Who We Are
Who We Are
A global neighbourhood with one mission: releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.
We are united by our love for our neighbours, because Jesus first loved us. Just like the man lying wounded on the road in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, we too were once hopeless, and Jesus moved with compassion towards us.
Now, we take to the road together and do the same.
“What are you going to do?”
This was the question that burned in Everett Swanson’s mind. In 1952, while in Korea during the war, he witnessed suffering he would never forget: children shivering in the streets. He did what he could. But the next morning he returned to find city workers scooping up their bodies.
On the plane back home, Everett heard God’s voice in six clear words: “What are you going to do?”
His response would give rise to a global movement of compassion that is still growing to this day.
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WATCH
WATCH
Our movement begins
1950s
1952
Rev. Everett Swanson witnesses the suffering of children during the Korean War and God calls him to do something about it. He begins with a promise to help 35 children and establishes the Everett Swanson Evangelic Association (ESEA).
1954
The children in South Korean orphanages need ongoing care—so Everett introduces individual child sponsorship, modelled after the story of the Good Samaritan.
1960s
At the beginning of this decade, the ESEA supports children in 108 orphanages and homes in South Korea.
Compassion goes global
1963
Everett doesn’t feel right about his name representing the growing ministry. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 15:32, “I have compassion on the multitude. I will not send them away hungry,” he changes the name to Compassion.
1964
Compassion Canada joins as the first international partner to raise funds and serve supporters outside the United States.
1965
- Rev. Everett Swanson dies on 15 November, 13 years after pioneering Compassion’s ministry.
- Supporters visit Compassion assisted orphanages in South Korea on the first official sponsor trip
1966
Compassion International selects Rev. Henry L. Harvey as president.
1968
- Compassion expands work to Haiti in the Caribbean.
- Compassion’s work extends further into Asia with work beginning in India and Indonesia.
1970s
Wally Erickson becomes Compassion International’s third president. Compassion’s ministry continues to expand, and the number of sponsored children skyrockets from 25,000 to more than 180,000.
A decade of growth
1970
The Dominican Republic and Thailand join Compassion’s global neighbourhood.
1972
Compassion’s ministry expands to the Philippines.
1974
Compassion’s work extends further in South and Central America, with Colombia, Ecuador and Honduras joining the global neighbourhood.
1975
- Rev. Wallace (Wally) Erickson becomes Compassion International’s third president, following Henry Harvey’s retirement in 1974.
- In the United Kingdom, Tearfund partners with Compassion to promote child sponsorship.
- Bolivia and Brazil join the movement as work expands in South America.
1977
- Compassion’s work expands to El Salvador.
- Compassion expands fundraising into our home country: Australia.
1978
The first Critical Needs fund is established to begin addressing the needs of children and families affected by natural disasters or medical emergencies.
1979
Compassion’s ministry expands to Mexico and Rwanda, our first country in Africa.
1980s
Compassion begins serving children outside the formal school environment. By partnering with local churches to address a variety of challenges to child development, the foundation of our holistic child development approach is formed.
A new focus on local church partnership
1980
Compassion’s work expands to Guatemala, Kenya, Peru and Uganda.
1984
The Unsponsored Children’s Fund is introduced to support newly registered children waiting for a sponsor.
1986
Tearfund partners with Compassion to promote child sponsorship in New Zealand.
1990s
Wess Stafford becomes Compassion International’s fourth president. Care is given to expanding early childhood programs and providing opportunities for older participants, all to encourage starting early and finishing well.
A new era of leadership
1990
- Compassion establishes an initiative to ensure all children in the program receive a Bible.
- SEL France partners with Compassion to promote child sponsorship.
1993
- After 40 years, Compassion stops serving children in South Korea—a beautiful testimony to the hope of the church in raising a nation out of poverty.
- Compassion begins serving children in the East African nation of Ethiopia.
- Rev. Wally Erickson retires, and Dr. Wesley K. (Wess) Stafford becomes president of Compassion International.
1994
Compassion responds to the devastating 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, providing relief supplies and trauma counseling to children and families.
1996
Compassion Nederland joins as a fundraising partner.
1997
Compassion Italia joins and begins serving supporters in Italy, later expanding to open the Compassion España office to serve Spain as well.
1998
Compassion celebrates as more than 250,000 children are sponsored globally.
1999
- Compassion expands to serve children in Tanzania.
- Compassion United Kingdom begins serving supporters as the Tearfund UK partnership phases out. Compassion UK later expands to open the Compassion Ireland office.
2000s
The beginning of the new millennium sees incredible milestones as the ministry of Compassion continues to expand and grow.
Celebrating 50 years and 1 million children served
2002
- Compassion International celebrates 50 years of ministry.
- Compassion’s ministry expands to Nicaragua.
2003
- Compassion Suisse joins and begins serving supporters in Switzerland.
- 500,000 children are now supported worldwide.
- Compassion begins work in Bangladesh.
