1. family and parenting
2. children

FOLLOW-UP
A PASTOR’S GUIDE TO
HOPE SUNDAY
A BOU T WOR L D V ISION
CAREFUL STEWARDS OF
YOUR GIFTS
• At World Vision, stewardship is an integral part
of everything we do—because we recognize
that every resource entrusted to us can
transform real children’s lives.
• As part of our stewardship, we optimize
resources and distribute them where they are
needed most.
• We carefully monitor and review programs
and costs, use donations and grants for their
intended purposes, and look for ways to
leverage funds for maximum impact.
OFC
• With an average of 85 to 89 percent of our
annual operating expenses going to programs
that benefit those in need, World Vision has
been consistently ranked as a top nonprofit in
the area of fiscal responsibility.
If you have any questions, please contact us at
1.888.303.2003 or visit our website at
ww w.worldvision.org/church
34834 Weyerhaeuser Way South
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
in my
“Whoever welcomes a little child like this
name welcomes me.” —Matthew 18:5 (NI V)
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their
communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
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ABOUT HOPE SUNDAY AND WORLD VISION
INTRODUCTION
YOUR CHURCH AND THE POWER OF HOPE
Dear Pastor,
Thank you for partnering with World Vision to host
a Hope Sunday. This very minute, children around
the world are suffering from pover ty, hunger, and
disease. They desperately need to experience
Christ’s love in a tangible way. That’s why we’re so
grateful for your church and the hope that you are
going to bring through child sponsorship.
World Vision child sponsorship will give your church
congregation the oppor tunity to change the lives
of children living in pover ty. Sponsorship gifts help
provide the sponsored child, his or her family, and
on,
their community with access to essentials such as clean water, proper nutriti
Vision child
vital healthcare, quality education, and economic oppor tunities. World
sponsorship is child-focused, family- centered, and community-based.
not hinder
Jesus says in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do
n have
them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” You see, childre
of these’
a special place in the kingdom of God and your compassion for ‘the least
(Matthew 25:40) is at the center of God’s heart.
WHY HOPE SUNDAY?
WHY CHILD SPONSORSHIP?
Hope Sunday can be a springboard for getting
your entire church caught up in the exciting
mission of responding to global poverty in a
personal way. Caring for the poor as Jesus did
is part of the “whole gospel”—loving God and
loving our neighbors.
World Vision child sponsorship gives people the
opportunity to change the life of a child living in
poverty. Sponsorship gifts help provide the sponsored
child, his or her family, and their community with access
to essentials such as clean water, proper nutrition,
vital healthcare, quality education, and economic
opportunities.
Passages like Proverbs 14:31 and James 2:26 tell
us that our actions reveal the depth of our faith.
And Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:14—“Let the
little children come to me”—encourage us to
consider the needs of children.
In communities where sponsored children live,
World Vision partners with families to help create
lasting, locally tailored solutions to poverty—equipping
them to become self-sustaining and build a better future.
WILL SPONSORSHIP GIVING IMPACT
MY CHURCH?
You may wonder whether support for your church will decrease as a
result of your congregation’s commitment to child sponsorship. The
opposite has been the experience of the pastor’s we’ve partnered
with. As individuals and congregations gain a heart for those in need,
they become expansive givers to Christ’s purposes in ministry locally
and worldwide.
we seek to
We don’t take lightly that you’ve chosen to partner with World Vision as
you have a
build a better world for children. We hope the mater ials enclosed will help
transformational Hope Sunday.
God Bless,
Rich Stearns
President, World Vision
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“I thought we were
going to sa ve Africa.
I didn’t realize that
Africa was going to
sa ve me.”
—Senior Pastor
Keith Stewart
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PRE-EVENT
PRE-EVENT
BEFORE YOUR HOPE SUNDAY EVENT
Once you’ve prayerfully considered how Hope Sunday can help your congregation discover
its significance in God’s worldwide mission, you’ll need to begin preparing for the event and
promoting Hope Sunday to your congregation. Here’s what you need to do:
PRAY FOR LIVES TO BE CHANGED
SET A GOAL
Please join us in praying that God will use
this program—and your congregation—to
meet the needs of hurting children for
whom He cares deeply.
