The Compassion difference

Compassion’s ministry to children is distinctly Christian. Our child development programs are unique in that they are:

• Christ-centred
• Child-focused
• Church-based

This clear and consistent Christian identity is something that we never seek to hide or compromise in our communications. Indeed, this is the main reason why so many people chose to sponsor a child through Compassion.

Compassion believes that it is not enough to simply feed the poor without introducing them to the source of life; Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must provide for the spiritual needs of children, as well as their economic, social, physical and emotional needs. Changing external circumstances rarely changes a person’s life; however, when a life is internally changed by the love of Jesus, circumstances invariably start to change.

Christ-centred

At Compassion, we seek to keep Christ at the centre of all we do and seek God’s guidance on our plans and decisions. Compassion’s ministry is dedicated to caring for the poor and giving hope to the hopeless by spreading the good news of the gospel. We operate internationally as followers of God’s Word in response to The Great Commission, by presenting the life-changing gospel to every child in an age-appropriate, culturally relevant and non-coercive way.

Child-focused

Compassion’s ministry engages each child as a complete person. We care for our assisted children as if they were our own. God’s heart for children compels us to act on their behalf. By working holistically with individual children to address their spiritual, economic, social and physical needs, we afford them an opportunity to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults. We believe that when children see themselves as Jesus sees them and when they realise their worth and identity in Christ, then they begin to flourish, grow and develop in other areas of their lives.

Church-based

We believe that the church is God’s chosen instrument to fulfil The Great Commission and to bring justice to the poor and oppressed. We know that the local church is uniquely placed to understand the real needs of the people and best able to make strategic decisions to meet the needs of local people in the community.

Our experience has also shown that the local church fosters an environment of unparalleled stability, giving children the opportunity to experience God’s love and acceptance.

This is why Compassion works exclusively with churches in developing nations to deliver our comprehensive holistic child development model to children living in desperate poverty.

Compassion equips, trains and provides resources to these local churches, of various denominations, so that they may realise their vision of changing their communities for the better by helping the children they serve to grow and reach their God-given potential.