Compassion Calls for Faith-Based Initiative Expansion
“You can't compartmentalize your faith, and in a faith-based organization--we can't compartmentalize that either."
Compassion International urged citizens and grassroots organizations to support faith-based government initiatives as means to provide services to the poor, during a subcommittee meeting in the Colorado Springs City Hall, Friday, Jan 30, 2004.
The Christian child development organization told the delegates that the programs not only work, but should expand beyond U.S. borders.
"An organization who understands Biblical mandate to help the poor and the needy and do it in the context of their mission beliefs and their faith are very sensitive to the cultures and the people that they work with. They're not going to proselytize or force people to accept a different faith just to receive food or aid,” explained Compassion's Ed Anderson.
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Therefore, instead of fearing faith based groups, Ed urged the delegates to support the groups. The issue is not of the separation of church and state, but one of assisting the needy.
"We believe a faith based organization is like a rug woven with different threads that can't really be separated,” said Anderson. “You can't compartmentalize your faith, and in a faith-based organization--we can't compartmentalize that either."
