The Board of Directors of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) at its semiannual meeting on March 6 urged the United States to steward its resources and reaffirm its commitment to compassion for vulnerable people at home and abroad. 

“We celebrate the millions of lives saved and the substantial contributions to human flourishing in the United States and around the world made possible through both public and faith-based initiatives,” said NAE President Walter Kim. “While every administration has the right and responsibility to evaluate the effectiveness of our assistance programs, such a review and reform should be achieved without the indiscriminate disruption of programs that are working well and saving lives.” 

The motion, titled Compassion for a World in Need, emphasizes the United States’ position and responsibility: “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.”  

The motion notes multiple examples of public-private partnerships in the Bible and underscores Jesus’ teaching 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 NAE calls on evangelicals to pray and give generously to support both evangelism and ministries of compassion; to advocate with members of Congress and the administration for resumed poverty-focused international assistance; and to welcome, befriend and share the love of Jesus with immigrants and refugees whom God has sent into our communities.  

Additionally, the NAE calls 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.  

Kim added, “For two thousand years, Christians have followed 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.”