Interview With Shaun Groves

I’m not a reporter, I’m not experienced in the least with interviewing, but, I was honoured to be able to interview  Shaun Groves .

In case you don’t know who he is, I’ll share with you what little I know about him.  He’s a Christian musician that works with Compassion International to release children from poverty in Jesus name. He is a blogger who speaks truth and encouragement to all. He is a husband, father and friend. I really know very little about him. I have never had the opportunity to meet him and speak with him face to face. All I really know about him, is what he chooses to share on his blog.  And that’s enough for me.

Very often, when I’ve read his blog post, he’s not only given me ‘food for thought’, he’s filled me right up. He writes things that really make you stand back and take a long, hard look at your life and try to see what you can do differently.  He encourages Christians everywhere, to stand up for what they believe in and give back.

I was very excited to be given this opportunity. I really had no idea what to ask. Eventually, after almost a week of thinking about it, I decided on these questions:

1) How did you come up with the title "Third World Symphony"?

Shaun - I actually stumbled upon an album by that title on iTunes one day. I loved it. I used it in conversation almost immediately when trying to describe to someone that the developing world is not a place of sorrow and injustice and poverty for me. Those things certainly exists but I've found so much more on my trips there, gained so much more from relationships forged there. The people of the third world have much to teach us - so beautiful and wise and inspiring. They see God from an angle I simply can't most days here in the first world. I told this friend of mine that the third world used to be so dissonant for me, a place of heartache, a place I didn't want to contemplate, let alone visit. But it has become symphonic - a thing of immense beauty.

2) Why and when did you get involved with Compassion International?

Shaun - Compassion asked me to speak on their behalf at my concerts starting way back in 2001. Because I'm a horribly skeptical person I said No for many years. Then, in 2005, after praying for some time that God would give a purpose to my growing platform, I took them up on their offer to show me their ministry. I traveled with Compassion to El Salvador, met a little girl named Yanci that my family sponsored, and, well, I was convinced. I looked in file cabinets, asked hard questions, wrestled and doubted and fought but couldn't get away from the truth: God cares about the vulnerable and poor and Compassion's ministry to them is effective and biblical.

Compassion meets the physical and spiritual needs of children in 26 of the world's poorest countries - working exclusively through the local church. I believe the Church is the most powerful entity on the planet and I believe it is the Church's responsibility alone to meet the physical and spiritual needs of these children. And Compassion empowers the local church to do just that - in a way that is recognized by watchdog groups as highly effective and efficient.

So I drank the Kool-aid, came home and sold my house and changed the way I live so that my family and I can partner with Compassion in a way they need us to - to see more children released from poverty in Jesus' name.

 

Does this encourage you to sponsor a child? You can save a life here. Or maybe buy Shaun’s new album? 

Feel free to share your thoughts, I would love to hear them!

 

 

Also, I’m still waiting for a reply on the Beth Moore simulcast. Any takers?

*Andrea*