suicide while Pierce was away in Switzerland being diagnosed with exhaustion.

Sharon’s death devastated everyone, with Pierce losing himself in his prescription drugs. Though the family relocated to Switzerland for a time to be with him during his treatments, Pierce distanced himself from them. It was several years before Pierce and Lorraine would regain some of the intimacy they had shared before Sharon’s death. The brokenness Pierce had witnessed in his overseas travel had finally come home. Even he needed God’s healing and forgiveness.

Following Pierce’s departure, World Vision underwent significant growth over the next couple decades. In 1969, the agency had offices in nine countries and supported roughly 32,000 children. Ten years later, it had offices in 40 countries and supported more than 214,000 children. By 1989, that number had grown to 55 countries, and the organization supported over 830,000 children. And on and on it went, with the numbers of children passing a million in the 1990s.

When World Vision began entering countries with tiny Christian populations, the decision was made to employ non-Christians, provided that Christians remain in leadership. This provoked the ire of some evangelicals who were worried that the organization was “selling out.”

But World Vision continues to hold to a mission statement clearly Christian in commitment. It reads: “World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose mission is to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.”

At the age of 64, Pierce was diagnosed with leukemia. In September 1978 the family was able to gather together. Four days later the founder of World Vision was called home by the Lord.

For 60 years, World Vision has lived by this risky, costly, and even reckless faith, believing that if they dared to follow Christ by going to the darkest and most dangerous places on earth, God would go before them and be a lamp unto their feet as they served the poorest of the poor in His name.

That unwavering conviction has led successive generations at World Vision into the pain of the world. The courageous staff of World Vision has faced earthquakes, famines, riots, cyclones, military coups, floods, pandemic diseases, and wars. They have lived among the broken, walked among the homeless, and given comfort to the widow, the orphan, the least, and the lost.

And they have done these things knowing the risk and paying the price but believing that God had called them for the great privilege of serving. Rarely does a year go by that doesn’t cost one or two of World Vision staff their lives.

That audacious faith of Bob Pierce has always characterized World Vision, and it has changed the world for millions of children over the past six decades. That tiny seed planted in Asia in 1950 by one man has now grown into an organization of more than 40,000 men and women on six continents in 97 countries.

More than 3 million children are now assisted by sponsors worldwide, and 100 million people receive help of one kind or another — all because one man had the audacity to believe God and because millions more were willing to join him.

World Vision…it still makes God smile.

Recently, international award-winning actress Lee Sinje and her acclaimed film director and producer husband, Oxide Pang, were in Malaysia to share their unique and meaningful honeymoon spent at a World Vision Area Development Programme at Bohol, the Philippines.

The couple was most touched and inspired by their experience living with two local families and experiencing the challenges that the children and adults face daily to survive.  Sinjie recorded her experience in her journal – Love Beyond Self.

I have reproduced her journal below:

Lee Sinje’s World Vision Visit to Bohol, Philippines

1 June, 5:05 pm

The child gazes at this stranger in front of her.

She has strands of blondish hair and a petite frame hidden under loose clothing.  Her tiny hands rest on her lap as she sits cross-legged on the floor.

“I’m six,” says the child. When her parents and 7-year-old brother go to the dump site close to their home to collect garbage, she cooks and takes care of her four younger siblings.

She often feels hungry as she only gets two meals a day.

I hand the child some chocolate biscuits and she eats all of them immediately.

Tears swell in my eyes but I am determined to refrain from crying in front of her.

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I am reminded of my mother’s family who was also very poor.

My grandmother had to carry two big baskets of sarong to sell at a hilltop, and every trip would last an entire week before she returned.

My then 7-year-old auntie has to wake up early every morning to cook, wash and take care of her five siblings.

“If we were hungry at night, we would mix the burnt rice in the pot with sugar water and drink it,” said my mother.

Once, my mother nearly died because my grandmother simply could not afford to take her to the doctor.

But fuelled by her optimism and strong will, my grandmother single-handedly raised all her six children.

I can still remember the times when she took me to the temple to offer alms to the monks or visit poverty-stricken families living at the hilltop. Her selfless acts of love helped her to raise and protect her family.

