World Relief

Ministry Arising from War

The World Relief ministry began when leading American denominations realized they had a unique means of addressing the needs of war-torn Europe. Many had sister churches located in some of the hardest-hit regions of the continent. The National Association of Evangelicals established the War Relief Commission to send clothing and food to victims of World War II. After the war, evangelical leaders decided that the ministry of the War Relief Commission should continue, because the human need was still great in postwar Europe.

In 1950, the new name of World Relief was chosen to reflect the evolving nature of the ministry and the ambitious nature of postwar evangelical churches. World Relief sought to provide aid in Jesus's name to people in every part of the globe. They designed a variety of ministries, ranging from economic development to setting up tuberculosis (TB) clinics, from supporting orphanages to land reclamation projects. The organization is constantly evolving with every disaster mission it undertakes.

Staff, volunteers, clients, beneficiaries, donors, and partners are important actors in continuing World Relief's mission of bringing peace, love, and justice to affected peoples. The organization recognizes and affirms its aim as a multicultural organization and seeks to understand and respect the multiplicity of cultures worldwide. As the organization seeks change in the world, they believe that they, too, are changed by those they serve.

Priorities and Programs

World Relief seeks to maintain standards of excellence and continuous improvement in all of its program initiatives and support services, following best practices and standards in a manner that is sustainable to the community from a spiritual, social, and economic perspective. They also seek to apply human and financial resources in ways that maximize their impact and sustain benefits to the greatest number of people. The organization also emphasizes empowerment by prioritizing the leadership and participation of those served, whether individuals, churches, or local institutions, as critical to creating and sustaining change. They aim to catalyze a movement of worldwide volunteers to multiply impact, and value capacity-building as a means toward that end.

Partnerships are maintained by seeking, facilitating, and promoting collaboration among all stakeholders, including local governments, the worldwide church, mission agencies, other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the business community, recognizing partnership as essential to serving the most vulnerable. They believe each expression of the worldwide church has a unique and interdependent role in bringing peace and justice to the world. World Relief has also established prayer as the priority and foundation to accomplishing their mission.

World Relief's core programs focus on disaster response, child development, maternal and child health, [Page 791]human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), agricultural development, immigration services, and

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