As pastor, you can also set a sponsorship
goal. Many churches plan on 10 percent of
their weekend attendance as an initial goal.
REVIEW ALL THE ENCLOSED
RESOURCES
In the weeks leading up to your Hope
Sunday, study The Hole in Our Gospel by
Rich Stearns and use the accompanying
small group curriculum Gospel Quest.
HAND MATERIALS TO KEY PEOPLE,
including the volunteers staffing the
sponsorship table. Be sure to give them
the enclosed materials that explain their
role and their participation.
PREPARE YOUR CONGREGATION
YOUR HOPE SUNDAY RESOURCES
The following DVD titles make for compelling viewing:
How can World Vision help
you plan a successful event?
> Choose from the many resources
on the enclosed DVD: videos, a
bulletin insert, poster, event guide,
and PowerPoint presentation.
> Contact our National Church
Engagement Offices any time for
advice, resources, or technical
assistance at church@worldvision.org
or 1.888.303.20 03.
> Talk to your World Vision
Church Advisor.
• Create a bulletin insert using the
template provided
• Hang enclosed promotional posters
USE ANY OF THESE OTHER
MATERIALS on the enclosed DVD
to promote your event:
• Invite community members
Pastor Keith on Partnership: On
a life-changing trip to Kenya,
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
of Springcreek Church finds
out God’s plan for him and his
congregation. (2:02 min)
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Hope
Sunday
Child Sponsorship
Spons
p sorship
orship
Child Sponsorship
Changee a child’ss life.
Transform
Transfo
orm yourr own.
When we demonstrate
God’s love by becoming
sponsors, our own lives
will be changed profoundly.
LET YOUR CHURCH BE CAUGHT
UP IN HOPE
Our church is united to change the lives of children around the world, while also
helping to lift communities out of poverty, disease and despair. We are hosting a
Hope Sunday, because that’s what we want to share—the hope of Christ. Pray
now about this opportunity we have to embrace God’s heart for the poor and
join him in his work around the world. What does God ask of you?
Coming soon to our service:
Date:
Time:
Church name:
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
Date:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from
being polluted by the world. —James 1:27
Bulletin
insert
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working
with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full
potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
Imagine Sponsorship: Imagine
changing a life in desperate
need—that’s what child
sponsorship can help you do.
(1:48 min)
Poster
Impact of AIDS: Shorter version
of the Hidden Faces of AIDS.
(1:18 min)
Small groups can study The Hole in Our Gospel in the weeks leading up to Hope Sunday, with the
whole-gospel theme of loving God and loving your neighbor. “Picture armies of compassion stationed
in every corner of our world, doing small things with great love,” Rich writes.
You and your congregation might also find the accompanying Gospel Quest curriculum to be a
helpful tool.
CODE
CODE
CO
Time:
“Let the little children come to
Me, and do not hinder them, for
the kingdom of heaven belongs to
such as these.” —Matthew 19:14 (NIV)
Change a child’s life. Transform your own.
Hope Sunday can be a springboard for getting your entire
church caught up in the exciting mission of responding to
global poverty in a personal way. Leveraging your Hope
Sunday event with additional World Vision resources
(like The Hole in Our Gospel by World Vision President
Rich Stearns) can do even more to engage and prepare
your congregation.
One Heart One Life: AIDS is
destroying entire communities
in Africa. With your one life,
what will you do about it?
(3:21 min)
Hidden Faces of AIDS: In
the midst of the sadness and
despair, who cares for those left
behind? (9:01 min)
PROMOTE YOUR
HOPE SUNDAY EVENT
• Make a pulpit announcement
A Tale of Two Women: An
American sponsor meets the
Ethiopian siblings she sponsors
and the mother she helped save
from despair. (3:07 min)
PowerPoint
presentation
Rich Stearns Sermon Option:
An optional sermon video from
World Vision President Rich
Stearns. (32:27 min)
Visit www.theholeinourgospel.com for more information.
