In 2005 my husband, Sheldon, and I attended a special youth weekend in Corner Brook, N.L., which led us to make a life-changing decision. This wasn't God's call upon our lives for officership, nor was it confirmation that we should be united in holy matrimony. It was a challenge to give of ourselves and help others. At the weekend event, a child sponsorship group had set up a table to encourage delegates to sponsor a child. As Sheldon and I approached the table, I don't think either one of us had the intention to walk away as sponsor parents, but it is evident now that God had other plans.

As we looked at photo after photo of each beautiful child, I believe God began to mold and soften our hearts towards these children. There was one photo in particular that jumped out at us. It was of a little boy from Columbia standing in front of a bush with brown shoes, blue jeans and a blue plaid shirt. What makes that outfit so special? Well, on that day Sheldon was also wearing brown shoes, blue jeans and a blue plaid shirt! As we identified with this child, we signed up as child sponsors and have blessed to have Faber Antonio Gonzalez Durango in our lives.

Our first piece of correspondence from Faber was a coloured picture of green grass, blue skies and M's for birds. Since then, we have watched his artistic skill improve and we now receive letters that are written by Faber himself. It never ceases to amaze me how much faith this 11-year-old boy has─he believes that everything good in his life has come from God, and he thanks God every day for the way in which we help to meet his needs. This little boy, whom we have never met, has a place in our hearts as well as in our family. He even has his own place in the family picture frame in our daughter's bedroom.

If the Holy Spirit has ever prompted you to sponsor a child, then I encourage you to step out in faith and make the commitment. You will never know the blessing that is waiting for you as you do your part to help a precious child that God has created and loves.

As Jesus tells us in Scripture, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink … I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me…. whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:35-36, 40).

Click here to learn more about child sponsorship.

Captain Ashley Bungay and her husband, Sheldon, are the corps officers of The New-Wes-Valley Corps in the Newfoundland and Labrador West Division. They were commissioned as Heralds of the Good News in 2007 and have a daughter, Alexis, who was born in November 2008. In her spare time Ashley likes to relax in front of the TV, scrapbook pictures of her family and take long walks. She is passionate about youth and young women's ministry, and her favourite Scripture passage is Jeremiah 17:7-8.