Compassion International

Sponsoring children in need is breaking the cycle of poverty

Compassion International exists 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.

Founded by the Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training.

Today, Compassion helps more than 1 million children in 26 countries.

A passion for children

Interested in our guiding principles and why we are so passionate about caring for children?

Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name

In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.

The Compassion Commitment

Our commitments to you

We affirm the following historic commitments to each person that sponsors a child through Compassion International:

* We commit to honor Jesus Christ in all that we do. The Great Commission is at the heart of our mission statement, and discipleship is at the core of our program.

* We commit to work in partnership with the local church. Our ministry strengthens the local church through a partnership that reaches out to children and families in their local communities.

* We commit to directly impact each child's individual development. We've seen over and over again that what happens in the life of a child is much more significant than what happens in the environment that surrounds the child.

* We commit to holistic development — developing minds, bodies and spirits. All of our child development programs provide opportunities that encourage healthy development in four areas — spiritual, physical, social and economic.

* We commit to educate and challenge our sponsors about poverty and development. As advocates for children, we will help our sponsors understand the complex issues of poverty and the effects of poverty on children and their development.

* We commit to use money only for the purpose for which it was raised. Child sponsorship funds must be used to develop the children who are sponsored. Our child sponsorship program is completely focused on the development of these children.

* We commit to link each child to only one sponsor. Each Compassion-sponsored child has only one sponsor. We encourage sponsors to develop meaningful relationships of encouragement with the children they sponsor.

* We commit to give every child in our program a chance to respond to the gospel. Every child who participates in a Compassion program is given the opportunity to learn about Jesus and discover how to develop a lifelong relationship with God.

* We commit to the highest industry standards for the use of funds. We'll keep our administrative and fund-raising costs as low as possible, balancing this with the need for quality and integrity through the ministry.

* We commit to being financially accountable. We take our role as stewards of resources very seriously. We regularly perform audits to ensure that our programs are being well managed and that funds are being properly disbursed and applied.



The Compassion Statement of Faith

What we believe

Compassion International adheres to the statement of faith established by the World Evangelical Alliance:

We believe

...in the Holy Scriptures as originally given by God, divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy; and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct...

One God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...

Our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, His sinless human life, His divine miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, His mediatorial work, and His Personal return in power and glory...


The Salvation of lost and sinful man through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith apart from works, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit...

The Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the believer is enabled to live a holy life, to witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ...

The Unity of the Spirit of all true believers, the Church, the Body of Christ...

The Resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12b).

"As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15b).

"Let us not give up meeting together ..." (Hebrews 10:25).

"Live a life worthy of the calling you have received"
(Ephesians 4:1b).

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve ..." (Mark 10:45).

"Let the wise listen and add to their learning ..." (Proverbs 1:5).

"Be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:9a).

"His word is in my heart like a fire ..." (Jeremiah 20:9b).

"If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle" (1 Corinthians 14:8)?

"Prepare God's people for works of service ..."
(Ephesians 4:12).

"Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord ..." (Colossians 3:23).

"If the ax is dull ... more strength is needed ..."
(Ecclesiastes 10:10).

Compassion employees aspire to be more like our Savior, Jesus Christ, in who we are and what we do. We are called as stewards of the ministry of Compassion International.

http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm


Fight Malaria With Compassion

Malaria — it's not something most of us think about. And we don't have to because we live in a country blessed with the latest medical advances.

But every minute of every day for children around the world, death from this disease is only a mosquito bite away. The tragic fact is malaria is a preventable and treatable disease.

Each year, more than 1 million people die from malaria. More than 750,000 of those deaths are children in Africa. That's one child every 30 seconds. And for every child who dies, hundreds more become sick and incapacitated. Though not talked about as much as HIV/AIDS, malaria is a silent, fast killer that puts many children and families Compassion serves in Africa, Latin America and Asia at serious risk. There are hundreds of thousands of children in countries where we work around the world who live in fear of the disease.

But it doesn't have to stay this way. You can help turn these numbers around and save lives! Learn how you can fight this deadly disease with Compassion!


Poverty is Hard to Swallow

You can help You can help quench the world’s thirst – compassion.com/youcan. You have the freedom to act.




http://www.flickr.com/photos/compassioninternational/sets/72157622741658510/show/