Radio / Webcast Marathon Nets Over 1,900 Requests For Compassion International Child Sponsorships

Compassion International
Monday, 20 November 2000

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 20, 2000-Six contemporary Christian radio stations from across the United States recently teamed up for a 36-hour marathon, attracting over 1,900 requests to sponsor Compassion International children living in poverty in developing countries around the world.

"We are so pleased that over 1,300 people so far have followed through to sponsor a child as a direct result of this six-station marathon," states Compassion's Reneé Pollmann, media advertising manager. "Each sponsored child will be given life-changing opportunities in the areas of education, health, skills development, and spiritual growth."

Stations WJQK of Grand Rapids, Mich.; KXOJ of Tulsa, Okla.; WVFJ of Atlanta; KAEZ of Amarillo, Texas; KTLI of Wichita, Kansas; and KOFR of Lubbock, Texas, joined together for a "friendly competition" to raise awareness of Compassion's child development efforts and to link individual sponsors with a child in need. Compassion President and CEO Wess Stafford provided interviews and live, call-in commentary. Listeners also were directed to log on to a special marathon Web site for a live broadcast from each of the six stations.

WJQK's Les Lanser says, "It's been a wonderfully rewarding privilege to partner with these other great Christian radio stations. To have the joy of knowing that hundreds of children will be presented with the gospel of Jesus Christ and helped with their education and nutrition is the highest privilege one can imagine. It's the children of the world that Jesus most wants us to reach. I thank the folks Compassion for allowing us to partner with them. I look forward to many more stations joining us next year."

Founded in 1952, Compassion International is a Christian not-for-profit organization dedicated to the long-term holistic development of children living in poverty. Working with more than 200 denominations in over 2,100 church-based projects, Compassion is reaching out to more than 360,000 children in 22 countries, including the United States.

For more information, or to contact Compassion International, see their website at: www.compassion.com