Richard E. Stearns

Years ago I was touched by a short video clip that I saw describing the lives of African children who suffered from AIDS and other horrible diseases. When I witnessed this video all I could think about was helping the children. After viewing this video, my mom and I decided to sponsor a child from Africa through World Vision and later, my college roommate and I sponsored a child for a few years. Although I would have loved to meet the child that I was supporting, I was able to pray for them, write to them, and send money to help supply food and meet their medical needs. This is when World Vision really spurred my interest toward helping children in Africa.

Richard Stearns is the current President of the United States offices of World Vision. He resides in Federal Way, Washington. Before Stearns became a part of World Vision he worked as the president of Parker Brothers Games and was the president and CEO of Lenox Inc. Stearns always loved the mission of World Vision and in 1998 he felt called to serve more actively for this organization. He was courageous and obedient in his faith, which led him to take a step of faith from being a businessman to the president of World Vision. Richard Stearns and his wife Renee have sponsored World Vision since 1985, but it wasn’t until 1998 that he became the president of the U.S offices. Richard Stearns went from earning a seven digit salary to working in a non-profit world.

Stearns currently uses his humor and insight to inspire Americans to be active servants of the world and engage them in the mission of World Vision. World Vision helps transform the lives of the world’s poorest children and families in nearly 100 different countries around the world. People can sponsor a child through World Vision by donating money or volunteering time. Stearns speaks around the world and informs people of the mission of World Vision and how they can help change the world.

I admire Stearns because not only did he support World Vision and its mission, but he decided to take his faith a step further and make poverty personable to himself. I consider Stearns a hero because I admire his courageous personality and I hope that someday I can lay all my materialism at Christ’s feet and obey God’s calling for my life in whatever He calls me to do. I have a passion for children in Africa and that is one reason I am taking a trip to Rwanda in the winter. This is a way for me to experience poverty firsthand and show Christ’s love to the children who may need it the most. St. Francis once said, “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” I love this quote because in all things that Stearns does through World Vision, he preaches Christ through his actions of volunteering time, money, medicine, etc to help children who are dying of AIDS, suffering from a disaster, or living in extreme poverty. Currently, the U.S sponsors over 700,000 children by sending money and praying for them. Stearns is a bold man who took a step of faith and is now helping transform the lives of children all over the world.