i’m not one for begging, but i beg you, read this post
August 13th, 2008 @ 7:26 am
[edit: i couldn't take it anymore. i had to post it. yeah it's earlier than i said. i was just so excited!]
i really thought about titling this with the word “boobies” because statistics have shown that is the word that gets people to read your blog.
but anyway.
thank you for humoring my title and reading this.
i cannot tell you the number of times that i have heard people say blogging is so narcissistic, but it’s been a lot. i cannot tell you the amount of hate email i get because people think i like to cause fights by asking questions that aren’t always religiously correct, but it’s been a lot. if i’m not careful, i can let the few bad things outweigh the good.
and good? there is a lot.
today, i just wanted to share an important stat about YOU. not stats as in how many people subscribe to my RSS feed or give me technorati points or whatever.
but one important number.
$80,000.
in just six months, you guys have donated (through instant payments or gifts or commitments) $80,000.
one blog. just a few hundred people. six months. $80,000.
at least 40 children have been released from poverty from just this site (over 500 as a result of our blogging trip, which they tell me would equal about $960,000 based on the average sponsorship length!)
110 mosquito nets to help prevent malaria have been paid for and sent to third world countries
120 books have been purchased and sent to pastors in the dominican republic.
over $850 has been given to various causes like haitian rescue centers, mission trips, and people just barely scraping by.
$80,000.
that number blows me away. i am speechless yet cannot thank you guys enough for putting your money where your mouth is, literally. you have shown that faith is not about rules or theological opinions but about loving others.
so next time someone tells you that blogging is a waste of time, you can share with them otherwise.
wow. just, wow.
==
ps - if you want to sponsor a child through compassion international, and make that number 41, you can click here to meet some incredible and amazing kids.
Church · Compassion International
Will Young said,
August 13, 2008 at 7:29 am
that’s insane…in a good way.
thanks for sharing!
Mark Jaffrey said,
August 13, 2008 at 7:31 am
A-ma-zing. Yay God!
Alli {Mrs. Fussypants} said,
August 13, 2008 at 7:31 am
Wonderful, Anne!
I’ll email you today to get started donating from Blissfully Domestic.
xoxo, Alli
Fred F. McKinnon said,
August 13, 2008 at 7:34 am
Anne,
Wow - that’s amazing! I’m happy to have been a small part back in the mosquito net days. We have a Compassion Child in Tanzania, Kelvin is his name. It’s been such an inspiration to our small kids, ages 7, 6, 4, and 2. The 4-yr old saw Kelvin on the fridge a few nights ago, asked to draw him a picture, and said “dad, that boy really, really needs us”. My 6 yr old prays for him every night during our bedtime prayers. I LOVE IT.
I love you using your influence and this blog to make a difference!
For the Kingdom,
Fred McKinnon
http://www.fredmckinnon.com
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com
janowen said,
August 13, 2008 at 7:36 am
Anne, I learned years ago that God often works in ways that are very “irrelegious”. He is a big, creative God. He is so much MORE than we can comprehend and it does not at all surprise me that He has used blogging - and in particular this bloggind community and your willingness - to do such a thing. Thank you for being open to a “new fire” - a move of the Spirit that is uniting us from all corners of the world. That’s exciting to me! You always inspire me.
God loves to break our preconceived molds and boxes.
Praise God.
Michelle Pendergrass said,
August 13, 2008 at 7:49 am
Excellent news!! Our little girl is in Peru. I absolutely love sponsoring her.
Kevin Davis said,
August 13, 2008 at 7:50 am
Very, very cool.
Thanks for using your influence to help others. Reminds me of this guy I once heard about, named Haysues or Jesus or somehting like that.
jon mark said,
August 13, 2008 at 7:58 am
that is awesome…
you have “caused me” to “fall into” blog envy…ha!!!
Jenn Cady said,
August 13, 2008 at 8:05 am
So AMAZING Anne! If it wasn’t for your Blog and your 1st trip my husband would never have believed that these kids actually get the help needed. We sponsored a child because of your trip! People want to know tha their money is actually HELPING someone and not funding a mega mansion of some dude in California or wherever!
Keep blogging. The more you are flogged by the public…the better…The more you are enduring a life like Christ. With each lash you are becoming more like him and you know you are on the right path…Keep swimming up stream! You Rock!!!!!!! Here is a blog high five….BooYah!
Heidi Reed said,
August 13, 2008 at 8:13 am
Awesome and moving. Thanks for the opportunities you’ve provided, Anne.
Hugs!!
Michelle Wegner said,
August 13, 2008 at 8:21 am
That is absolutely amazing. I love how God uses stuff like blogs and the internet to further His Kingdom.
I was able to travel to Erode, India with my husband and oldest daughter who was 8 at the time to visit one of our Compassion children. Needless to say, it was the catalytic event that launched me into the next phase of my life and ministry. Rob and I are huge Compassion supporters. We’ve been sponsoring children since 1992, and will most likely until we die. :)
Thank you for opening yourself up to this opportunity through your blog. Not only are the lives of children being changed, but the supporters lives are being changed as well.
You are awesome.
Phil Thompson said,
August 13, 2008 at 8:27 am
Wonderful, that’s exciting news!
Crystal Renaud said,
August 13, 2008 at 8:33 am
you’ve come a long way since Xanga. that’s for sure. this is wonderful!
Pete Wilson said,
August 13, 2008 at 8:43 am
This is so cool Anne. I’m so proud of you and the way you’re using your influence.
I’m also proud of your readers! Wow! I love to see this kind of generosity.
Milan Ford said,
August 13, 2008 at 9:03 am
Congratulations…everybody!
