Difference makers

One WORLD reader commented about our coverage of compassionate ministries, "People say, 'Isn't it depressing to see so much ­poverty-how can you make any real difference?' Our response is, 'We cannot solve world hunger-but we bring our meager two fish and seven loaves and trust God for the result.'" Amen.

This issue continues our profiles of regional finalists in the 2010 Hope Award for Effective Compassion competition. Staff members and volunteers at our three Midwest finalists help refugees in Chicago, the developmentally disabled in Wisconsin, and teens on the brink of disaster in Des Moines. The American Bible Society, co-sponsor of this contest, provides cash prizes to the winners, and we pray that our readers will truly honor these organizations by creating similar groups in their own communities.

Our Midwest regional winner is from Des Moines: Freedom for Youth. It joins in our Final Four the West region winner from Colorado, New Horizons. In the next two months we'll announce our South and Northeast regions' finalists and winners; in July our subscribers will be able to vote online to determine this year's national champion.

To see video of all the finalists so far, go to worldmag.com/compassion. Click here to listen to WORLD editor in chief Marvin Olasky discuss with Alisa Harris the Midwest regional finalists.