Christian humanitarian aid

'''Christian humanitarian aid''' is work performed by Christian non-governmental organizations ([[Non-governmental organization|NGOs]]) to alleviate the suffering of people around the world. Humanitarian aid occurs in areas where some [[Christian Church|churches]] donate financial resources.

== Origins ==
The modern concept of Christian humanitarian aid is based on teachings from the [[Bible]].<ref>Christian Buckley, Ryan Dobson, ''Humanitarian Jesus: Social Justice and the Cross'', Moody Publishers, USA, 2010, p. 15</ref> [[Charity (practice)|Charity]] and providing assistance to the poor are concepts established in the [[Old Testament]].<ref>Frank M. Loewenberg, ''From Charity To Social Justice'', Transaction Publishers, USA, 2001, p. 148</ref> According to [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]], part of one's [[tithe]] was devoted to the needy ([[orphan]]s, [[widows]], [[Alien (law)|foreigners]]). In the [[New Testament]], [[Jesus]] taught much about the subject of charity. In the [[Sermon on the Mount]], he called for people to help not only friends but also enemies,<ref>Luke 6:35</ref> as well as those rejected by society, such as people with disabilities.<ref>Luke 14:14</ref> In the [[Parable of the Good Samaritan]], he described the medical care paid by a [[Samaritan]] to a [[Jews|Jew]] (both peoples were enemies), as a model of love for his neighbor.<ref> Brian D. Lepard, ''Rethinking Humanitarian Intervention: A Fresh Legal Approach Based on Fundamental Ethical Principles in International Law and World Religions'', Penn State Press, USA, 2010, p. 46</ref><ref> CHESTER, Tim, La responsabilité du chrétien face à la pauvreté, Marne-la-Vallée, Farel, 2006, p.19-20</ref> [[Paul of Tarsus]] has also raised funds for the underprivileged.<ref> Michael Barnett, Janice Gross Stein, ''Sacred Aid: Faith and Humanitarianism'', Oxford University Press, UK, 2012, p. 67</ref>

Dating back as early as the [[Middle Ages]], [[Catholic]] [[monasteries]] and [[monastic orders]] have a long tradition of providing charity, asylum, and assistance to the poor.<ref name="Ferris">E. Ferris, [https://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/other/irrc_858_ferris.pdf Faith-based and secular humanitarian organizations], ''International Review of the Red Cross'' 87, 858 (2005), pages 311-325</ref> [[Protestant churches]] established the Department of [[Deacon]]s responsible for helping the poor. Missionary societies of the 18th and 19th centuries often offered humanitarian assistance in addition to their main activity of [[evangelism]].<ref name="Ferris"/>

In the 19th century, the first Christian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) began emerging. [[YMCA]], a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] NGO, was created in 1844 in [[London]].<ref>J. Gordon Melton, ''Encyclopedia of Protestantism'', Infobase Publishing, USA, 2005, p.  591</ref> [[Caritas Internationalis|Caritas]], a Catholic NGO, was founded in [[Cologne]] in 1897.<ref> Yves Beigbeder, ''The Role and Statuts of International Humanitarian Volunteers and Organizations: The Right and Duty to Humanitarian Assistance'', Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Belgium, 1991, p. 218</ref> The entrepreneurial culture of [[Evangelical]] churches also led to their creation of multiple NGOs.<ref name="Fayner">E. Fayner, [http://temoignagechretien.fr/articles/international/world-vision-long-la-plus-riche-au-monde World Vision:l'ONG la plus riche au monde] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222154335/http://temoignagechretien.fr/articles/international/world-vision-long-la-plus-riche-au-monde |date=2015-12-22 }}, ''Témoignage chrétien'', October 21, 2010</ref>

