Crossroads Compassion Project was born as a result of God stirring the hearts of a small group of people with a passion for orphans. The leadership of Crossroads Compassion Project has been involved in ministry to orphans and at-risk young people in The Republic of Moldova for many years. All of us have spent time in Moldova, ministering to these young people personally.
In 2001, we began working with Little Samaritan Mission in Moldova. L.S.M. has a broad range of ministry to orphans and to children and elderly people in impoverished villages in Moldova. We were introduced to these wonderful children in Moldova through Little Samaritan Mission’s Face of a Child Project. The Face of a Child Project was designed to meet the most basic physical needs of the children in the orphanages and villages. But one of the things that had always been troubling to think about is “What happens after the orphanage?”
The children in the orphanages must leave after they complete the 9th grade. They are given a small amount of money and a bus ticket to wherever they came from. These are 15-16 year old kids that are now on their own and in some cases, alone on the streets. The statistics on these kids are not good. Without an intervention, many of them have no future and they are vulnerable to human trafficking when they leave the orphanage.
In the summer of 2012 we were able to host a week long camp for 60 orphans from the south of Moldova. During our time in the camp, we were able to build relationships with many of the kids and they began to open up and share their personal stories with us. Late one night a group of us were gathered around a picnic table, just talking about life. One of the girls began weeping as she told us how much she feared her future. She told us that she must leave the orphanage at the end of the next school year. She was physically shaking as she shared this with us. She told us that she had no place to go and she didn’t know what she was going to do. Then she looked me in the eye and asked me, “Will you please help me?” I didn’t know what to say! But before I could even process what just happened, 3 more girls spoke up and said “It is the same for us.” Now the plea had changed to “Will you help us?” WOW! I think I said something like “Well… I’ll try to think of something” – Pretty lame answer, I know. That night I did not sleep. I knew I had to do something. I sensed that God was telling me it was time to step up. After much prayer, wise counsel, and a tremendous outpouring of support from friends and family, Crossroads Compassion Project was born.
Our name was chosen, because at this point in their lives, these young people are at a crossroads. With a little compassion, we can help give them a chance. We can offer them a safe place to live while they finish their education. Some will learn a trade that they can use to support themselves later in life. Some will get to pursue their dream of attending University. We want to come alongside these young people and help equip them to become self sufficient and transition to independence. Most importantly, we want all of them to see and feel the love of Jesus Christ first hand and to come to a personal relationship with Him.
Our mission is simply this: Crossroads Compassion Project, its Volunteers and Advocates will work to meet the basic physical, spiritual and emotional needs of orphans, impoverished and “at-risk” young people in Eastern Europe and the rest of the world, and to promote education as an alternative to human trafficking.
Tony Mullen – President
In 2001, we began working with Little Samaritan Mission in Moldova. L.S.M. has a broad range of ministry to orphans and to children and elderly people in impoverished villages in Moldova. We were introduced to these wonderful children in Moldova through Little Samaritan Mission’s Face of a Child Project. The Face of a Child Project was designed to meet the most basic physical needs of the children in the orphanages and villages. But one of the things that had always been troubling to think about is “What happens after the orphanage?”
The children in the orphanages must leave after they complete the 9th grade. They are given a small amount of money and a bus ticket to wherever they came from. These are 15-16 year old kids that are now on their own and in some cases, alone on the streets. The statistics on these kids are not good. Without an intervention, many of them have no future and they are vulnerable to human trafficking when they leave the orphanage.
In the summer of 2012 we were able to host a week long camp for 60 orphans from the south of Moldova. During our time in the camp, we were able to build relationships with many of the kids and they began to open up and share their personal stories with us. Late one night a group of us were gathered around a picnic table, just talking about life. One of the girls began weeping as she told us how much she feared her future. She told us that she must leave the orphanage at the end of the next school year. She was physically shaking as she shared this with us. She told us that she had no place to go and she didn’t know what she was going to do. Then she looked me in the eye and asked me, “Will you please help me?” I didn’t know what to say! But before I could even process what just happened, 3 more girls spoke up and said “It is the same for us.” Now the plea had changed to “Will you help us?” WOW! I think I said something like “Well… I’ll try to think of something” – Pretty lame answer, I know. That night I did not sleep. I knew I had to do something. I sensed that God was telling me it was time to step up. After much prayer, wise counsel, and a tremendous outpouring of support from friends and family, Crossroads Compassion Project was born.
Our name was chosen, because at this point in their lives, these young people are at a crossroads. With a little compassion, we can help give them a chance. We can offer them a safe place to live while they finish their education. Some will learn a trade that they can use to support themselves later in life. Some will get to pursue their dream of attending University. We want to come alongside these young people and help equip them to become self sufficient and transition to independence. Most importantly, we want all of them to see and feel the love of Jesus Christ first hand and to come to a personal relationship with Him.
Our mission is simply this: Crossroads Compassion Project, its Volunteers and Advocates will work to meet the basic physical, spiritual and emotional needs of orphans, impoverished and “at-risk” young people in Eastern Europe and the rest of the world, and to promote education as an alternative to human trafficking.
Tony Mullen – President