There’s been a lot of talk lately about Christian relief agencies like TEAR Fund throwing money away. “You’ve got to give a hand up not a hand out!” That may sound sensible and impressive but it’s based on a shallow understanding of what Christian relief organizations actually do.
When disaster strikes – a cyclone in Myanmar – a war in Sri Lanka – an earthquake in Haiti, whatever it might be – there is an immediate and desperate need for quick provision of relief supplies and Christian organizations are often equipped to provide it – clean water and food, clothing and shelter, medicine and medical care. If these things aren’t provided fast, thousands will suffer and die particularly the most vulnerable – the young and the elderly.
This is not the time to debate the limitations of aid versus long term development it’s the time to get relief to the people effected as quickly as possible. Then comes the slow, painful process of rebuilding. A spectacular flood may be headline news for two or three days and then it drops out of sight and we forget about it. In the country that was hit recovery will take two or three years – maybe more. Wells must be redug, livestock replaced, infrastructure like roads and bridges must be replaced. It’s a slow, expensive process.
Because we work with local, indigenous partners TEAR Fund is in an excellent position to help with the reconstruction. We can send off relief money from Aotearoa/NZ knowing it’s going to end up helping the people who most need it and not lining the pockets of some corrupt politician.
So why Christian relief? Well most of our supporters here are Christian individuals and churches and all of our partners are Christian organizations which should and usually does guarantee a high degree of honesty and commitment. The people who receive the relief are those in most need irrespective of religion, race, colour, age, sex etc. we certainly don’t limit our relief effort to Christians nor do we expect those who receive this relief to convert. The basis of Christian relief is our belief that all people are created by God and loved by God and that we serve Him best by helping his family.
Of course TEAR Fund and other Christian relief organizations are well aware of the need for wise, sustainable, long term development. We’ve studied the pitfalls and problems associated with bad development when some organization from the minority world doesn’t listen to the locals and imposes what it thinks is the solution, often with strings attached.
Our model is to listen and learn, to work through our partners to help build capacity and community, to encourage grass roots leadership and eventually to make ourselves redundant. This should be the aim of any relief work… to do the job so well that it’s no longer necessary. As projects take off and local people take over our partners can step back into a mentoring support role but of course this isn’t achieved over night – it takes many years of patient dedication.
So next time you here someone claiming that Christian relief work is a waste of time and money – gently correct them and point out that this is vital work, carefully targeted, expertly administered and fully in line with the teaching of Jesus.
Christian Relief Agencies. This list is by no means exhaustive, nor does it represent all the organisations TEAR Fund NZ is connected to – that would be a long list, but it does represent the Christian Relief/Aid & Development organisations that TEAR Fund NZ is connected to through the Integral Alliance:
UK: Tearfund
Australia: TEAR
Hong Kong: CEDAR Fund
Slovakia: Integra
Sweden: Lakarmissionen
USA: MAP International
Medical Teams Int
World Relief
Denmark: Mission East
France: SEL France
Norway: Stromme Foundation
Belgium: Tearfund
Netherlands: Tear
Switzerland: Tear Fund
Canada: World Relief
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