Like the humanitarian movement, Christian NGOs attracted more attention in the 1970s. Some Christian NGOs, such as those run by evangelical doctors providing medical assistance in impoverished countries, are recognized for their contributions to development.<ref>Voir, par exemple, [http://www.christianismeaujourdhui.info/articles.php/la-suisse-reconnait-l-apport-des-ong-chretiennes-5896.html La Suisse reconnaît l'apport des ONG chrétiennes], christianismeaujourdhui.info, Switzerland, August 22 2011</ref><ref>Prime Minister's Office, [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/churches-network-wins-big-society-award Churches network wins Big Society Award], UK, 3 June 2013</ref><ref>N. Kristof, [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/29/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-a-little-respect-for-dr-foster.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1 A Little respect for Dr. Foster], The New York Times, USA, March 28, 2015</ref>

== Features and benefits ==
A Christian humanitarian NGO has at least one of the following traits:<ref name="Ferris"/> 
* Affiliation with a Christian religious organization
* Explicit references to a Christian religion in its statutes
* Financial support from a Christian religious organization
* Selection of its board of directors or teams based on Christian principles or religious affiliation
* Decision-making based on Christian religious principles

Affiliation with local Christian churches across the world often make it possible for Christian NGOs to work in countries or regions that are otherwise difficult for governmental or international organizations to access. The international network of many Christian religions allows their NGOs to gather significant funding and publicity to promote their humanitarian actions across the world.<ref name="Ferris"/>

== Humanitarian staff ==
In some Christian NGOs, the staff is not only Christian.<ref> Michael Barnett, Janice Gross Stein, ''Sacred Aid: Faith and Humanitarianism'', Oxford University Press, UK, 2012, p. 46</ref> However, common spiritual values are a common feature among Christian NGO employees and volunteers.<ref> Michael Barnett, Janice Gross Stein, ''Sacred Aid: Faith and Humanitarianism'', Oxford University Press, UK, 2012, p. 128-129</ref> According to Christian aid workers, their commitment is motivated by spiritual values of [[compassion]] and [[mercy]].<ref> Frederick Klaits, ''The Request and the Gift in Religious and Humanitarian Endeavors'', Springer, USA, 2017, p. 12</ref><ref> Brian Steensland, Philip Goff, ''The New Evangelical Social Engagement'', Oxford University Press USA, USA, 2014, p. 84</ref><ref> Michael Barnett, Janice Gross Stein, ''Sacred Aid: Faith and Humanitarianism'', Oxford University Press, UK, 2012, p. 125</ref> In some NGOs, such as [[Mercy Ships]], all employees are volunteers and have to pay for accommodation and food, as well as work for free.<ref> RTS, [http://www.rts.ch/info/monde/6500352-le-navire-hopital-d-une-ong-suisse-offre-des-soins-a-madagascar.html#timeline-anchor-Historique Le navire-hôpital d'une ONG suisse offre des soins à Madagascar], rts.ch, Swiss, February 01, 2015</ref>

== Intervention policies ==
The majority of Christian NGOs help everyone, regardless of religion.<ref> E. Ferris, "[https://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/other/irrc_858_ferris.pdf Faith-based and secular humanitarian organizations]", ''International Review of the Red Cross'' 87, 858 (2005), p.317</ref> With the growth of secularization in some countries, some Christian NGOs have downplayed their religious identity.<ref> Stanley D. Brunn, ''The Changing World Religion Map: Sacred Places, Identities, Practices and Politics'', Springer, USA, 2015, p. 3118</ref> In some NGOs this depends on the cultural context of the national antenna.<ref> THOMAS J DAVIS, ''Religion in Philanthropic Organizations: Family, Friend, Foe?'', Indiana University Press, USA, 2013, p. XVIII</ref>

Contrary to certain clichés, many [[Evangelical]] NGOs do not mix [[humanitarian]] and [[evangelization]].<ref> Verna, G., [https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/as/2007-v31-n2-as2394/018681ar/resume/ Le comportement des ONG engagées dans l’aide humanitaire : Selon leur culture d’origine et les pressions politiques subies], Revue Anthropologie et Sociétés, Volume 31, Numéro 2, Université Laval, Canada, 2007, p. 32-33</ref> But on the other hand, some evangelical NGOs can not provide help without accompanying evangelization. The diversity of evangelical movements makes both scenarios possible. In some parts of the world, as on the [[African continent]], local culture places a great deal of importance on spiritual things, which makes it difficult for some people to understand or accept the work of Humanitarian NGOs that do not display their religious identity.