She is the source of my compassion for the needy today. Through her, I learn how to love the people around me, and I have seen how a selfless act of love can light up one’s life and even the world.

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This is my fourth World Vision visit, and it’s a first for my husband. We are in Philippines, a country comprising more than 7,000 islands, with a population of over 90 million. Forty-one percent of the population lives below the poverty line, earning less than US$2 a day. This means that there are more than 40 million people who suffer from hunger every day.

The sun’s radiant ray shines through the crystal-clear sea water creating a breathtaking view of the sparkling coastline.

The leaves rustle as we take each step.

Finally, we arrive at an organic farm developed by World Vision in collaboration with the local community. We put a handful of earthworms into the organic fertilizer with our bare hands and join the farmers in harvesting at the organic rice fields with our sickles. The setting sun slowly lights up the youthful smiles on the farmers’ faces.

We decide to spend the night at a villager’s house, showering with the cold water that was carried from far away, eating the chicken the family had raise in their backyard, and sleeping in beds covered by green mosquito nets. In the dark, I can see the moonlight streaming through the wooden plank walls.

The living condition of the villagers has greatly improved with the support from World Vision. No longer are they living without electricity and water; they have started growing organic plants to increase their income and, at the same time, protect the environment; some of their children are World Vision sponsored children and they enjoy going to school.

I am overwhelmed by the kindness and passion of the villagers. Their homes may be simple and shabby, they may not be dressed in fine clothing, but they have the ability to impart the purest kind of love that touches the bottom of my heart.

On the other hand, our lives are built around concrete homes in dazzling cities and we are pampered by so much luxury. Yet, our hearts have grown distant from each other.

We own everything. We own the whole world. But the truth is, what do we really possess?

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It is the second last day of our trip. We are at a dump site located in a suburb on Bohol Island.

The smell of rubbish which has been accumulated over the last 20 years is utterly nauseating. A group of children are playing in an abandoned dump truck. This rubbish dump is the main source of income for the community here. The adults and children wait for the dump trucks to arrive every day. Once the rubbish is unloaded from the trucks, they will proceed to scavenge for things that they can sell.

Afterwards, we visit a poor family who makes a living by scavenging rubbish.

We follow a trail in the bushes and arrive at a shabby wooden house. It is built out of branches and boards. There is only one room.

A one year-old boy is standing in front of the house with his feet soiled with faeces. His sister, who is only six years old, immediately takes him into the house and washes his feet as soon as she spots us approaching. The boy’s other brother and sister, aged 3 and 4, are sitting by the door. Their parents and their 7-year-old brother are at the dump site collecting rubbish. The 6-year-old sister is left to look after her three younger siblings.

I walk up to the house and sit next to the older sister. I hand out some chocolate cookies to all of them; the older sister instantly gobbles up the cookies, then she crouches and stares at the cookies left in my hand. I give her the whole packet. She takes it and eats the cookies quietly.

The children are hungry. The girl tells me she cooks them food and takes care of them every day. They only get to eat twice a day and they get hungry very often. When the children speak, their faces don’t display any expression… there is no sadness, no joy, no anger – just a faint response.

Have you ever experienced hunger? One hour, two hours… Can you imagine what it feels like to be constantly hungry every single day?

Their bodies are so thin and small but what clear, beautiful eyes and pure hearts they have! They have the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen and they speak from their heart. They should grow up being surrounded by the light of love. But here, these children endure immense suffering and hunger. They have been robbed them of their childlike nature. Every day just seems hopeless.

My heart feels as though it is being pierced with a thousand needles. I try not to cry in front of them. I remember how I prayed for hope and miracles during those sleepless nights when I was a child, and now, I am once again reminded of my childhood fears and insecurities when I look at her; I promise to love this child with all my heart.

My grandmother, my mother and my daughter have nourished my life with their love. Children are all the same – they are little angels that need to be loved and protected.?When I held the child, I felt strongly about how love can be extended to others. I now understand that much joy comes from giving.

