Now while Gloria Jeans has pulled their funding and obvious support from Mercy Ministries they do provide support for the Australian evangelical aid group Compassion mentioned here. A reader picked up on this interesting article by Compasion:
International impact: sponsors from abroad
Some are expatriates while others head national or international ministries.
Sponsors of seven children,Andre and Wilma Olivier, are senior pastors of a church of over 800 members and 18 staff in South Africa.
The Rivers of Joy Family Church supports two homes for abandoned AIDS babies and sponsors dozens of children through Compassion and other organisations.
The Oliviers sponsored after hearing Darlene Zschech speak at the 2001 Hillsong Conference.
“When I went to the Compassion stand, I felt prompted to take more.
“The ministry of Compassion is like the arms and heart of Jesus revealed to the children. They will know that God loves them and cares for them,” Wilma said.US-based Mercy Ministries founder Nancy Alcorn also sponsors seven children through Compassion.
Mercy Ministries cares for troubled young women and unwed mothers in residential homes, including one in Sydney.Nancy was also introduced to Compassion Australia through Darlene and Mark Zschech. Mercy Ministries chose to sponsor with Compassion Australia rather than the US “because we believe we were directed by the Holy Spirit to sow seed into the nation of Australia for future Mercy homes there,” Nancy said.
“I think this ministry is an example of what pure and undefiled religion before the Father is: that we care for the orphans and widows.
“I have met several of the staff as well as the directors, and they are all Christlike. I also like the personal connection to my dear friends Darlene and Mark Zschech who are involved with Mercy in Australia.”
18 years and many miracles later, plans are underway for Mercy Ministries to open residential programs in other cities across the United States, as well as internationally.
“Through experience, we have learned that God has not equipped the government to set the captives free, but as Luke 4:18 proclaims, He has called us as Christians to heal the broken-hearted and proclaim liberty to the captives,” she said.
“It is our belief that if we provide places free-of-charge where girls can come and receive new life through Jesus Christ, as well as professional training in other areas, their lives will never be the same!”
Now there’s nothing legally wrong with all these close ties/networks. What is disingenuous is presenting yourselves as independent corporate bodies who have put great care and thought into who they sponsor or accept sponsorship from when in reality you are building ties of fellowship that allow you to exert influence as a cohesive group while appearing and promoting yourself for all intents and purposes to be separate entities.
How much thought did Gloria Jeans put into supporting Compassion? Did they consider non Christian charities, or other religious charities? How can Compassion accept money from a group that practice deliverance ministry on the Mentally ill?
The answer is of course that they share the same subset of Christian beliefs?
One just hopes that they could be a little more open and honest about what they are doing.
Related posts:
- Compassion Australia Update In an email from Compassion Australia yesterday: Mercy Ministries has...
- Gloria Jeans appears to have dropped Mercy Ministries… although it must have been whisper quite as this...
- Gloria Jeans have dropped Mercy… except in Vietnam In the last week I reported that it appeared that...
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I would have to agree about how hopefully they will be more open about what they are doing. Though i have a feeling they won't be.
If Gloria Jeans were open about the biblical ministries they support I think they would lose half their female clientele.
My question would be “If you follow the money where does most of it end up ?”
Are the charities getting tax deductions for gloria jean coffee ?
are directors getting paid for their charitable work ?
why develop such a complex web of companies and charities if there is nothing to hide ?
We have 4 compassion children and have been priviledged to watch them grow and gain an education and medical help when needed. We have nothing but the highest respect for this organisation which we have been part of for over 10 years. We regularly receive information directly from the children who are happy and healthy thanks to this program. