Why the Least of These Matters Most
WESS STAFFORD From the poor of Africa's Ivory Coast to President and Chief Executive Officer of Compassion International, Dr. Wesley K. Stafford - Wess - has maintained one simple belief: God's children are priceless resources. To that end, Wess leads Compassion's efforts to break the cycle of poverty for children everywhere. Wess joined the staff of Compassion International in 1977 and has worked with the ministry, both overseas and at headquarters, for 34 years. He has served as president since 1993. Wess lives on a small ranch near Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife, Donna, of 32 year Dean Merrill, former publishing executive with Focus on the Family and International Bible Society, is author or coauthor of 31 books, including The God Who Won't Let Go and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church. He and his wife live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Praise for Too Small to Ignore
"The heart of Compassion became so real and clear after reading
this gripping saga of what a small child dramatically had to
endure, which God has used to help the lives of countless children.
Wess Stafford’s story is heartbreaking, yet full of the grace and
love that God has for His little ones."
-Ned Lott, senior manager, Character Voices, Disney
“The first time I met Wess, I perceived this undeniable compassion
in his eyes. I listened to him talk about growing up in Africa and
heard his compassion. But not until I read this book did I fully
understand why communicating compassion is as natural to Wess as
breathing is to the rest of us. His journey through pain and hurt
reinforces the fact that God does indeed bring beauty from ashes,
and compassion from heartache.
-Tamara Lott, Compassion Sponsor
“As I travel around the world, I see so many children in desperate
straits–especially children with disabilities who are relegated to
the lowest rung of the social ladder. My heart goes out to them!
It’s my prayer that through Wess Stafford’s new book, a passion
will ignite in the hearts of Christians around the globe to reach
these little ones with his tender mercies and hands-on help.”
–Joni Eareckson Tada, president of Joni and Friends
“Too Small to Ignore is a wake-up call for all of us. It speaks to
our responsibility to ‘the least of these.’ The truths in this book
speak directly to the heart. If you want to understand children and
why they matter to God, you have to read this book!”
–Michael W. Smith, artist and songwriter
“Nearly a half century ago in an African village, God was beginning
to shape the destiny of one who would appear on the stage of life
as a powerful voice and advocate for children of the world. Later
his leadership skills would be sharpened in the soil of Haiti. Now,
as president of Compassion International, Dr. Wess Stafford has
written a compelling book of his own pilgrimage interwoven with the
reminder of the importance Jesus placed upon children. It is a
must-read that will inspire all hearts to join with Wess to
champion the cause of children all over the world.”
–Jim Groen, president of Global Connection International
“At last–a book that has to be close to the heart of Jesus who
affirmed the value of children….yet today, children are at risk all
over the world. Read this and get your heart engaged in the
priority enterprise of the coming generation!”
–Joseph Stowell, teaching pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel and former
president of Moody Bible Institute
“Weaving a beautiful tapestry of his boyhood adventures in Africa
and a lifetime of heartfelt ministry to children, Wess Stafford
powerfully defends the cause of God’s children and implores us to
take action on their behalf. The spiritual impact of future
generations simply cannot be ignored–and we must take the lead.
Please read this book–and don’t forget God’s children.”
–Ted Haggard, president of National Evangelicals Association and
senior pastor of New Life Church
“What a joy it has been to be an advocate for the wonderful
ministry of Compassion International! In the same way, it is an
absolute delight for me to speak of my friend and mentor, Wess
Stafford. This is a man of integrity whose heart overflows with
love for hurting children and, above all, for our God. You cannot
meet this godly man without being challenged and encouraged.
Prepare to be moved.”
–Rebecca St. James, artist, songwriter, and author
“Some books are meant to be skimmed, others to be read carefully.
Wess Stafford’s new book is to be savored, underlined, highlighted,
and meditated over. It’s full of wonderful stories and profound
insights. Too Small to Ignore is a great book, written with the
energy and verve of a man who knows kids and passionately loves
them.”
–Bill Armstrong, former U.S. senator
“For Wess Stafford, ministering to the neediest children in the
world grows out of a biblical imperative and a passion that was
generated from his experiences as the son of missionaries in
Africa. This book has everything–stories that will moisten your
eyes, insight that will stimulate your mind, and proposals that
will generate an intense response.… What I love about the book is
that Wess convinces the reader that he or she can make an
incredible difference on behalf of the poorest of the poor.”
–Tony Campolo, PhD, speaker and author of Speaking My Mind
“A big-picture book if I’ve ever read one. Brilliant, inspiring,
compelling, and moving. Wess has done a remarkable job of helping
us to rediscover the value of our most precious resource–our
children. This book will move you to compassion and force you to
action! Welcome to a front-row seat into on what moves the heart of
God.”
–C. Thomas Davis, president of Children’s HopeChest and author of
Fields of the Fatherless
“You are holding in your hands one of the greatest literary works
on child development. Every page of this spellbinding masterpiece
is drenched with the passion of a man dedicated to the cause of
children.… I particularly enjoyed his portrait of life in an
African village where timeless truths and lessons are passed on to
the next generation as an ordinary part of human interaction.… This
book is a must-have on the bookshelf of every parent, pastor, youth
leader, and most certainly every teacher and educator. I highly
recommend Too Small to Ignore and pray that this electrifying read
will light a passion for children in the heart of every person–and
compel you to action.”
