Spence Smith

After almost 11 years traveling overseas with Compassion International. I’m not sure how to put yesterday into words. I’ve seen a lot of rough places in my life. Walked the streets surrounded by the meanest and deadliest gangs in the world and protected by them because their kids are educated and cared for by Compassion.

I’ve been in the largest slum in Africa, Kibera. One million people living in a 3 mile by 6 mile plot of land… and walked on the human waste that fills its streets and covers its area in the most god-awful smell.

But nothing prepared me to see people living in a cemetery. Literally. Their houses are built of whatever wood, cardboard, or alumni they can find. If they need to use the side of a tomb for a wall… they do.

In my head, I know the bones they sleep on, walk on, hang out on… play on are just that now… bones. No souls.

But I’ve always had a deep respect, as must do, for where the dead are buried and the meaning their lives once had in the lives of their friends and families.

But to live a life where your only place you can now live is a grave site… It just doesn’t make sense.

None of the poverty I’ve experienced in my travels ever truly makes sense, but I’m used to the order in which people live in poverty,there’s a loose code within these communities but still….

I think for even those living in extreme poverty, a cemetery would be a deal breaker.

I’m writing this in a very stream of consciousness kind of way. I’m processing at the same time I’m writing.

My thoughts, the way I feel, the reason behind what I’ve seen isn’t quite formed except to say… I don’t get it.

If you have seen what I have seen then you could probably relate. If you haven’t… well… just know… It makes no sense.

That’s all.

In JR High and High School I had a tutor. I never felt like I didn’t understand what I was learning in school, I just didn’t apply myself like I should which sometimes resulted in lower grades. As it turns out, my tutors where a pivotal influence in my life.

Here’s why.

In JR High I went to the Sylvan Learning Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas, which is still going strong today. My main tutor there was a man named Robert Lowrey. We called him Bob. He was an excellent tutor. He was able to break things down for me in a way I could understand them better.

But do you know what I remember most about Bob?

The time he spent asking me about my life. What I was interested in and what was going on at school. If he sensed I was frustrated, he would figure out why and talk it through with me. Over time I trusted Bob, so if I walked in and need to talk to someone, I could talk to Bob.

Bob helped me gain confidence. He helped me in school, but I walked out of each session knowing I had a friend who listened and gave me advice. He was someone who cared and someone who was willing to push me in a way that made sense to my teenage mind.

Looking back… I know he was mentoring me and giving me little pieces of life I needed in order to go the next step into my teenage years.

In high school, I had another tutor. Her name was Ms. McCray. She was the bomb as well. I learned what I needed to learn and I did better in school. But can you guess what I remember most about her?

All the time she spent getting to know me and asking me questions about my life as a teen. What I was into and how I felt about things going on around me. She dug into my life.

When I went on to being a freshmen in college, she called me and asked if I would help her. She was directing the high school play and needed a band leader. I said yes I will do anything you need me to do. The play was Fame and it was a blast playing live in a setting like that. One of the dancers in the play went on to dance for Janet Jackson and was the red Power Ranger in the movie and TV series. Cool huh? She had amazing influence in our Fort Smith, Arkansas lives.

So what did I gain from her? More confidence. I felt validated. I felt like I could do more, go a little further in and go after my dreams.

So… Thanks mom and dad for making sure I had people in my life that would give me a little better teaching and a whole lot of mentoring. I know you were just trying to keep my grades up, but I guess you never counted on the end results that were more valuable than the grades. It’s probably one of the many great gifts you have ever given me. Confidence… Understanding… and the ability to dream.

How about you? Any pivotal moments in your life growing up? Was there anyone who played a role like that? A teacher? A coach? A tutor?

**Side Note.. What I experienced as a kid with tutors is the main reason I love how Compassion International works with kids. The tutors become these life changing mentors. I see it every time I visit them… and every time I think about Bob and Ms. McCray – Every time for the past 10 years of taking trips overseas.

You never know the impact you are going to have on a kid’s life.

Don’t forget it.

Compassion International has finally launched Team Compassion. If you have ever wanted to run a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon, Triathlon or a long bike ride and raise money for a great cause, then now is your chance. ( www.team.compassion.com)

This has been a long time coming for Compassion and I’m really excited to see this happen. You see, I got into running through Team in Training. The experience TNT gave me while training for my first half marathon set something in motion for me that I never knew was really there. I just thought… I’ll do something I thought I would never attempt and at the same time raise money for a great cause and mark it off my bucket list. Sounds good right? Change my life to change someone else’s life.

