Compassion Australia link

Who we are

Our mission

To challenge, partner and equip the Church to release children from spiritual, economic, social, physical and emotional poverty in Jesus' name.

Our vision

Every Australian Christian is an advocate for children.

Compassion Australia is committed to:

* God's Word, the Bible as the foundation of our faith.
* Ministering in the name of Jesus Christ and for His glory
* Honouring God through prayer, praise and worship, obedience and excellence
* Serving and challenging the local church
* Partnership and vision through the church and the international Covenant Council
* Unity by loving, serving and honouring one another through ministry, prayer, communication, training, encouragement, recognition, empowerment, accountability and correction
* Child advocacy
* Holistic child development
* Transparency, accountability, integrity and excellence

These are summarised in the following five words:

* Advocacy
* Integrity
* Excellence
* Servanthood
* Partnership




Corporate goals

Compassion Australia is committed to total dependency on God in every area of endeavour and operation.

In His name and for His glory we will:

* Create an environment that fosters the spiritual development of everyone within Compassion
* Be recognised by Australian Christians as the leader in holistic child development and advocacy
* Grow to 100,000 sponsored children by 2012
* Reduce operating costs to less than 20%
* Exploit technology to enhance the quality of decision-making, improve communication, reduce costs and strengthen the relationship between sponsors, children and Compassion
* Develop the Child Advocacy Network and the internet as major contributors to new sponsorship acquisition
* Equip, empower and involve staff
* Investigate new methods of sponsor and donor acquisition such as interactive media, corporate sponsorships, bequests, living sponsorships, strategic alliances
* Maximise financial returns, and identify and manage risks
* Provide opportunity for Australian churches to partner developing churches in addition to child sponsorship
* Raise awareness of children's needs and lift Compassion's profile within the Australian church through special events

History

Today, 50 years after Compassion founder, Everett Swanson was first touched by the plight of orphans in South Korea, the ministry has grown to now serve over 500,000 children wordwide.

During the Korean war American evangelist, Everett Swanson, took an early morning walk through the streets of Seoul, South Korea. The city was just beginning to stir. He glanced up as a truck stopped a few blocks ahead. Workers poured from the cab to gather what appeared to be a few piles of rags from doorways and alleys. They threw the rags onto the truck. As Everett drew closer, he noticed the workers gently kicking the rag piles as they came across them. One rag pile lay in a doorway not far from him. One of the workers reached it at the same time. That's when Everett noticed a small arm extend from the pile and he began to make out the shape of a child sleeping in a foetal position under the rags. He ran to warn the worker not to kick those rags. But somehow, as he ran, Everett caught sight of the cargo on the truck. He stopped cold in his tracks as he realised what he was witnessing.

The workers were gathering bodies of abandoned children who had died on the streets overnight. Some of these children had begged Everett for spare change a few days earlier. Some of the children, like the boy Everett first noticed, would wake to face another day. Being kicked by a garbage worker was their normal wake-up call. With his heart still troubled for the children, Everett talked to a missionary friend who challenged him to do something about these children's needs. Everett Swanson took that challenge to heart. As soon as he returned to America, he was handed money that was designated for the needy of Korea.

As Everett began to speak around the country on the needs of Korea, he received donations that helped support an orphanage. Later, as Korean Christians began new orphanages, Everett raised funds to support their work. Within ten years, 10,000 Korean children were being cared for. As there was a need for ongoing support for the children, Everett developed a one-to-one sponsorship program whereby individuals in America could provide Bible-based education, food, clothing, shelter and medical care for just a few dollars a month. Matthew 15:32 was on Everett's heart when searching for a name for this ministry.

This verse was a promise that changed the lives of thousands of Korean children and continues to change lives today. Compassion now ministers to over 500,000 children in more than 20 developing countries through a variety of programs. In 50 years Compassion's ministry in South Korea has come full circle. They now partner with us as a funding country, Compassion Korea, sponsoring needy children around the world.

Milestones
1977

Laurie and Olive McCowan, along with Australian sponsors begin the work of Compassion. Laurie, often on the field, while Olive managed the office in the basement of their home.

1978

Compassion Limited of Australia, is officially registered, and based in Newcastle.

1980

Compassion rents its first office; a former automotive engineering works. Over one thousand children are now sponsored.

1982

Due to the rapid growth, Compassion is able to purchase a building in Broadmeadow. A miraculous and timely provision from God.

1986

Compassion Australia sponsors their 5000th child.

1991

Compassion Australia sponsors their 10,000th child.

1994

Compassion was one of the first non-government agencies to respond to the Rwandan genocide. $1 million is raised for relief support for the widows and orphans left shocked, maimed and grieving by the civil war.

1996

Compassion’s ministry continues to flourish, and they celebrate the opening of their purpose-built premises at Warabrook. Also, they reach another milestone with 15,000 children sponsored.

2000

Compassion Australia sponsors their 20,000th child.

2001

Laurie McCowan, Compassion Australia’s founding CEO retires having grown Compassion to 23,500 children, with an annual income of over $11 million. Paul O’Rourke, Compassion's former chief operating officer, succeeds Laurie.

2004
Today, 35,000 children are helped by Compassion Australia. Compassion Australia is part of a worldwide network of people helping children. In partnership with Compassion USA, Canada, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, New Zealand, Italy, South Korea and the United Kingdom, over 500,000 children are helped by Compassion programs. Compassion Australia has grown from a staff of two to a network of 43 paid staff members Australia wide, plus hundreds of dedicated advocates and prayer partners.


How we work


Compassion sponsorship is an expression of God's love to a child.

Firstly, as a distinctively Christian organisation, based on the Word of God, Compassion connects caring sponsors, willing to provide assistance on a one-to-one basis with children in need.

Secondly, God's love is demonstrated through working in partnership with the local church in developing countries to release children from spiritual, economic, social, physical and emotional poverty.

By partnering with the local church, Compassion's projects utilise God's ordained instrument to evangelise communities, and equip church leaders and members to be more effective in ministering and advocating for children.

In all projects, Compassion encourages the parents or guardians to actively participate with their children by becoming involved in various programs and workshops.



What is a project ?

* Child focussed - everything Compassion does is based on the individual needs of the children they serve.

*Introduce children to Jesus - as part of the program, children regularly hear the Gospel and learn about Jesus.

* Learning opportunities - Compassion provides educational assistance, in some cases this means paying for school fees, clothing, and supplies, or it may be tutoring, help with homework or access to a literacy program outside of formal education.

* Health care - project workers monitor children's health, provide care as needed and hygiene training.

* A safe haven for children - as projects are church-based, Christian adults are readily available to offer love, guidance, personal attention and recreational activities in a safe environment.

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information courtesy of compassion Australia

to find out more visit www.compassion.com.au

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

compassion UK http://www.compassionuk.org/site/pages/ui_home.aspx


for a vast array of superb articles on the life-changing work of Compassion this is a link to Compassion magazines which can be viewed as PDF files on the website.
http://www.compassion.com.au/article_list.asp?inttype=1