GMA Honors Compassion International and World Vision with Impact Award
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) honored two Christian development organizations earlier this week at the annual Monday Morning Live membership meeting which kicked off GMA Week 2005.
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) honored two Christian development organizations earlier this week at the annual Monday Morning Live membership meeting which kicked off GMA Week 2005.
The Impact Award, one of the seven prestigious GMA Special Awards, is presented to the non-artist individual or organization that has made the most significant contribution to the gospel music industry. On Apr. 10, the GMA announced Compassion International and World Vision as the recipients of the honor this year.
"Compassion International provides a vital ministry to children," said GMA President John Styll in a news release. "Through its decades-long affiliation with Christian musicians, Compassion is supporting Christian music as well as providing hope to those in poverty."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Compassion International is one of the nation’s largest child development organizations, working with more than 65 denominations and many indigenous church partners in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean. In 1979, Compassion partnered with Christian musicians, causing thousands of concertgoers and music lovers to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support for children in 23 developing countries. Today, Compassion is partnered with 129 artists and speakers throughout the country, reaching more than one million people in the last six months.
World Vision, which was started in the 1950s by Dr. Bob Pierce to help children orphaned in the Korean War, "has grown well beyond its child-assistance roots to facilitating the transformation of entire communities with water programs, health care education, agricultural and economic development, and strategic Christian leadership activities," GMA noted.
For the past 50+ years World Vision's mission has been "to call people to a life-changing commitment to serve the poor in the name of Christ."
World Vision started by assisting children in struggling communities with food, education and health care supported by monthly contributions from donors. These efforts to affect self-sustainable change evolved into World Vision's current community development work.
"Long-term development has proven central to bringing lasting hope," GMA stated. "After meeting immediate survival needs, World Vision works with communities to help them find solutions and move toward self-reliance."
Local leaders actively participate in determining the future of their communities. While communities work toward self-sufficiency, World Vision often provides fresh water wells and sanitation facilities, supplemental food, farming tools and seeds, loans for small businesses, and medicine.
"As people begin providing for themselves, dignity is restored and a new cycle of hope is born," GMA reported.
Past honorees of the Impact Award include Pro Tools Software, Salem Communications’ FISH radio stations, SoundScan, Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Dan Harrell and Michael Blanton, Jars of Clay, CCLI, NARM, CCM Communications, the Gaither “Homecoming Series” and the “WoW” series.