== Results and budgets ==
In 2007, Christian NGOs comprised 57.4% of the NGOs affiliated with the [[United Nations]].<ref>Bruno Duriez, François Mabille, Kathy Rousselet, ''Les ONG confessionnelles: Religions et action internationale'', Editions L'Harmattan, France, 2007, p. 31</ref>

According to a British study by Elizabeth Ferris, published in 2005 in the periodical ''International Review of the Red Cross,'' Christian NGOs have large budgets and provide considerable financial support worldwide.<ref name="Ferris" /> This same study gives the following figures:

* NGOs related to the [[World Council of Churches]] and those of the group of [[Caritas Internationalis]] spend over a billion dollars a year in aid and development.
* The [[Lutheran World Federation]] has a budget of $73 million for aid and development.
* According to a 1953 study, religious NGOs gave 90% of the assistance provided after [[World War II]].
* According to William Headley of ([[Catholic Relief Services]]), 1/3 of the persons living with [[Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome|AIDS]] in the world are treated with the help of the [[Catholicism|Catholic Church]].

According to [[sociologist]] Sébastien Fath, Evangelical churches and their respective NGOs develop an international humanitarian entrepreneurship that influences policy decisions.<ref>Sébastien Fath, ''Dieu XXL, la révolution des mégachurches'', Édition Autrement, France, 2008, p. 42, 116</ref> Therefore, they are unavoidable geopolitical players in the humanitarian field.

==International Catholic organizations==
Among the most important International [[Catholicism |Catholic]] humanitarian [[Non-Governmental Organization |NGOs]], there are [[Caritas Internationalis]] and [[Emmaus (charity)|Emmaus International]].<ref> Stanley D. Brunn, ''The Changing World Religion Map: Sacred Places, Identities, Practices and Politics'', Springer, USA, 2015, p. 2932</ref> See also [[Catholic charities]].

==International Protestant organizations==
At the level of international [[Protestantism|Protestant]] humanitarian [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]], there are church-related organizations such as [[Lutheran World Relief]] and [[United Methodist Committee on Relief]].<ref> Elliott Abrams, ''The Influence of Faith: Religious Groups and U.S. Foreign Policy'', Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, USA, 2002, p. 181</ref> The largest  NGO [[humanitarian]] Protestant international not directly attached to a church is the [[YMCA]].<ref> Immanuel Ness, ''Encyclopedia of American Social Movements'', Routledge , USA, 2015, p. 968</ref>

==International Evangelical organizations==
In the 1940s, in the United States, neo-evangelicalism developed the importance of [[social justice]] and humanitarian actions in [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] churches. <ref> David P. King, ''God's Internationalists: World Vision and the Age of Evangelical Humanitarianism'', University of Pennsylvania Press, USA, 2019, p. 27, 121</ref> The majority of evangelical Christian humanitarian organizations were founded in the second half of the 20th century. <ref> Brian Steensland, Philip Goff, ''The New Evangelical Social Engagement'', Oxford University Press USA, USA, 2014, p. 242-243</ref> Among those with the most partner countries, there was the foundation of [[World Vision International]] (1950), [[Samaritan's Purse]] (1970), [[Mercy Ships]] (1978), [[Prison Fellowship International]] (1979), [[International Justice Mission]] (1997).<ref>Wendy Murray Zoba, ''The Beliefnet Guide To Evangelical Christianity'', Three Leaves Press, USA, 2005, p. XX</ref>

