In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults. This is why we are releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name.

Compassion's distinctives are what we call "The Four C's." 

First, we are Christ-centered. We want to give every child in our sponsorship program the opportunity to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ in a culturally relevant way. This is our way of responding to Christ's call in the Great Commission.

Second, we are Child-focused. Since Compassion began in 1952, more than a million children have walked through the doors of our projects. Currently, more than 703,000 children are part of Compassion's Christian child ministry in 24 countries around the world. We have seen over and over again that what happens in the life of a child is much more significant than what happens in the child's environment. Changed environments rarely change people but changed people inevitably change their environments.

Third, we are Church-based. Every child development project is connected to a local church staffed by members of that community. Compassion's child ministry strengthens local churches through partnerships that provide resources to reach out to children and families. The church is the God-given institution meant to be salt and light in a hurting world. Enabling the church to minister holistically to children and their families is at the heart of Compassion's strategy.

Fourth, we are Committed to integrity. We commit to excellence and integrity in every aspect of Compassion's child ministry. We commit to the highest standards, clearly evident in our Child Sponsorship Program around the world. 

These core values make Compassion International a unique child development ministry. It is our goal to be recognized by the Church worldwide as the leading authority for Christian holistic child development.