Confessions of a CEO: Can You Do It?
The next couple of weeks will see the roll out across Australia of 58: The Film. It’s a full-length documentary produced by Compassion International that challenges us with the proof that we can end extreme poverty. No matter how you define extreme poverty, in statistical terms of people living on less than $1.25 a day, or simply the reality that we know exists and which we see evidence of regularly in the media, ending it is a great challenge that each one of us actually can play a crucial part in. I have seen the film a number of times now, and each time I am challenged again.
58: The Film shows some very real stories of situations that are simply unacceptable in our day and age. There is the story of an Ethiopian woman, trying to cope under incredibly harsh and oppressive conditions. There’s the story of the Indian family who are trapped in bonded labour and so locked in that they will never get out on their own. There is the reality of young girls forced into the illegal sex trade.
And then there are stories of those who are making an amazing difference with their one life and mighty faith. There’s the tough ex-policeman who had his life turned upside down and now spends it rescuing young people from the horrendous abuse of the sex trade, the cafe owner who commits his business to the cause of defeating poverty, the young pastor who is endeavouring to let the gospel mandate to love the poor be centre stage of all his church does, and many more.
58: The Film is a "must see" and I really encourage you to take a group of friends with you when you do.
Can we really do it? Can we defeat extreme poverty? Will we take the gospel challenge seriously? We’ll never know unless we are moved to action.
Blessings
Tim
Dr Tim Hanna is Compassion Australia’s CEO. Married to Chris, they have nine children (yes, you read correctly) and 16 grandchildren (so far). He loves to spend time with his family and travelling, which is fortunate considering he does a lot of it as he leads Compassion Australia’s ministry in more than 26 developing nations.