What I didn’t count on was that I would love it as much as I do. Since then I have gone on to get involved in triathlons and participated in an Ironman race which I would have never guessed I would ever do such a thing! Much less want to do it again.

So here we are… For those of you who love Compassion and want to do something for yourself and for others, now is the time.

Why do I keep saying for yourself?

I truly believe we have been given our bodies as a temple to be taken care of. For most people, running a race is a huge accomplishment… a mile stone in their lives. It was for me… and what a better way to take on this journey than by raising money that will impact the lives of children all over the world in major ways.

You see. Around 470,000 people completed a marathon in 2009 in the United States. Imagine that. Imagine how many of those marathoner’s ran in support of someone else. I don’t have that number but I can tell you one organization raised 80 million dollars last year for their efforts.

Now that changed a few lives don’t you think?

I will leave you with this.

The journey to the starting life is where it’s at. Once you get to the starting line, you are now celebrating all the time effort and money you put into changing your life to change someone else’s. Crossing the finish line is just icing on the cake that you will eat tons of after the race!

The community, the support, the pain and the excitement you go through while training will teach more about yourself than you will ever imagine.

So go for it. Join a few of my friends who are training for the San Diego Half Marathon in June 5, 2011. Or sign up for your own race, create your own team and have a blast doing it with Team Compassion.

Feel free to email me with any questions as we get Team Compassion off the ground.

Question: Have you ever done anything like this? If so, what was it like for you?

Question: If you have never done anything like this, what would it take for you to get off the couch and lace up some running shoes?

This piece of advice I’m about to tell you really came from my older brother, Scott. I was two years into my marketing degree, when I found myself wanted to change my degree to music.  I was at a real crossroads and didn’t know what to do. So I called my brother, Scott, for his advice… and it was the best advice I was given.

He said this.

Except for a very few specific careers in life, getting a job or starting your post college career isn’t about your degree. It’s about having a degree.  For instance, I have a degree in accounting and I hate but I’m good at it. Now I have my law degree and I work, at the time, for a federal judge. (Scott now lobbies for the Arkansas Medical Association.)

He went on to tell me that if he could do college over he would get a degree in something he is interested in learning about, his choice would have been history.

The main thing was this. He said no matter what you get your degree in, just get the degree and don’t quit. Employers want to know you stuck it out more than they want to know what your degree is in. Plus, you might find yourself in a job position where you might be the most qualified for the job, but because you don’t have a degree, the less qualified guy in line for the same job might get it over you because you don’t have a degree or failed to follow through. It does happen and sometimes having a degree will dictate your starting salary.

In Nashville, it’s not uncommon to meet highly successful people who never go to or never finished college. But the music industry isn’t normal.

Your college education might be the most formative time of your life.

I ended up getting my degree in Music because that is where my passion ultimately was… and music is still a huge part of my life. I minored in marketing which is a subject I love. In fact… Marketing is what I spend most of my time doing. The day after I graduated from college I moved to Memphis to pursue creating the band Big Tent Revival with Steve Wiggins and Randy Williams. Randy graduated with his masters the day I received my undergrad degree. Did either of us need a degree to start our careers in music? Nope. But the college experience molded us and the degree will always be there if we need it.

Lately though… after meeting with Compassion International’s Leadership Development Students and because I travel the world – if I could go back and get another degree, it would be in International Business. What I really need though is a degree in grammar and typos, but that’s for another time… Maybe I should have a personal editor? Sure… I’ll hire one just after I hire a personal food taster. I mean… it’s so in style these days.

Here are two examples from people I know who got degrees in subjects they love but have very different career outcomes.

My sister-in-law has her degree in Interior Decorating… She is now a very successful Trade Mark attorney. My younger brother Shelby got his degree in English Lit. and is now a family practice doctor and graduated top in of his class in medical school. He always wanted to be a doctor, but wanted a well-rounded education from his college years.

So to all of you students trying to figure out college… Go get your degree in something you are passionate about. Don’t worrying if you think it’s going to make you successful or not.

Learn, learn and learn some more.

Develop strong relationships with people you enjoy being around.

Make the most of every moment possible.

Once you have your degree, I would do one very cool thing… but only if you can afford it… Or do this at a University that has a study abroad program.

Take some time to travel the world before you lock yourself into a job that might not give you the opportunity to travel and learn about life in different parts of the world. I think this should be required as a final prep for transitioning into life post college. It would be a priceless experience. I know several people who have done this and they are so glad they took the time to broaden their world view in such a real way.

For those of you who have gone to college, what advice would you give?

This past week while I was in Honduras, we met with two of Compassion International’s Leadership Development students. They are college students who are formerly sponsored children and now have been given the chance to go to university. In all, it’s my favorite part of Compassion’s work. You can read more about it here.

