The purpose of evangelism is not to get governments to like us, or to get people to use our services. It is to help get people into God’s Kingdom, that and that alone. Helps are also a great tool, but it is a tool, not the end.

So in order to evangelize, you need an entry to their life. So some sort of relationship is needed. You need also to confront them with God’s Law so they see a need for a Savior. You then need to show them the Savior. You meet their needs so they know we are not just words, but that Jesus cares about them in the now, not just for when they die.

Let’s put this in a strictly inhumane way of looking at it. All the sponsored children are like homes we’ve had built overseas with our riches (trust me), and CI/WV are the companies we’ve hired to manage the placement and upkeep of those homes so we can enjoy them on our holiday. One management firm simply did a better job with its product than the other. My God-entrusted funds are therefore going to stay with that firm. Cold? Callus? you bet! CI the better investment? Absolutely! CI opens projects slowly while WV seems to rush. Both methods have their benefits and shortfalls. I’ll stick with the more conservative and safer CI.

This is the main reason that I will be picking up more sponsored-children with CI instead of WV, when my two WV children graduate from their WV programs. WV does a great job alleviating the conditions of economic poverty for a huge number of children around the world, but alleviating spiritually poverty is sometimes a “SHOW (only), don’t TELL” deal.

CI partners with local indigenous churches, only in countries that allow a measure of religious freedom. Within these churches, not only can God’s love be SHOWN, it can be SPOKEN!

With WV, that is not always the case. WV works in many countries were the Gospel is forbidden. In fact, WV’s Sponsorship Handbook states three separate times (see below) that evangelism is to be avoided in these certain countries. WV’s Sponsorship Handbook doesn’t list the countries that this rule applies to, it simply says: “If you have any questions about these guidelines or a specific item you’d like to send, please feel free to call and ask us.”

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From p.6 WV Sponsorship Handbook:

“CAUTION: The residents of some of the communities where World Vision works are followers of other faiths. In these places, we consider it a privilege to be a consistent demonstration of God’s love for all people. While we are always identified as a Christian organization, care must be taken in how that is communicated. For example, references to Jesus in your letters could complicate World Vision’s work in your child’s community or even endanger the child or our staff.”

From p.14 WV Sponsorship Handbook:

Some sponsored children live in areas that may not welcome Christian teachings or Western influences. For their protection and the protection of our staff, please exercise sensitivity and DO NOT send Christian tracts, Scripture verses, or references to Jesus if your child lives in one of these communities.

If you have any questions about these guidelines or a specific item you’d like to send, please feel free to call and ask us.

From p. 20-21 WV Sponsorship Handbook:

Your sponsorship gifts support transformation for your sponsored child! You reflect the unconditional love of God to him or her through your tangible help and the care of our staff. Through sponsorship, we offer life-saving help and hope and enable children to reach their God-given potential.

World Vision is privileged to offer sponsorship in many communities where the majority of the families we serve are not Christian. When working in these areas, we not only abide by local laws and customs but also strive, as Christians, to show respect and honor to those of different faiths.

World Vision does not proselytize or place religious conditions on the help we offer.

It is our deep desire that every child experience wholeness. WHEREVER POSSIBLE, World Vision works in partnership with local churches.

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I was lucky. My WV sponsored-kids are in “Gospel-friendly” countries. I would have a very hard (if not, impossible)time NOT ministering to a child I write to. And it appalls me to think that a simple “slip-up” on my part…a Scripture quote or a mention of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…could endanger a child or the project workers. SHOWING God’s love to these children rings very hollow, if it comes with persecution of the very same people we are trying to help.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is leading CI in the right direction. As Vicki said:

Originally Posted By Vicki Small I have heard Wess say that “Compassion won’t go into any country where we are not free to talk about Jesus.” I have heard him tell about one or more countries that invited Compassion to come in and help their people, with the caveat that “You must not speak of your Jesus. You must not preach your gospel.” Wess has said that is a conversation-ender.

Sandy

I’m sorry I caused confusion with this post. I did not intend in any way to communicate that we tiptoe around the truth of Jesus Christ. We would never
do this. Ever.

I spoke with Rick Carter (one of our regional staff members living in Asia) to get his perspective on your question. Here’s what he shared …

“As you know, Compassion always works through local, evangelical churches. Within the walls of our church-run child development centers, the spiritual aspect of our program is always included. The message of the Gospel is never compromised or watered down in any way. All children are told how much God loves them and given the chance to know Jesus Christ personally.

When parents choose to send their children to a Compassion center, they know that their children will be attending a Christian program. They choose
this, sometimes in spite of the danger or persecution they know their child or family could face. (In fact, in our Muslim countries, we do not send
sponsors letters home with the children so as not to put the family in danger. Instead, the letters are kept at the center.)

Christians are a minority in these countries and the more public attention we bring to our churches and our work, the more we jeopardize the work being
done. We are not on the radio. We do not hold public crusades. We do not publicize our statistics about church growth or professions of faith. (You
may have noticed that we do not even share this information with U.S. audiences.)

Our church partners do evangelism. They always present the Gospel. And they do it in a way that is sensitive to the context in which they live.

I hope this helps.
Becky