- The Mums and Babies program begins providing in-home support and care for vulnerable expectant mothers, babies and caregivers.
- An inspiring milestone: Compassion Korea joins the ministry and begins fundraising in South Korea, the very country where the ministry first began in 1952.
2004
Compassion expands to West Africa, beginning work in Burkina Faso and Ghana.
2007
Compassion extends its ministry to Togo.
2008
- 1 million children are registered in Compassion’s program.
- Compassion Deutschland begins serving supporters in Germany.
2010s
Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado becomes Compassion International’s fifth president. God continues to bless the global movement as 2 million children are supported.
2 million children served
2010
- Compassion’s ministry expands to the island nation of Sri Lanka.
- In Compassion’s largest disaster response to this point in history, faithful supporters around the world provide nearly 30 million dollars to address a devastating earthquake in Haiti.
2013
- Compassion Nordic joins to begin serving supporters in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
- Dr. Wess Stafford transitions to president emeritus and welcomes Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado as his successor and Compassion International’s fifth president.
2017
After 49 years of serving children in India, Compassion’s work was forced to close. Nearly 147,000 babies, children and young adults registered in our programs are affected.
2018
Less than 10 years after reaching the milestone of 1 million sponsored children, Compassion begins serving 2 million children.
2020s
In response to the vast needs of children living in poverty, Compassion continues its pursuit of a bold vision to reach more children and youth more quickly.
Remaining focused on Christ and looking to the future
2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic touches every corner of the globe, the vulnerable neighbours Compassion serves are at greatest risk. God’s people respond with financial resources and frontline interventions to meet unprecedented needs.
2021
Compassion’s ministry expands again to serve children in Malawi.
2022
- Compassion celebrates 70 years of releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.
- Compassion welcomes Myanmar into the global neighbourhood.
2023
- Compassion expands to Cambodia and Zambia.
- Philippines launches fundraising, while also remaining a program country within the global neighbourhood. A significant milestone for Compassion’s work in Asia.
2024
Singapore joins the Compassion neighbourhood and marks a new wave of empowering supporters in Asia.
Today, 412 million children are living in extreme poverty. Many look away. But not the Church.
Across the globe, the Church is moving: ordinary believers with extraordinary courage. Local volunteers are preparing nourishing meals for children. Pastors are travelling remote paths to reach isolated communities. Local staff are equipping youth with skills to change their future.
And 125,000 Australian believers are partnering in this work through donations, advocacy and prayer.
Because this is what it means to follow Jesus:
To move towards suffering.
To choose compassion.
To answer the question:
What are you going to do?
1950
Our movement begins
Today, 412 million children are living in extreme poverty. Many look away. But not the Church.
Across the globe, the Church is moving: ordinary believers with extraordinary courage. Local volunteers are preparing nourishing meals for children. Pastors are travelling remote paths to reach isolated communities. Local staff are equipping youth with skills to change their future.
And 125,000 Australian believers are partnering in this work through donations, advocacy and prayer.
Because this is what it means to follow Jesus:
To move towards suffering.
To choose compassion.
To answer the question:
What are you going to do?
What makes Compassion different
Christ-centred
In Luke 10, Jesus calls us to move with compassion towards our neighbours. He is the reason why we move, and His love is transforming lives. See our Statement of Faith
Church-driven
We partner with local churches who know their communities and are already driving change. Your support helps train and resource these churches so they can go further.
Child-focused
Breaking the cycle of poverty starts with children. We walk with children from birth through to young adulthood so they can grow to reach their God-given potential.
Physical
Spiritual
Cognitive
Socio-emotional
What does it mean to be released from poverty?
Poverty devastates every aspect of a child’s life. It affects their health, relationships, potential and sense of self. At its core, poverty tells children that they don’t matter and don’t have a future.
But if there’s one thing we know to be true after 70 years: hope changes everything.
We support children through holistic child development.
Local churches run programs that meet the unique needs of children in all areas of their growth. This targeted support is telling children a different story: they matter. They have a future.
And in Jesus’ name, the cycle of poverty will stop with them.
A childhood transformed
This is what a child’s journey with Compassion looks like.
From pregnancy to 1 year old
Mums and Babies
From 1 year old to young adulthood
Child Sponsorship
Critical Needs
Targeted support at any time
0 years
18-22 years
Mums and Babies
Mums and Babies
Good nutrition. Maternity care. A strong community. Growth monitoring. Parenting training. Early play. Mums are supported to give their babies a safe and strong beginning.
Child Sponsorship
Child Sponsorship
Eating meals. Playing games. Learning skills. Making friends. Pursuing education. Hearing the gospel. Children regularly gather for church-run activities and are encouraged by a sponsor as they grow.
Critical Needs
Critical Needs
A safe bathroom. Disaster relief. Life-saving surgery. University education. Business training. Churches meet the urgent and unique needs of children as they arise.
This is your neighbourhood
Join us as we carry Jesus’ compassion to places of deep suffering and witness Him transform the lives of over 2.4 million children—and counting.