As we sat listening to these students talk about their dreams, goals, and ambitions in life I was also amazed at how focused they are on their studies. Honestly, every time I meet with one of these students I’m amazed and think the same thing. I wish I had applied myself more in my studies and a little less in the “having fun in college” part.

There’s no doubt. I’m grateful for my degree and for the experiences I had in college. I’m so thankful for my parents support and the path my life has taken since graduating with my degree.

But there’s that side of me that says… If I could go back, I would do it differently. Much differently.

I would have studied more and probably would have gone after a different degree.

I guess that’s what sitting with two inspiring students will do for ya, right? Make you think a bit?

Don’t get me wrong… I’m not regretful. My life is great. I have a great job and there’s no way I would actually go back for another degree at this point. I’m having more fun at 40 than I actually had in my 20’s.

I’m just reflecting on the hindsight is always 20/20 concept.

For those of you who have a degree, if you could do it again… would you? And if so what would you do differently?

Tomorrow I will be posting my advice for students entering into the college years.

This week I’m in San Pedro Sula, Honduras with the band Tenth Avenue North. We are about to head out to see Compassion International’s work with children living in extremely poor communities. The experience is always eye opening but the best part is playing with the children in the program and getting to hear a little about their lives.

You see, this is what happens every time… Conversations start with kids and you suddenly realize these kids are dreamers.

Dreamers of the day.

Photo by Keely Scott

They are future leaders in their sphere of influence. They are future teachers, entrapeneurs, doctors, lawyers, pastors, politicians, business execs, artists, sports figures, coaches, mentors, fathers, mothers, husbands and wives.

They want what we want – An opportunity to make something of themselves. They want life to have meaning and purpose. They want to make a difference in other peoples lives. They want others to experience the same love and attention that has been shown to them – The kind that has made them into the hope of the next generation.

These are their dreams and they dream often.

While we think we are coming to here change lives and experience something the band can tell their audience about, what will really happen is these kids and the people we meet will change our lives instead.

It’s what happens every time.

Show me a dreamer living in poverty and I show you the future president of a country, the next leading doctor of their country, the next big soccer player…

I’ll show you a future teacher who might end up moving to your country to teach your kids how to read and write… because at an early age, when this future teacher was taught how to read and write by teachers in the Compassion program this future teacher was going home and teaching their parents how to read and write.

This is what our day holds.

See ya.

This week I’m in Guatemala with Compassion International on a trip that’s a little different than the norm for me. I’m here with a church from Virginia. DecembeRadio is here as well and they actually helped influence a group from their church to come on this trip. So today we are off to help roof a church partner and build new bathrooms. Don’t worry. I brought my work gloves.

On to the story…

Last night as we were all sitting around, one lady said, “When I met these kids and the family we visited with today, I was amazed at how horrible their living conditions were compared to mine. I saw all of this intense poverty around them and yet… they were happy.” She went onto say “I know part of this is because they have Christ in their lives and are connected to the Compassion program, but still… I’m in awe of how anyone could do that… still be happy.”

Every time I come on these trips I see what this lady saw. I see happiness in the midst of conditions that would send most of us into depression or at least into a state of mind that would seem very hopeless.

The lesson I take away from this experience is this.

No matter what I’m going through in life, I feel like I have no excuse but to make only one choice when I wake up in the mornings to start my day… that choice must be happiness.

Sure, I struggle with and deal with things in my life and my life is nowhere near perfect. But… I see what I have compared to what the vast majority of people living in poverty have and can’t help but to think…

I have nothing to complain about when the people I meet on these trips have this kind of happiness in their lives.

Yes, they know they live in poor conditions and they aren’t always content with that… yes they are always looking for ways to make ends meet…

And yes… they would grab opportunity by the horns if it meant a better life for their family.

And yet it’s so much harder than that for them here… it’s much easier said than done.

And the still choose happiness.

So… I choose happiness.

I know a lot of people who wake up feeling sad, mad and ready to kick someone because their life isn’t working out the way they want.

Well… you know what? I think that no matter if you have Christ in your life or not. You We have been given the opportunity and responsibility to choose happiness and make the most of what we have been given through our relationships with friends, family and the life we are living.

Am I off base here? Because I know I can be a little black and white on this subject.

How do view your happiness? How do you choose to start each day even though things in your life might be really tough?

Photo by Keely Scott

Why Help Haiti?

Over the past couple of weeks we have all been captured by the tragedy in Haiti. At Compassion International, it has been a non-stop effort of the likes I have never seen. We have been in Haiti for over 40 years and currently have over 65,000 children we are working with who are all connected to a local church body.