You probably never knew that with a mere RM50 a month, you can change the future of these children. You probably never realised that your heart can be so close to a child who lives hundreds of miles away from you. You probably never discovered that you have the power within you to give hope to others.

Please join me in sponsoring a child through World Vision. Together, we can create a world filled with love and abundant life.

Written by Lee Sinje, World Vision Child Sponsor

The video below by Oxide Pang is a record of their experience. Please watch the video to catch a glimpse of what it’s like for those whose lives are a constant challenge. It shows life in its raw reality, not make believe.

World Vision is an international aid Christian humanitarian organization operating in nearly 100 countries around the world to combat the root causes of poverty and to provide international disaster relief. It is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people and serves all people regardless of race, religion, gender or ethnicity. It helps the poor to help themselves, working with them to build sustainable futures for their children, families and communities through emergency relief, education, health care, economic development and promotion of justice. You can visit their website at this link and the website of World Vision Malaysia at this link.

You can do your part by sponsoring a child for RM50 a month. By sponsoring a child, you are giving that child a chance in life, a chance for the child to develop his or her potential. It really makes a difference!

I am currently sponsoring 2 children through World Vision: Ha Van Minh  of Vietnam and  Mutakali Ronica Mononoga of South Africa. Being able to do something worthwhile without any expectation of personal gain really gives you a sense of inner joy…..it makes you feel you have a purpose in life.

Ha Van Minh

Mutakali Ronica Mononoga

I know of some children who are World Vision child sponsors. You too can be a child sponsor….you too can make a difference. Listen to your heart and sponsor a child today!

Today is the birthday of my cousin Sylvester Lim and his daughter Krystle. I find it amazing that a father and a daughter share the same birthday. I guess that is probably why there is such a special bond between my cousin and his daughter. To my cousin and my niece, I wish you both  an awesome birthday. Sylvester, you finally hit the magical 55 today…..can I call you a senior citizen now?

I finished listing my China first day covers, stamp presentation packs and maxim cards on eBay this afternoon. That gave me a sense of accomplishment.  It was then that I realised how hungry I was…it was almost 3.30pm and I had not taken any lunch. I went to Pelita Commercial Centre to have a plate of “char siew” (barbecue) pork rice and some cucur pisang (banana fritters).

After picking up my wife and my son from their respective offices, we drove back to Senadin to have dinner at one of the restaurants there.  After dinner, I noticed this huge rainbow in the sky….I have hardly ever seen such a huge rainbow.  I don’t know why but seeing the huge rainbow gave me a sense of euphoria and a feeling that something good is going to happen.

On reaching our home, I checked my mails and my eBay account……hmmm, there had been a few sales from my eBay listings. I took a quick warm bathe and then left my house to attend the World Vision Sharing Session by Malaysian actress Lee Sinje at the Imperial Hotel.  I have been a World Vision child sponsor for a couple of years so I did not want to miss the opportunity to hear an Asian movie queen ( Lee Sinje won the Golden Horse Best Actress Award for her role in the Hong Kong horror movie “The Eye”) sharing her experience with World Vision child sponsorship.

I estimate the crowd to be over 200.  Lee Sinje received a very warm applause when she entered the ballroom where the session was being held.  She shared her experience about going to Mongolia to meet her sponsored child and what an impact it had on her. She also talked about her trips to Africa and India. She obviously touched quite a lot of hearts with her sharing as evidenced by the number of people signing up as child sponsors after the sharing session.

I was deeply touched by Lee’s sincere sharing and her commitment to help World Vision. I signed up to sponsor another child. For only RM50 a month, you can sign up to be a child sponsor. Think about it..by just sacrificing one dinner outing each month, you can make a difference in this world!

I know there are a lot of people out there who have the thinking that they cannot make any difference. In their mind, they think of the millions and millions of starving children and they just conclude that they cannot do anything about it and so they adopt an indifferent attitude. WAKE UP PLEASE! YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT……YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! You cannot sponsor millions of children but you can make an immense difference in the life of the child you sponsor! You will be giving that child a chance in life, a chance for the child to reach his/her potential.

If you are still not convinced that you can make a difference, please watch the following YouTube movie and let its message sink into your heart.