Compassion International and Willow Creek Association Join Forces to Fight Global Poverty

August 12, 2009 - Cold Springs, CO /Stephen Archer, Compassion/ -- "CHURCH TO CHURCH" PROGRAM TO PARTNER US CONGREGATIONS WITH CHURCHES IN THE WORLD'S POOREST COMMUNITIES

Compassion International, the world's largest child development and sponsorship organization working exclusively through local churches, and the Willow Creek Association, an international, evangelical Christian association with more than 11,000 member churches are joining forces to support those on the frontline of the war against global poverty.

Launched at the Willow Creek Association's 2009 Leadership Summit, the goal of this partnership is to bridge the divide between wealthier churches in the U.S. that are passionate about serving the poor and churches in the poorest communities around the world.

"I'm very excited about the partnership between Compassion and the Willow Creek Association," said Compassion International's President and CEO Dr. Wess Stafford, a keynote speaker at the Leadership Summit. "We believe this generation has the passion and the potential to put an end to global poverty. The church is the key to God's strategic plan to reach the world, and there is a tremendous opportunity now before us to ignite a passion for the poor in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of Christ-followers."

Today, those living in extreme poverty account for almost one fifth of the world's population, or 1.1 billion people. This staggering number of people includes nearly 600 million children whose families earn less than $1 per day.

"It's a real thrill to see a fantastic ministry like Compassion International join forces with Willow to bring this church-to-church approach to the broader body in the United States," said Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. "I think an 'only God' moment awaits us all as we see the local church rise up and fight the plagues of extreme poverty and injustice that clearly can be defeated in our time."

Willow Creek Association was founded in 1992 and works to link like-minded, action-oriented churches with each other and with strategic vision, training, and resources. The WCA is a not-for-profit ministry, with more than 11,000 Member Churches from 90+ denominations and 35 countries. These churches represent a wide variety of sizes, denominations, and backgrounds, and are ministering in literally every corner of the world. While pursuing their own unique, God-given vision for ministry in their own communities, Member Churches confirm a shared commitment to Christ and a passion for reaching those who far from God.

Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children in 25 of the world's poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works holistically through local churches to address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children - enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator, has awarded Compassion its highest rating - four stars - for eight consecutive years.