Compassion International

Met with Compassion International a short time ago and learned more about the philosophy of that Christian ministry. They were founded in 1952 and exist as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. My own interpretation of their philosophy includes some of these ideas:

• Impact the complex issues of poverty and the effects of poverty on children and their development. 
• Fund the community to employ its workers. Short-term missionaries swoop in to “help” and don’t realize that the local people are in need of the employment the short-termers take away.  
• Form long-term relationships. Short-term missionaries are transient and their ministry often cannot produce long-term positive effects.
• Partner with the local church to reach families and children in the community. The local church has already begun a movement and may not need to be revamped to fit U.S. mental models. 
• Serve with humility. Short-term missionaries believe they know more about the Gospel or have a more correct view of the Gospel. 
• Develop meaningful, long-term relationships between sponsors and children. Short-term missionaries come for a week to play with the children, put on puppet shows, or perform street dramas and then leave having had no lasting, meaningful impact.

What surprised me most was the alignment this mission philosophy has with the book I recently read called Serving with Eyes Wide Open. Don’t misunderstand – there is a need for short-term mission work but having an informed understanding and approach to missions is essential when trying to have an impact for the Kingdom.

I trust God to direct my path (Proverbs 3:5-6).