Angela Parker, Director of Administratio
Champion. When I hear this word, it immediately conjures up images of victory. A marathoner crossing the finish line. A doctor performing a life-saving operation. A football player throwing the winning touchdown. A home run when the bases are loaded. A brave soldier on the battlefield. We all admire champions and most of us probably dream of being one in our own corner of the universe. I have exciting news for you today! You CAN be a champion, and it’s really quite simple!
The dictionary defines a champion as “a person who fights… for a cause… on behalf of someone else.” That’s when the word is used as a noun. Champion can also be used as a verb. When someone champions something, it simply means they “support the cause” of whatever they are championing.
At Tupelo Children’s Mansion, we recently made the decision to change the name of all our monthly supporters to Mansion Champions. Why? First, because every single person who contributes to TCM is a champion in our eyes! That’s who they ARE to us. They fight for a cause on behalf of the children that call TCM home. What is the cause? Making sure that every child who arrives on our campus has a welcoming home to live in. Providing a quality education through our on-campus school. Three warm meals a day (plus enough snacks to keep everyone happy!). Helping us employ a dedicated, qualified team of individuals who manage the day-to-day operations of TCM, as well as providing direct care to our children. And most importantly, introducing each precious child to a God who can mend every broken heart, heal every pain and give hope to each life.
Our sponsors also fulfill the definition of champion as a verb. It’s what they DO. They share the mission of TCM with their friends, family, and coworkers. Churches take up offerings on Mansion Sunday and organize personal care drives. It’s amazing to see the unique ways that our sponsors find to advocate for and support this ministry!
Maybe you feel like what you can do to support TCM is so small that it really wouldn’t make much of a difference. There is a story in the Bible that I love that tells us of a widow who gave all that she had, two small coins. Jesus saw her sacrifice and said that she had given more than all the others who had much more to give. Little or much, when you give out of a desire to bless others and live out pure religion (James 1:27), I promise you that God sees it, blesses it, and uses it for His glory!
If you have a desire to be a real-life champion or to champion a cause that you can believe in, I encourage you to visit www.mansionkids.org. There, you will find out more about our mission and can also sign up to become a monthly sponsor, a Mansion Champion!
