To Ethiopia With World Vision, Who Are They?

As you may know, Mike and I just got back from a trip to Ethiopia with World Vision. My brain, and my heart, are still in a bit of shock, but I’m sorting through our experiences so I can share a couple of them with you. But, before that, I thought it’d be helpful to let you into the heart and soul of World Vision.

I’m embarassed to say that Mike and I knew very little about World Vision before we left. We thought we knew who they were—we have seen their ads, heard their appeals and have sponsored children with them—but when we were with them, up close and personal, we realized that we knew virtually nothing about them.

As I was trying to articulate what makes World Vision so special, I did some research and came across their “Core Values.”  These core values embody what they are all about. And Mike and I saw these values in action, transforming lives, families, communities, indeed an entire country. 

I especially saw this value in living color:
We seek to facilitate an engagement between the poor and the affluent that opens both to transformation. We respect the poor as active participants, not passive recipients, in this relationship. They are people from whom others may learn and receive, as well as give. The need for transformation is common to all. Together we share a quest for justice, peace, reconciliation, and healing in a broken world.

You can’t get better than that!

Read what else embodies World Vision. Then stay tuned for some real life stories of transformation. Thanks for joining me on the journey.

The World Vision Partnership has six core values that are central to its identity and what it aspires to be. (From the World Vision International Website: Core Values)

• We are Christian
• We are committed to the poor
• We value people
• We are stewards
• We are partners
• We are responsive

We are Christian
We acknowledge one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In Jesus the love, mercy and grace of God are made known to us and all people.

We seek to follow Jesus – in his identification with the poor, the powerless, the afflicted, the oppressed, and the marginalised; in his special concern for children; in his respect for the dignity bestowed equally on women and men; in his challenge to unjust attitudes and systems; in his call to share resources with each other; in his love for all people without discrimination or conditions; in his offer of new life through faith in him.

We hear his call to servant hood, and to humility.

We maintain our Christian identity while being sensitive to the diverse contexts in which we express that identity.

We are committed to the poor
We are called to serve the neediest people of the earth; to relieve their suffering and to promote the transformation of their wellbeing. We stand in solidarity in a common search for justice. We seek to understand the situation of the poor and work alongside them.

We seek to facilitate an engagement between the poor and the affluent that opens both to transformation. We respect the poor as active participants, not passive recipients, in this relationship. They are people from whom others may learn and receive, as well as give. The need for transformation is common to all. Together we share a quest for justice, peace, reconciliation, and healing in a broken world.

We value people
We regard all people as created and loved by God. We give priority to people before money, structure, systems, and other institutional machinery. We act in ways that respect dignity, uniqueness, and intrinsic worth of every person – the poor, the donors, our staff and their families, boards, and volunteers. We celebrate the richness of diversity in human personality, culture and contribution. 

We practice a participative, open, enabling style in working relationships. We encourage the professional, personal, and spiritual development of our staff.

We are stewards
The resources at our disposal are not our own. They are a trust from God through donors on behalf of the poor. We speak and act honestly. We are open and factual in our dealings with donors, project communities, governments and the public at large. 

We demand of ourselves high standards of professional competence and financial accountability.

We are stewards of God’s creation. We care for the earth and act in ways that will restore and protect the environment. We ensure that our development activities are ecologically sound.

We are partners
We are partners with the poor and with donors in a shared ministry. We are members of an international World Vision Partnership that transcends legal, structural, and cultural boundaries.

We pursue relationships with all churches and desire mutual participation in ministry. We maintain a cooperative stance and a spirit of openness towards other humanitarian organisations. 

We are responsive
We are responsive to life-threatening emergencies where our involvement is needed and appropriate. We are willing to take intelligent risks and act quickly. 

We do this from a foundation of experience and sensitivity to what the situation requires. We also recognise that even in the midst of crisis the destitute have a contribution to make.

We are responsive in a different sense where deep seated and often complex economic and social deprivation calls for sustainable, long-term development.