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DAY OF EVENT
DAY OF EVENT
THE DAY OF
YOUR EVENT
SPEAKING POINTS FOR
YOUR HOPE SUNDAY SERVICE
The following speaking points are suggestions on how to remind your congregation
of God’s heart for the poor—challenging them to respond through World Vision
child sponsorship.
Hope Sunday can be as long or
short as your service allows:
FIVE-MINUTE PRESENTATION
I know many of you are already taking action,
but will you consider doing more? And if
you’re doing nothing, will you choose to do
something today?
Show a brief video such as Imagine, endorse
child sponsorship, and direct members of your
congregation to a sign-up table after the service.
JUST THE SERMON
Incorporate the significance of sponsoring a
child into your sermon. Show a video or use the
PowerPoint, and speak about poverty, AIDS, or
the church’s responsibility to care for the poor.
An optional video sermon from World Vision
President Rich Stearns is included onn the DVD.
FULL-SERVICE EVENT
Use Hope Sunday as the theme for the entire
worship experience. Craft a sermonn around
compassion. Show a video on child sponsorship.
Discuss how it provides an opportunity
nity for
Christians to answer God’s urgent call to
serve “the least of these.” Music, prayers,
ayers, and
Scripture readings can support powerful
erful biblical
themes of compassion and loving our
ur neighbor.
HOPE SUNDAY:
HOW YOUR TIMING COULD LOOK:
3-5 min. Show a short video on sponsorship
(included on the DVD)
3-5 min
1-2 min
30 sec
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Talk about the benefits of sponsorship
and provide more information about
your partnership with World Vision,
using the speak ing points provided
Have a sponsor from your congregation
share their experience of sponsoring
a child
Direct church members to the
sponsorship information and picture
folders in the lobby after the service
(using the speak ing points provided)
“The orphan and the widow . . . that’s
God’s soft spot. And if it’s special to
Him, I want it to be special to me.”
—Pastor Joe Cortese, Crossroads Tabernacle,
Bronx, NY
If you’ve chosen to become a child sponsor, visit
one of the stations in the lobby, where you can
see pictures and read information about children
in need of sponsors. Please be sure to check
tthe box that allows World Vision to share your
ssponsorship with our church so we can celebrate
aall God has done today!
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for
themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the
poor and needy.”—Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
Each of us has the power to personally connect with
a vulnerable child. For about the cost of one meal
out at your favorite restaurant, you can provide
monthly sponsorship for a child.
When we demonstrate God’s love by becoming
sponsors, our own lives will be changed profoundly.
I we each do what we can, God will multiply
If
our efforts into many changed lives, starting with
our own.
KEY
K
EY SCRIPTURE
S C R I P TU R E
PASSAGES
P
ASSAGES
—Micah
—Micah 6:8
6:8 ((NIV)
NI V )
By seeing a child restored physically and spiritually
through our care, our whole family can gain a new
perspective. It only takes one person deciding to
make a difference in one child’s life.
—Isaiah 58:10
58:10 ((NIV)
NI V )
—Isaiah
—Matthew 18:5
18:5 (NIV)
(N I V )
—Matthew
—Matthew 2
5:34-45 (NIV)
(N I V )
—Matthew
25:34-45
AFTER THE EVENT
• Continue to offer sponsorship in your lobby 1-2 weeks
k after
ft your event,
t making
ki announcements
t
and promoting Hope Sunday in your service.
• Mail in the completed sponsorship envelopes using the postage-paid envelopes provided. (Use one
to mail envelopes in the week of your Hope Sunday event and keep the other for sponsorships that
may come in the weeks following.)
• Encourage sponsors to write to their sponsored child and begin to develop this special relationship
(instructions on how to do this are included in the Sponsor Welcome Kit that
World Vision will send to each sponsor).
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