Since the earthquake hit, the email updates I get from the office are daily. Some are hopeful and some make you want to scream with sadness. I’m thankful to know my friend Dan survived and is home with his family but sad that there’s still no word of my other friend David who was with Dan in the lobby of the Hotel Montana when the earthquake happened… and that’s’ just a small part of the Compassion side of things. Then when you think about all of the other families who have been torn by this disaster and all of the lives lost… well… it’s overwhelming.

Our staff at Compassion is literally working around the clock with getting supplies distributed throughout the country, giving medical aid to those in need all while still trying to account for every child and family affected by the earthquake. Honestly… I can’t really wrap my head around the enormity of it… all I know is it’s massively huge.

You see… it’s like this… when people say Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere… that’s no joke. Moms are making dirt cookies for their kids just to make them feel like they are physically eating something… yep. It’s true…dirt… I’ve had friends tell me about mothers who would walk up to them and hand them their babies and say… Please, I beg you… Take my child back with you to America.

Really? Is this possible? Can you imagine, a country so bad off that a mom would willingly hand her baby over to a complete stranger. Why? Because any situation would be better than her current one… Really?… these people are our neighbors. It’s a longer flight to LA from Nashville than it is to Haiti.

And by the way… things like this were happening BEFORE the earthquake.

Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse… it did. It got a lot worse.

We need your help and what you could do is give. We can get the supplies, food and water to people in need, we just need your money to buy more supplies, food, and water.

So please.

Click on the Help Haiti banner to donate now.

Here’s a little excerpt from the Compassion Blog.

We have received a preliminary report from the Haiti staff with information on 28 child development centers that were affected.

This is not an all inclusive list and is not exhaustive in detailing the impact the earthquake had on each center, but it is a start.

As a snapshot, in the 28 centers, there were more than:

• 100 deaths
• 40 severely wounded
• 1,200 homes destroyed
• 650 homes damaged

These numbers include children, family members, development center staff and church members.

If your child was affected by the earthquake, we will contact you directly with specific information as soon as we can, after we receive it. Even if your child wasn’t directly affected, you will be contacted, although the timing and method may be different.

Click here to go to the Compassion blog to get the latest update. You will learn a ton from this link.

It’s more important than ever that we pay attention to Haiti and do everything possible to make a huge impact. This disaster will open the floodgates for a lot of good… but also a lot of bad, like an increase in child trafficking. Yes… these creepy people WILL take an advantage of the situation. Read this here.

Ok… please give.

Today I had breakfast with a new friend. Kyle Chowning. Our conversation was energizing and the ideas were flying as we talked about life, where we’ve come from and where we are headed. It was just my kind of meeting and for the record… Kyle is a great guy… and he is a dreamer.

Part of our conversation was around Help-Portrait.com, which was dreamed up by Jeremy Cowart. I had been watching people talk about Help-Portrait on twitter and then my friend Keely Scott told me more about it and what she did to be part of the 12/12/09 event in Nashville… A fascinatingly simple idea and one that Kyle gave me more detail about and how he was connected to the cause.

As Kyle told me about Help-Portrait, I started to think about this…

How many times have you had a simple dream that you thought would never be worth the effort?

How many business ideas have you had that seemed too simple to actually work?

Help-Portrait… One man’s dream…

1. Find someone in need 2. Take their portrait 3. Print their portrait 4. Deliver their portrait

Sounds pretty simple? It is. Watch this video.

But what is amazing is how this idea and event spread like wildfire. Four months ago the site went up and the idea went out on the internet with Twitter and Facebook carrying it’s message and guiding people back to Help-Portrait.com. I really think simple ideas have the most impact.

The main event happened on 12/12/09 resulting in massive coverage online as well as major news outlets and taking place in over 40 countries. At the end of the day, 12/12/09, with on 43% of the locations reporting there were 17,200+ pictures taken, 1400+ photographers 2720+ volunteers and a major show of support from Kodak. Folks… this was just 43% of what was reported and the numbers have gone up dramatically since not to mention everyone else who is planning their own Help-Portrait event on a later date. This was one man’s dream….

Go back to 1952 and the Korean War. Evangelist Everett Swanson goes to minister to the troops during the war only to be devastated at the site of all the children orphaned living in the streets.

His dream?

Start an orphanage for 300 children. Nothing more… Nothing less.

Fast forward to December 2009. Everett Swanson’s dream is called Compassion International. Today Compassion is in 26 countries and with over 1 million children currently registered in the program.

