Compassion in Action: Our Journey of Hope, Healing, and Service
- Aaron Shilts
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
Since 1990, Compassion in Action has been on a mission to bring hope, healing, and tangible help to those in need — both near and far. What began as a simple desire to make a difference has blossomed into decades of life-changing ministry, community development, and international outreach. Here's a look at the incredible journey God has led us on:
1990–2017: Mexico Missions
For nearly three decades, our annual mission trips to Mexico were the heart of our ministry. These trips included:
Street and orphanage ministry
Construction projects (building 23 houses!)
Nursing home outreach
Children's programs
Leadership conferences
Food distribution
Our Mexico missions laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong calling to serve the most vulnerable.
2005–Present: Disaster Relief
When disaster struck, Compassion in Action answered the call. We've mobilized teams to provide relief after:
Hurricanes Charley, Katrina, Sandy, Michael, Harvey, Ian, and Helene
Tornadoes in Illinois, Moore (OK), and Joplin (MO)
Flooding in Fort Frances (Canada) and Mauston (WI)
Whether through rebuilding homes or providing basic necessities, we stood with communities during their darkest days.
2006–2012: Special Projects
2006: We launched a Blanket Drive to warm families in Mexico.
2008: We partnered with Extreme Home Makeover to build a home for a family with a terminally ill child.
2010: Hosted our first Beauty for Ashes Conference, bringing encouragement and healing to many.
2012–Present: Expanding Our Reach
2012 marked a major season of growth:
Prison Ministry: Ongoing outreach in Stanley, Lincoln Hills, and Black River Falls prisons.
Father’s Love Conferences: Held in Mexico, Roatan (Honduras), and U.S. prisons.
Clean Water Initiatives: Drilled our first well in Salinas, Victoria, Mexico (2012) and many more since.
La Mesa Soup Kitchen: Opened in Salinas, Victoria, feeding the hungry and sharing the love of Christ.
Marriage and Recovery Ministries: Launched marriage conferences and The Creek, a weekly outreach to recovering addicts.
2016–Present: Roatan, Honduras
Roatan has become a second home for Compassion in Action:
Built homes for families in need
Expanded prison and hospital ministries
Dump ministry and food distribution
Medical brigades serving hundreds
Micro-business startups providing sustainable incomes
Notable milestones include building homes for families like Mirna's (2021), Patsy's (2023), Lolo’s (2024), and Hector and Ada’s (2025), and drilling wells in Crawfish Rock, Milton Bight, and Flowers Bay.
2020–Present: New Horizons
Be The Light Pandemic Project: Delivered care packages to COVID-affected families and frontline workers.
HERO Project: Launched to fund school supplies, uniforms, and backpacks so hundreds of Honduran children could attend school.
More Than Enough Foster Closet (now Cashmere & Corduroy): Serving women and children in crisis through tangible support.
Bread Barn: Providing food and basic needs locally.
2022–Present: Global Partnerships
In 2022, Compassion in Action extended its reach by partnering with Hope Street Ministry in Slovakia, helping Ukrainian refugees displaced by war.
Today, Compassion in Action continues to move forward — drilling wells, building homes, feeding the hungry, and raising up leaders.Our heart is the same as it was in 1990: to love like Jesus, to serve with compassion, and to bring hope where it’s needed most.