World Concern is a nonprofit Christian humanitarian organization that conducts disaster aid and community development in the world's poorest places - Africa, Asia, and the Americas. World Concern's mission is to provide life, opportunity and hope to suffering people around the world. Motivated by our love of Christ, we bring hope and reconciliation to those we serve, so they may in turn share with others.
The part that I found most fascinating about World Concern is their programs. They found that the people they work with aren't looking for handouts. They desire meaningful work. World Concern addresses their dignity by providing, among other things, microloans for people to start farms or businesses to sustain their families and contribute to the community.
From the website:
In the world’s poorest, most remote communities, opportunities to create income can be severely limited. World Concern is helping to change that with innovative, environmentally sensitive programs that teach rural men and women how to raise food and income through sustainable agriculture, agro-forestry, dairy farming, animal husbandry, pisciculture (fish farming) and crop development.Personally, I've always been conflicted about evangelism vs. aid, spiritual needs vs. physical needs. Which is most important? I truly believe that evangelism is the most important thing Christians can be doing, but shouldn't it be coupled with meeting physical needs? As Christians we are called to love even the least of these. Love necessarily involves evangelism, but even Jesus made physical needs a priority (feeding the 5,000, healing the blind man, raising people from the dead).
World Concern has seen the needs in the world's poorest areas and have found a way to share God's love, because He first loved us. Pray for the workers of this organization, it's leadership, and the people whom they serve. If you're interested in serving with World Concern, check out their available opportunities here.
