Concert Compassion

Holding hands, Ann and Michael climbed the steps leading up to the Peterson Event Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. MercyMe and other popular Christian music artists were performing there in a few hours. Compassion International was sponsoring the tour and Ann and Michael were there as volunteers for the night.

“You’re sure I can get community service hours for this?” Michael had asked Ann a few nights before. “I need them to graduate this spring.” Ann had assured him that he could receive the hours and that tonight was going to be a fun night for getting community service hours.

After they checked in with the volunteer coordinator, they waited a moment to be told where they were going to be working at.

“Would you be willing to work at one of the tables inside the concert hall?” The coordinator asked. “It’s going to be loud in there but I need a few more people to go in there.”

Ann looked at Michael then back at the coordinator. “Sure. Sounds good to me.” They grabbed their jackets and followed the coordinator into the concert hall. “Like I’m going to complain about getting to watch the whole concert and complete my community service.” Ann whispered to Michael as they walked.

“Yeah. What are we doing anyway?” Michael asked.

“I’ll explain in a moment. Let’s get down there first.”

The coordinator showed Ann and Michael where he wanted them to be for the concert then left. After setting her coat on the floor, Ann picked up a child sponsorship packet. “I told you on our way here that Compassion International is a child sponsorship program that helps children in third world countries receive food, education, shelter, and other stuff like that. Basically, what we are going to do tonight is watch the concert for a while, help people who want to sponsor a child fill out the packet during intermission and answer their questions, then watch the rest of the concert. After that, there may be a few more people we help fill out the packet but, honestly, we’ll probably just clean up the tables after the concert and leave.”

“Sounds easy enough.” Michael shrugged. The concert started a few minutes later. The music was enjoyable and the performances were well executed.

About half way through the concert, it was time for the intermission. A guest speaker took the stage to explain who Compassion International is and what they do in third world countries. Michael and Ann stood behind the volunteer table waiting; listening to the speaker.

Other volunteers in the audience walked through the aisles holding sponsorship packets, ready to pass them out when prompted to. After the speaker finished speaking, the house lights went up and people started to move about. Some people went to get food or souvenirs. Others came down to the Compassion table to ask questions and fill out the sponsorship packets.

It was a bust twenty minutes for Michael and Ann; but, after it was over and the concert started again, Ann smiled to herself. A bunch of children living in various third world countries just had their lives changed forever. They would receive the food they needed and the education that would help make them successful in life. Even though they were not in Africa, South America, or any other third world country, Ann knew that she and Michael had just participated in the best community service project ever. They had helped bring hope to a child.