Church hosts Compassion Experience

The Compassion Experience, a traveling exhibit, thoroughly depicts the reality of global poverty.

Visitors get a glimpse of the challenges international children face living in impoverished conditions.

The Compassion Experience is being held in Kirtland from Aug. 18 to 21 at 10001 Chillicothe Road.

Kirtland Christian Fellowship is hosting the four-day event. Senior Pastor Tim French said it is another way to reach out and help people.

“The church is called to help the poor and this is another great way to serve,” he said on the first day of the event. “It is a great opportunity.”

Although French has seen the effects of poverty first-hand through missionary trips to Bolivia, he was moved by the tour.

“It was definitely emotional,” he said.

Phil and Karen Galier, who are members of Kirtland Christian Fellowship, has been involved in Compassion International for about 15 years.

“We’ve sponsored many children over the years,” Phil said. “We know that God has given us an opportunity to share our gifts and the greatest gift of all is spreading the gospel to these children. It’s a great outreach.”

According to its website, Compassion International is a child-advocacy ministry that pairs compassionate people with those who are suffering from poverty. It is committed to investing at least 80 percent of every dollar into caring for the children in our child development programs.

“It’s amazing,” Karen said. “They are really changing lives.”

Phil and Karen shared their experience visiting a child that they sponsored in Ecuador.

“It was a tremendous feeling,” Phil said. “We were able to give them hope.”

Karen said an interpreter was present to translate.

Fortunately through The Compassion Experience, visitors can experience another world without leaving theirs.

It is a free, self-guided journey through the lives and stories of two children living in the Uganda or Bolivia. The tour will take about 20 minutes to complete and is designed for all ages.

It will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 19, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 21

For more information about attending an event, volunteering, hosting and sponsoring a child visit www.compassion.com.

TAWANA ROBERTS — THE NEWS-HERALD Visitors tour The Compassion Experience at Kirtland Christian Fellowship on Aug. 18.

TAWANA ROBERTS — THE NEWS-HERALD The Compassion Experience, that is being held at Kirtland Christian Fellowship from Aug. 18 to 21, is an immersive exhibit that illustrates the realities of global poverty.