Who is Compassion International?
Compassion International is a child-advocacy ministry that pairs compassionate people with those who are suffering from poverty. The ministry releases children from spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty. The goal is for each child to become a responsible and fulfilled adult.
Compassion’s work has grown from modest beginnings in South Korea in 1952 when American evangelist Rev. Everett Swanson felt compelled to help 35 children orphaned by the Korean conflict. Today it is a worldwide ministry where millions of children are now reaping the benefits of one man’s clear, God-given vision.
Who We Are
What is Compassion?
Compassion means “to suffer with” and is an emotional response of sympathy. But it’s not just a feeling. The feeling is combined with a desire to help. Because we have compassion, we want to take action and help the person who is suffering.
Notice the last word of the definition above – “with.” We are called to suffer with someone, to suffer together. This is what differentiates compassion from empathy.
Who is Compassion International?
Compassion International is a child-advocacy ministry that pairs compassionate people with those who are suffering from poverty. The ministry releases children from spiritual, economic, social, and physical poverty. The goal is for each child to become a responsible and fulfilled adult.
Compassion’s work has grown from modest beginnings in South Korea in 1952 when American evangelist Rev. Everett Swanson felt compelled to help 35 children orphaned by the Korean conflict. Today it is a worldwide ministry where millions of children are now reaping the benefits of one man’s clear, God-given vision.
Compassion. A movement. A calling. A cause. A people.
Compassion is global, reflecting the beautiful diversity of God’s kingdom.
Two Haitian boys and two Haitian girls in blue uniforms stand together next to one another.
We are collaborative, depending on teamwork and partnership.
We are inclusive and accepting of others.
Four little Bolivian girls sit around a brown, wooden table, eating soup.
We are honest. We say what we mean, and we do what we say.
We are respectful, protecting the divine character in everyone.
We strive to always be grace filled, kind, forgiving and merciful.
An African woman holds a baby and is hugged by her husband.
We are loving. God’s love fuels us, and we unabashedly love one another.
We are passionate, against injustice and for our cause.
Compassion is authentic, facing hard realities with an adventuresome spirit.
We are totally focused on our our mission. Single-minded in our pursuit.
A young Nicaraguan girl sits with one arm draped around her mothers neck.
Our ministry is contextual, customized and culturally relevant. It is effective, proven and outcome driven.
Our creative spirit drives innovative solutions to the challenges and opportunities before us.
Compassion is professional. We do our work with excellence but without pretension.
Our faith in God and in His promises empowers us to be confident. In the face of evil raging around us, we remain hopeful and lift one another’s spirits as we go about our mission of releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.Responsibilities
Maintains a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Is a consistent witness for Jesus Christ, maintains a courteous, Christ-like attitude in dealing with people within and outside of Compassion, and faithfully upholds Compassion’s ministry in prayer.
Acts as an advocate to raise the awareness of the needs of children. Understands Christ’s mandate to protect children. Commits to and prioritizes child protection considerations in all decision-making, tasks and activities across the ministry. Abides by all behavioral expectations in Compassion’s Statement of Commitment to Child Protection and Code of Conduct. Reports any concerns of abuse, neglect or exploitation of children through Compassion’s internal reporting process and appropriately supports responses to incidents if they occur.
Demonstrates a personal commitment to serve, respect, and empower the church according to principles outlined in Compassion’s ministry philosophies.
Church Maturation – Strengthens church ownership and capacity through a developmental mindset and the Partnership Management core process.
Facilitates partnerships with church partners to collaboratively reflect on youth and church outcomes and plan for how to best grow in capacity and maturity.
Facilitates the development and implementation of church owned strategies that build on each church's strengths to engage participation of parents and caregivers, children and youth in all aspects of the ministry, including program design, local resource mobilization, decision making, etc. Coordinates with other CFT members to help churches to actively identify and engage the change makers who influence change in children and youth, such as parents, schools, peers, etc.
