February 2026: Compassion International
Continuing our support for Ariana and Simon
In February, we continue our benevolence calendar by raising funds to support two children through our long-standing partnership with Compassion International.
Compassion International is a Christian nonprofit organization that works to help children living in poverty through child sponsorship. Founded in 1952, it partners with local churches in developing countries to provide children with food, education, healthcare, and mentoring, while also supporting their emotional and spiritual growth.
The organization is regarded as trustworthy by charity watchdog groups because of its long history, strong accountability standards, and positive outcomes shown in independent research on child development. Compassion is also known for overall transparency, including regular publishing of audited financial reports. Most donated funds go directly to programs that serve children and communities, with a much smaller portion used for administration and fundraising to ensure the programs are effective and sustainable.
Sponsoring two children through Compassion International currently costs $86 per month. Over the years, ELC has sponsored five different children. The two children we currently sponsor are 8-year-old Ariana from Mexico and 13-year-old Simon from Tanzania.
Ariana is not as communicative through her letters, but seems artistic and playful, and loves snacking at the center she attends. Ariana has been living with her maternal grandparents since her parents’ separation. She writes about her best friend Monse, whom she met at the Compassion International Center. She recently expressed that she enjoys learning about the parables and the story of Noah’s Ark.
Simon has always seemed energetic, sporty, and industrious. Currently, he is at the beginning of eighth grade, and his favorite subjects are math and reading. He often shares about school, his family, and his responsibilities on their farm. In school this past year, he’s been learning new math skills, first aid, the laws of their country, and citizenship. His family situation has remained stable in the years that we have sponsored him.
I would ask that you prayerfully consider helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of these two young Christians by supporting February’s benevolence mission. So many benefits are available to Ariana and Simon as a result of ELC’s continual support.
We’ll be collecting donations for Compassion International throughout February. You can contribute via:
- Mail: Send a check to ELC and note “Benevolence” in the memo
- Online: Visit the ELC website and click “Give”
- Digitally: Download the “GivePlus Church” mobile app, or text “Benevolence” to 608-400-0183 with the amount you wish to give.
On behalf of Benevolence,
Jen Mullendore