Marc A. Pitman said,
August 13, 2008 at 9:29 am
VERY COOL!
Anne, how did this start? Was there a blog post 6 months ago?
I’d love to feature this on fundraisingcoach.com.
Sarah Markley said,
August 13, 2008 at 9:34 am
sooo beautiful, and amazing.
Kate W. said,
August 13, 2008 at 10:40 am
Wow, you have an amazing readership!
Brad Huebert said,
August 13, 2008 at 10:49 am
Woo Hoo! Thanks for doing this, and letting us in on the party!
DaveAllen said,
August 13, 2008 at 11:16 am
Wow, our God really is an Awesome God!
Carole Turner said,
August 13, 2008 at 12:39 pm
very great.
Spiky Sandy said,
August 13, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Anne, you are a blessing to us, your readers. Thank you!!
tony said,
August 13, 2008 at 1:02 pm
are you saying that it’s bad to be a narcissist, kinda like being a fat pastor or sumthin?
the only reason i comment on your blog is so that i can then look back and see my name in print and on the internet - i’m a legend in my own mind
Terrace Crawford said,
August 13, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Simply amazing.
Brad Ruggles said,
August 13, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Anne, you and your blog are an inspiration to me. I’m not sure exactly what my reasons were initially for blogging. I certainly didn’t think I would have as many readers as I have.
But over the past few months I’ve begun to catch the vision for the impact a simple blog can have on the world and I realized that I don’t want to just blog to entertain people or watch my stats spike. I want to make a DIFFERENCE! You’ve shown me how big of a difference one blog can have.
Your blog is what my blog wants to be when it grows up.
BUSH said,
August 13, 2008 at 2:17 pm
this is is the way blog stats & blog bragging should happen. so glad to hear about this anne. you & your readers are doing amazing work for Compassion & other ministries.
i’m so glad there are blogs out there really trying to make a difference.
blessings.
Shane Vander Hart said,
August 13, 2008 at 2:39 pm
That’s awesome! Go God!
brandiandboys said,
August 13, 2008 at 2:50 pm
this post is exactly why i love flowerdust.net… you’ve given it the ability to reach beyond just a cyber relationship to bringing life change to others. well done, anne! :) thanks for this example.
Michael Harrison said,
August 13, 2008 at 2:57 pm
People “putting their money where their mouth is” is best exemplified by you, Anne Jackson. Thanks for not just thinking outside the box, but living there as well. Congrats! Keep on….
mark stegall said,
August 13, 2008 at 3:20 pm
this is so awesome!! i love it when the global church takes action to do something about the poor and the helpless! great job anne! i know you are super pumped about this!!!
terry timm said,
August 13, 2008 at 4:02 pm
this pumps me up anne - thanks for inviting us all into the channel of blessing others.
Lory said,
August 13, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Anne,
You have no idea how badly I needed to hear some good God-news today. Thanks for taking a step back to remind us of our Kingdom responsibility.
Janel said,
August 13, 2008 at 4:35 pm
That is awesome!!! Thank you for sharing that today.
jill said,
August 13, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Speaking of Compassion, I meant to tell you my husband and I are now sponsoring a child - as of 3 nights ago :) We were planning on playing board games (exciting life, I know) but then my husband suggested we finally choose “our” child! We’d been talking about doing it for months! So excited and thank you for reintroducing me to Compassion (my grandmother always sponsored a child).
Jodi said,
August 13, 2008 at 10:52 pm
It’s so awesome what you’re doing through your blog. Don’t listen to those few people out of the many who have something negative to say. A good lesson can be learned from Nehemiah: “IGNORE THE YAPPERS.” I also read a quote that says something like this: “Other people’s expectations are not necessarily God’s will for your life.” And, finally, I also believe that if we are being opposed in some way, it means we must be doing something God wants us to do! Keep it up, Anne. Run the race to win the prize. Not everyone is going to like you along the way, but God’s smile is on your life, and that’s all the matters! :)
Cheryl said,
August 13, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Anne, 80,000, that’s so cool!
Don’t listen to those HATERS! In my profile pic, I am wearing some rather large glasses, I like to call them HATER BLOCKERS!! ;)
brewha! said,
August 14, 2008 at 9:16 am
See Below for my hate mail letter to you - you blogger.
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Kaye said,
August 14, 2008 at 10:07 am
Huge congrats! God can work through any form of communication, can’t He? =)
Thank you for all of the work you do for these kids! It is incredible the changes that you have inspired in people and their habits. Due to your hard work, your awesome blog, and this great post, I’m giving you an award from my site Mrs Nespy’s Frugal World. h(http://mrsnespysworld.blogspot.com)
To grab your Silver Medal if you’d like to see it or display it, go to http://mrsnespy.googlepages.com/grabyourmedalhere. If not, just know that your writing and hard work is moving and I’m pointing my readers in the direction of your site!
transitionpete said,
August 15, 2008 at 1:14 pm
YEAH!!!!!
Joy Argow said,
August 15, 2008 at 1:47 pm
That is incredible!
chuck harris said,
August 15, 2008 at 2:36 pm
wow!
other than that i’m speechless.
is that the….church?
chuck
HAA said,
August 15, 2008 at 4:25 pm
We have sponsored a Compassion child, inspired by your blog…but through the UK Compassion site. So make that $80,032!
HAA said,
August 15, 2008 at 4:26 pm
PS We had our first letter the other week….he’s precious!
Robin (PENSIEVE) said,
August 15, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Beautiful, this power of the pen.
Who knows how many lives you’ve touched (bloggers touch) without even realizing it? That figure reflects the “known”…but I imagine the unknown goes a whole lot farther.
Soli Deo Gloria
:)