Works with pastors and church staff to identify capacity development needs. Serves as Compassion’s key liaison with church partners by engaging the support of other Church Facing Team (CFT) members and financial resources in ways that are consistent with a developmental mindset and the Partnership Principles
Supports churches in mobilizing local resources and sharing of resources among nearby churches. Supports churches to identify and utilize local resources, services and relationships, as well as opportunities to help maximize their own resources to support the ministry to children and youth. Encourages relationships and alliances to further the ministry impact of partner churches.
Program Cycle – Supports the church partner throughout all phases of the Program Cycle
Needs Assessment – Mobilizes CFT members to compile and organize information to inform the church partners about the needs of children and youth they serve. Facilitates the church partner in gathering local information about child and youth needs, and synthesizing with external data.
Planning – Facilitates church partner planning of their Child and Youth (CY) ministry.
Supports the church partner to develop an effective plan by assisting the church partner to identify and prioritize CY needs as well as select interventions that will address the prioritized needs and challenges.
Encourages the local church partners to invite greater participation of other church ministry leaders, parents/caregivers, youth and other key stakeholders in identifying needs, planning and implementing CY interventions.
Supports the church to develop an annual plan and budget to implement their chosen program interventions.
Implementation – Partners with other CFT members to support church partners as they carry out their chosen interventions and monitor progress toward successful implementation.
Evaluation – Partners with other CFT members to support church partners through a learning and reflection process on effectiveness of the interventions to inform planning in the next cycle.
Coordination of CFT – Coordinates Church Facing Team (CFT) support to each church partner.
Utilizing the Facilitation Workplan, coordinates the CFT to support each church partner based on the church’s level of ownership, capacity and resources (maturity), the local context, local church priorities, needs identified by CFT members and National office priorities
Creates and tailors Facilitation Workplans to each church, so that objectives and activities reflect individual church needs.
Contributes to the CFT's understanding of the church's needs. Reviews reports and support documentation from CFT members, as well as perspectives from the church partner to gain understanding of the church’s unique needs and challenges and provide appropriate support for the church partner.
Documents, alongside all other CFT members, the support they provide to the church partners and follows up on issues identified.
Cluster operations – Oversees a cluster of churches while demonstrating responsiveness to the local context and needs of each individual church within the cluster.
Encourages and facilitates cluster level activities and resources.
Proactively seeks to foster relationships and connection within the cluster.
Promotes cluster-based collaboration and initiatives between local churches for the purpose of improving ministry to children, peer-to-peer learning, and addressing other needs in the families and the community.
Ensures the timely renewal of the partnership agreement between Compassion and the Church partner. May call upon a more senior level facilitator for counsel and guidance.
Child Protection – Facilitates church partner adoption of child protection standards. Facilitates implementation of church owned and contextualized child protection practices. Connects churches to relevant evidence-based resources and internal and external supports to develop approaches for preventing abuse and promoting safe, healthy relationships with children and youth by the adults in their spheres of influence.
Supports timely reporting of all child protection allegations through Compassion’s internal reporting processes, including taking direct responsibility for reporting if necessary. In collaboration with child protection specialists and other office leadership, engages in necessary support work to ensure Compassion and the church partner comprehensively and efficiently complete internal investigations in a timely manner. Mobilizes Compassion and community support for follow up actions as needed.
Is accountable to the Partnership Management strategic process objectives in coordination with other cross-functional members. Coordinates the implementation of local process improvements and self-development improvements based on metrics and feedback from the church.
Delivers on Compassion commitments to the church, and for programmatic and sponsor engagement deliverables. Partners with local cross-functional specialists, and those in Program Support or Business Support who have responsibility for Compassion’s role in those deliverables to ensure quality and completion.
Utilizes knowledge and capabilities in mobilization and facilitation practices to identify felt needs at church partners and consults with cross-functional specialists to select and apply creative solutions.
May provide expertise to other professionals and support staff in the partnership discipline.
Faith
Has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Skills
Experience in financial oversight & management
Basic monitoring and evaluation skills
Competency in participatory development
Good interpersonal skills
Culture
Accountable for supporting, upholding, and engaging in Compassion's core "Cultural Behaviors" in all internal and external communication and relationships.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in a related field in Project Management, Development studies
Experience
Three years Relevant experience working in this or a related field.
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