“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

This beloved verse captures the heart of evangelical faith: the firm conviction that God loves every human being and offers eternal salvation to all who place their trust in Jesus. As Jesus’ followers we emulate his generosity and love for our neighbors in need, across all barriers of race, ethnicity, nationality or geography.

For two thousand years, Christians have obeyed Jesus’ command to go into all the world, preaching the gospel in word and deed, and making disciples of all nations. We honor the dignity of God’s image in all people, uphold the sanctity of every human life, and embrace the call to show compassion for the orphan, the widow and the vulnerable wherever they are found.

As citizens in a country blessed with abundance and unparalleled global influence, we also recognize the responsibility to steward our nation’s resources in a way that leads to a more peaceful and prosperous world. Such a world is in our national interest, contributing to our health, safety, wealth and much more.

But more is at stake than our own security and prosperity. Jesus taught that “[f]rom everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).

The National Association of Evangelicals celebrates the millions of lives saved and the substantial contributions to human flourishing that have been achieved both in the United States and around the world through public and faith-based aid initiatives, often working in effective partnerships that respect the distinctive callings of governments and churches. The Bible offers multiple examples of public-private partnerships (Nehemiah 2:1–10, Ezra 1:1–8; Luke 7:1–6), and several Supreme Court decisions have established that government may not exclude faith-based groups when it partners with secular organizations.

But much more can and must be done. Millions of people die each year of preventable causes, and millions more live in extreme poverty. More than 100 million people have been displaced from their homes by wars, persecution and natural disasters. Our total U.S. poverty-focused response to these needs represents less than 1 percent of our national budget, and Americans give only about 0.1 percent of their personal income to international charities.

Evangelicals are not utopians; we recognize that some aid programs have been ineffective or co-opted to promote values not shared by most Americans. These programs should be reformed or discontinued. We also understand that human suffering will persist until Christ returns. But this reality should spur us to greater engagement and generosity, not less. As the Apostle Paul urged the Corinthians:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:6–8).

Therefore, the National Association of Evangelicals calls on all evangelicals to:

  • Pray and give generously to support both evangelism and ministries of compassion, both at home and abroad;
  • Advocate with members of Congress and the administration for resumed poverty-focused international assistance, with a particular focus on partnership with effective faith-based charities; and
  • Welcome, befriend and share the love of Jesus with immigrants and refugees whom God has sent into our communities.

We call on Congress and the administration to:

  • Undertake a review of foreign aid effectiveness and alignment with American values in a way that does not hamstring current operations;
  • Maintain support for poverty-focused international assistance and refugee resettlement, continuing to work with faith-based implementing partners wherever appropriate; and
  • Articulate for the American people the compelling rationale for continued global engagement and U.S. leadership in international humanitarian and development cooperation and refugee resettlement.