== Controversies ==
Conflicts of collaboration have occurred between Catholic [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]]s and non-confessional NGOs in the fight against [[Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome|AIDS]], mainly because of different views on the use of [[condoms]].<ref>L. Ferrari, "[http://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1773&context=faculty_pubs&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.com%2Fscholar%3Fstart%3D140%26q%3D%2522christian%2BNGO%2522%2Bcriticism%26hl%3Den%26as_sdt%3D0%2C5#search=%22christian%20NGO%20criticism%22 Catholic and Non-Catholic NGOs Fighting HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: Issue Framing and Collaboration]", ''International Relations'' 25(1) (2011), pages 85-107</ref>

In [[Bangladesh]], some Christian NGOs are criticized for their activity of [[evangelism]]. According to the [[sociologist]] Geoffrey Martin, there is no overall policy, but some employees of Christian NGOs distribute bibles to the people they assist.<ref name = "Fayner"/> [[Evangelical]] aid has been criticized by more traditional Christian NGOs because they have not separated evangelism and humanitarian aid, which could affect all Christian humanitarian NGOs.<ref name="Ferris"/> 

It has been difficult for some Christian and Muslim NGOs to collaborate.<ref>C. Benedetti, "[http://graduateinstitute.ch/files/live/sites/iheid/files/sites/political_science/shared/political_science/3205/Benedetti-Islamic%20and%20Christian%20Insipired%20Relief%20NGOs.pdf Islamic and Christian Inspired Relief NGOs: Between Tactical Collaboration And Strategic Diffidence?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226154633/http://graduateinstitute.ch/files/live/sites/iheid/files/sites/political_science/shared/political_science/3205/Benedetti-Islamic%20and%20Christian%20Insipired%20Relief%20NGOs.pdf|date=2014-12-26}}", ''Journal of International Development'' 18 (2006), pages 849–859</ref>

In 2007, an anonymous tip accused local [[World Vision International]] employees in [[Liberia]] of diverting food stocks and building materials for personal use. <ref> BBC, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8084477.stm Liberia aid workers 'stole $1m'], news.bbc.co.uk, UK, June 5, 2009</ref> The NGO sent investigators to different partner cities in the country and estimated that 90% of its aid in the country had disappeared in fraud, while reports mentioned cities that did not even exist. Following this event, the organization set up a fraud reporting hotline.

== Critics ==
In 2003, Abby Stoddard criticized Christian NGOs for not respecting the principle of [[Neutrality (international relations)|neutrality]] in the armed conflict in [[South Sudan]], because of their support for the regional independence.<ref name="Ferris"/>

According to Tamsin Bradley, who performed a study in [[Rajasthan]] ([[India]]), faith and compassion occasionally result in members of Christian NGOs overlooking the actual needs of people they assist, as well as their long-term needs.<ref>Tamsin Bradley, [https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01438300500460401 Does Compassion Bring Results? a Critical Perspective on Faith and Development],''Culture and Religion'' 6 (3) (2005), pages 337-351</ref>

Some have criticized the actions of [[Mother Teresa]] as "an imperialist enterprise of the Catholic Church, against an Eastern population, in an oriental city" and a "cult of suffering" little concerned about hygiene.<ref>K. Schultz [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/27/world/asia/mother-teresa-critic.html?_r=0 A Critic's Lonely Quest: Revealing the Whole Truth About Mother Teresa], New York Times, August 26, 2016</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Humanitarian aid]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
* Elizabeth Ferris, "[https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/assets/files/other/irrc_858_ferris.pdf Faith-based and secular humanitarian organizations]", ''International Review of the Red Cross'' 87, 858 (2005), pages 311-325
* Christopher L. Pallas, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20140617002416/http://www.ired.org/modules/infodoc/cache/files/english/doc_e804.pdf Canterbury to Cameroon: a new partnership between faiths and the World Bank]", ''Development in Practice'' 15, 5 (2005)

[[Category:Humanitarian aid]]
[[Category:Christian practices]]