One man’s dream… A simple dream… Help those in need.

These are just two examples of simple ideas dreamed up by two different men who wanted to use their sphere of influence to make a difference in the world.

Oh… and by the way. Because the internet gives us tools to market ideas, Jeremy Cowart spent ZERO dollars to market his dream Help-Portrait.

You can do that too.

Every cause needs a champion…

Time to go dream a little.

UPDATE: New Help-Portrait Results!

38,761 portraits GIVEN
7,905 photographers and volunteers
532 locations
41 countries

Every year I make a plan for what’s next in the year ahead. Most people do this in January, but I seem to keep my life calender in a fall to fall rotation. Mostly because when triathlon season is over in September then it’s time to figure out what happens between September and May when Triathlon season starts up again for us in the Nashville area.

Since finishing Ironman Louisville, I’ve been able to take much need rest and travel to get a couple of tours started for Compassion. It’s been refreshing, energizing and focused. So… I have a plan for the athlete side of me. This plan is in no way a reflection of anything else going on in my life like work, family, friends, travel, etc… this plan is just one part of my life.

So here it is… This next year will be my 4th year training for triathlons and every year I have focused on one of the three sports more than others so I can learn that sport and get a little faster in it. First it was just doing a sprint. Get in the water, hop on a bike and hope I can run after all of that. The 2nd year I had caught the triathlon fever so I focused on the swimming. I biked and ran when I could. This past year, I signed up for Ironman Louisville and focused more on the bike. This next year… it’s all about the run and improving my times over all for all three sports.

Running has probably brought me through the toughest times in my life but is also my toughest sport. I really enjoy it and most days I love it, but I don’t exactly float on air when I’m in my full stride.

Knowing what I need to do to meet my goals, I’m going to run a half marathon in early December but possibly one in November or January.

This plan will take me through the holidays as they are a rough time to train with all the Christmas parties and eating going on, not to mention training in cold weather isn’t something I’m very eager to do. It’s ok though. I’m determined to see it through.

That brings us into January. January starts 5 months of more intensive training to be ready for the summer.

Summer of 2010, I will probably do at least 3 maybe 4 olympic distance triathlons a couple of sprints and one half Ironman. I was supposed to do two half ironman races this past summer but my travel schedule didn’t allow for it. So I’m going to go back this summer and tackle one. The one Half Ironman I’ve decided on is Vineman Half Ironman. It’s in wine country…. Need I say more?

For those of you following along, A half Ironman is…wait for it… half the distance if an ironman. 1.2 mile swim, 56 miles on the bike and 13.1 run. Sound fun? Come on…

I like having a plan. It helps me meet my goals and allows me to stay focused.
So… there you have it.

Do you have goals for yourself? Wanna tri with me?

This month Michael W. Smith starts his tour across Europe for A New Hallelujah World Tour. Every time he goes over the pond he seems to hit a new country and forge new ground with another new audience.

I’ve been out for portions of every tour European tour Michael has done in the past 8 years and I can tell you it’s an incredible experience for all of us traveling together. Sure it’s great seeing different countries in Europe but the greatest experience is the audience that shows up night after night after night by the thousands. I’m continually amazed how Michael’s songs translate in the live setting, be it pop or worship, language is never a barrier. Well… unless of course when Michael is talking between songs. Then the interpreter must step in.

For Compassion, 10 of the shows will be in countries we can present Compassion’s ministry in hoping to get these audiences to sponsor kids. England, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy and Spain. What an incredible opportunity!

For me… I will get to be at the two dates in Spain and the two dates in Italy. So if you read my blog or follow me on twitter… Please… Come to the show and direct message me. I would love to meet you.

If you are in Europe and you want to come to one of the shows, CLICK HERE to find info on buying tickets.

Here are the dates…

MICHAEL W. SMITH – A NEW HALLELUJAH WORLD TOUR 2009

May 21      Tampere Finland
May 22     Jonkoping, Sweden
May 23     Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
May 24     Steyning, West Sussex, UK  Big Church Day Out Festival
May 26     Touon, France
May 27     Zurich, Switzerland
May 29     Riga, Latvia
May 30     Tallinn, Estonia
May 31     Tallinn, Estonia
Jun 01     Lemgo, Germany
Jun 04     Madrid, Spain
Jun 05     Barcelona, Spain
Jun 06     Bari Italy
Jun 07     Catania, Italy
Jun 09     Budapest, Hungary
Jun 11     Grand Sacconex, Switzerland
Jun 12     Arnhem, Netherlands
Jun 13     Arnhem, Netherlands – EO Youth Day
Jun 14     Paris, France