“They despise not the widow and grieve not the orphan. He that has, distributes liberally to him that has not. If they see a stranger, they bring them under their roof and rejoice over him, as if it were their own brother.”

This is how the philosopher Aristedes described early followers of Jesus in 125 A.D. He observed that the lifestyle of this fledgling movement was so countercultural that people wondered why they lived this way. Early followers did not separate “good news” from good actions. They were God’s influence for good, taking their lead from Jesus.

Jesus not only preached the “good news of the kingdom,” but he also demonstrated God’s goodness through his ministry to those in need of physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Proclaiming the good news and demonstrating God’s goodness have gone hand in hand throughout the history of evangelicals, because for Christians, goodness flows from the very character and nature of God.

From Abolition to Public School Reform 

In his 1630 address as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, “A Model of Christian Charity,” John Winthrop wrote, “We must delight in each other; and make other’s conditions our own.” So it has been with the best of evangelical movements.

William Wilberforce’s campaign to end slavery, for example, grew out of his Christian belief that the gospel was meant not only to be heard but also to be seen in restoring dignity and freedom to people. In 1859, evangelicals formed the Boston Union Missions Society to help educate poor newsboys and girls in the city. In the early 20th century, Boston’s “upstart evangelicals” worked among new immigrant communities for labor reform, improvements in tenement housing and public school reform. They were an influence of God’s goodness to those often overlooked by others.

A United Evangelical Witness

In 1942, the National Association of Evangelicals was founded to unite evangelicals for active engagement in public life, bringing about transformation that is good and God-honoring. 

“The National Association of Evangelicals is uniquely equipped to carry out its stated mission of being an Influence for Good in today’s polarized culture,” says Shirley Mullen, president emerita of Houghton University and author of “The Courageous Middle.” “The NAE allows the richness of the evangelical movement to exist within a framework of unity so that the ‘evangelical’ voice can be sounded with clarity and impact in the context of the larger culture.”

Over the years, the NAE formed the National Religious Broadcasters and the Evangelical Foreign Missions Association (now Missio Nexus) and played a significant role in the development of the New International Version of the Bible. The NAE has been an Influence for Good in many other significant areas, including:

  • Humanitarian Relief: Through World Relief, which was founded by the NAE in 1944, the NAE has assisted communities hit by natural disasters, conflict and famine. After Hurricane Katrina, NAE-affiliated churches and member organizations, including Samaritan’s Purse and The Salvation Army, mobilized volunteers to rebuild homes and provide critical support. Their efforts were recognized in The New York Times article, “A New Meaning for ‘Organized Religion’: It Helps the Needy Quickly.” 
  • Global Development and Poverty Reduction: Partnering with member organizations, such as Compassion International, World Relief and World Vision, and through its current “Compassion for a World in Need” campaign, the NAE promotes programs addressing child poverty and health care globally. As a result, millions of children have received education, health care and nutritional support, with local churches serving as implementation hubs.
  • Chaplains Ministry: Chaplains serve as pastors in places where churches often cannot go — battlefields, hospitals, prison cells, boardrooms, police departments and more. In these unique places and in times of crisis, chaplains become visible reminders of God’s presence and care. Representing more than 3,000 chaplains nationwide, NAE Chaplaincy provides a home for chaplains of different backgrounds and traditions through ministerial endorsement, training workshops, individualized support and networking with other chaplains.
  • Holistic Advocacy: The NAE’s consistent presence on Capitol Hill has allowed the words and heart of God to be spoken among national leaders. Through engagement on a wide range of issues, as articulated in “For the Health of the Nation,” the NAE seeks to influence policy for the common good in ways that reflect God’s priorities.

These are just some of the efforts underway. We all see the walls of division in our culture. The NAE has a strong history of being a bridge builder — a model of what is possible when God’s goodness brings change to people and communities. 

“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). Seeking peace and doing good are actions we can all take to influence our culture. The NAE provides opportunities to do so in partnership, so that together we can make a difference and be God’s Influence for Good today and into the future.  

Learn more about the NAE's history Arrow

 

Kevin McBride

Kevin McBride has served as senior pastor of Raymond Baptist Church in Raymond, New Hampshire, since 2005.  Raymond Baptist Church hosts the SonShine Community Table, which offers a free meal and fellowship for over 100 individuals; the Community Food Pantry; Senior Appreciation Breakfasts; a free Wild Game Dinner; and more. His passion is to make the Church indispensable to the life of our communities and world in the name of Jesus Christ. McBride is a graduate of Boston University in aerospace engineering and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.