Hope of the World

In the colourful community of Catacochain southern Ecuador, children in the Compassion program meet every Saturday. It is a mountainous community, and children can be seen making their way down to their local church by bus, motorcycle and foot. At the centre, children are supported in their physical, relational and spiritual development.

One Saturday, they gathered to write prayers to Jesus on sheets of paper. “I wrote my prayer to God, in which I ask Him to provide hope to families and children who have not yet had the blessing of having a church to belong to,” says Santiago, a child registered at the Compassion centre in Catacocha.

This Easter Sunday, we celebrate that we have hope in Jesus. The miracle of His resurrection is not just a page in history; it has triumphed over every darkness now and into the future. Even though many are still experiencing hard times, we know that one day “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).

Across every nation, God’s Church is sharing this hope.

After the children in Catacocha wrote their prayers, they folded them into paper aeroplanes and launched them as a symbol of lifting their prayers to heaven. “I like to imagine that Jesus receives my paper aeroplane, unwraps it, opens it and reads it,” says Matias. “He likes my prayers to reach Him, and that’s how He takes care of me.”

As a global neighbourhood, Compassion is moving to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. We want to see more children experience freedom from the barriers and lies that are holding them back from being who God made them to be.

As the Easter season draws to a close, we invite you to get involved in this mission and lift a prayer to Jesus that all children may have hope and experience life to the full.

Reflection

How can you be part of sharing the hope of Jesus beyond Easter?

Prayer

Jesus, you are so powerful that you are not defeated by death nor overcome by darkness. Thank you that in your death and resurrection, we are restored to right relationship with you. As part of your Church, may we bring your light to those who are hopeless so that they may know your life-changing hope. Amen.