Michael W Smith tour video for 2011. Michael is singing while this video is playing.

A look back at some of our video work.

The Bite Back Campaign video and collateral pieces.

Walter’s Story: The Next World Cup Star?

Walter, 13, had a choice to make.

He could easily have slipped into a life filled with violence and gangs. Abandoned by his father and living in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in El Salvador, he could have become mired in the cycle of poverty.

But one thing made him choose a different path — his passion for soccer.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon, Walter escapes his dreary home life and rushes to soccer school. Donations to Compassion’s Complementary Interventions make this possible.

At every practice, Walter also learns how much God loves him. “If I was not part of this program, I would be sad, like I am worth less than other people,” he says.

After a few months of attending the soccer school, Walter was chosen to go to the national federation and be on a youth team that represents El Salvador in the Olympic Games.

Walter’s dream is to one day play at the World Cup. And he may just find himself there. Because as Walter is learning, all things are possible with God.

No Longer a “Thing”

The very minute Jean Paul was born, his father disowned him. “Don’t bring that “thing” to my home,” he instructed his wife.

Jean Paul didn’t look like the other babies in the Rwandan village. He was an albino. And in Rwanda, that usually means one of two things. You’re an outcast. Or you’re killed.

In East Africa, a child who is born with albinism is considered cursed. But an albino’s body parts are worth thousands of dollars to witch doctors, who use them in special potions that many superstitious Africans believe will bring them good fortune.

Although Jean Paul’s father didn’t kill his son, he did ridicule and neglect him. “My family was afraid of me,” said Jean. “No one would come close to me. I used to spend the whole day outside and in the night they would collect me like they did the saucepans and basins.”

When Jean was 6, his father’s heart finally began to soften toward him. But later that same year, his father was murdered in the Rwandan genocide.

Then Jean enrolled in Compassion’s program, and he at last came to know the healing love of Jesus Christ. Jean worked diligently through school and became a worship leader at his church. Because of his dedication, he was accepted into Compassion’s Leadership Development Program. Now he is studying psychology at the University of Rwanda. “After I am done with this, I shall be an advocate for people for all skin colors,” Jean says.

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