–Mrs. Janet Museveni, first lady of the Republic of Uganda
“As his pastor, I know Wess Stafford…loves the children of this
groaning planet, and he speaks truth to them as he cares for their
needs. He loves the body of Christ, and he speaks the truth to us
about our role in a world filled with more brokenness and beauty
than any of us can fully comprehend….Wess’s scripturally based
perspective and Spirit-authored passion come through. These pages
present a powerful message that needs to be heard.”
–Matt Heard, senior pastor, Woodmen Valley Chapel
“Wess Stafford has a heart for children like none I have ever seen.
Too Small to Ignore is a must-read for anyone whose life touches
the lives of children to any degree. Although it is painful and
heartbreaking at times, the hope and compassion he delivers
encourage a response from every reader.”
–Zig Ziglar, author and motivational teacher
“Wess Stafford and I share a special bond: I am African by birth,
and Wess, raised as the son of missionaries in a poor African
village, is African at heart. Too Small to Ignore is my brother’s
tribute to the crucible of his African childhood. His upbringing
forged in him a passion to declare a long-neglected kingdom truth:
our calling as believers is to speak up for those who cannot speak
for themselves and to defend the cause of children whenever
necessary–particularly the children of the poor. If you want to be
challenged further in your faith, please read this book!”
–Dr. Alemu Beeftu, president of Gospel of Glory
“Wess Stafford is a rare and good man, who brings a message for our
time straight from the heart of God. His candid book compels us to
see and act differently, to enter into God’s compassionate heart
and move on behalf of his little ones. We can have a beautiful
impact.”
–Stasi Eldredge, speaker and coauthor of Captivating: Unveiling the
Mystery of a Woman’s Soul
“As I read through the pages of Too Small to Ignore, I was
constantly struck with a beautiful reality: I have seen these words
lived out in the man who wrote them. I have stood beside Wess as he
knelt down to love the children of foreign nations, and I have
heard his heart break for the ‘least of these.’… The real gift of
what Wess Stafford writes is that he lives it first.”
–Bebo Norman, artist and songwriter
“Wess Stafford has written an amazing book, combining a touching
personal story with a very compelling argument for changing the way
we view children. I laughed, cried, and ultimately reexamined my
views on a subject I thought I understood well. This book is both
deeply personal and highly provocative on a subject too often left
unexamined.”
–Dale Hanson Bourke, author of The Skeptic’s Guide to the Global
AIDS Crisis
“In Too Small to Ignore, Dr. Wess Stafford paints a powerful
picture of the importance of children, using the colorful canvas of
his own childhood spent thriving in the heart of Africa as a
missionary’s son. Wess’s story cuts a deep river of compassion for
children in the heart of the reader, and his vision for the future
creates a broad horizon of hope. Children are not the church of the
future, Wess asserts. They are the church of today and deserve our
devoted time, active attention, generous resources, and deep-rooted
respect if we are to honor the heart of Jesus with our lives.”
–Denny Rydberg, president of Young Life
“Yesterday a friend of mine told me how his career was turned
upside down by sitting next to Wess Stafford years ago on a bus in
Holland. This man and his message are for now!”
–Patrick McDonald, founder of Viva Network
“Wess Stafford’s Too Small to Ignore is the ultimate primer on the
status of children, their needs, and our responsibility to them.
You will see through the eyes of one who has given his life to
follow God’s heart for these precious ones. The stories from Wess’s
childhood experiences in Africa are riveting and inspiring, and if
you are to know the heart of God regarding the ones he created in
his image, this is a book you must read and share.”
–Clyde Cook, president of Biola University
“Dr. Wess Stafford draws from his positive and negative
circumstances as a child of missionaries living in rural Africa. He
skillfully weaves both humorous and painful experiences of village
and boarding-school life to illustrate his perception of the worth
of a child. Because of these encounters, he has developed a
sensitive, caring, and compassionate heart for the physical,
emotional, and spiritual needs of the world’ s youth. By
reiterating their value and reviewing stories from Scripture
revealing their integral part in God’s plan, he is truly a
“champion” for the children. I recommend this book as required
reading for every parent and those involved in ministry for
children.”
–Billy Kim, president of Far East Broadcasting Company Korea and
pastor emeritus of Suwon Central Baptist Church
“At last–a powerful voice and message for the children of the
world! Wess Stafford’s Too Small to Ignore makes a case we can’t
overlook if we want to impact the nations and change our world. To
care for kids is to capture the future–today!”
–Dick Eastman, international president of Every Home for Christ
“This book is a must-read for any parent or person working with
children. Wess has provided some incredible insights coupled with
personal experiences that have caused me to reflect on every child
I come in contact with, even my own grandchildren or the children I
may get to visit in an orphanage. Children I will see on a regular
basis and children I may see just once. This book has been a long
time coming, and I thank God for the courage and lifetime of
experiences that he gave Wess to write it.… Wess is right–every
strategy and every program have to have children in mind.”
–Ron Cline, chairman of HCJB World Radio
“I’ve known few people who are as committed to a cause so right and
close to the heart of God as Wess Stafford. Too Small to Ignore
will seize your heart and compel you to play your part in bringing
care to precious children–often the first to get hurt when adults
misbehave. Our world desperately needs to hear and act on the
message in Too Small to Ignore.”
–Jim Mellado, president of Willow Creek Association
“Wess Stafford calls us into the world of children in need. With
his signature courage and gentleness, he takes us through his own
battles, as well as the challenges facing the smallest and most
vulnerable among us. Like the organization he leads, this is a
compassionate journey into the real world where we are equipped to
help those who are truly ‘the least of these.’ ”
–Geoff Moore, artist and songwriter
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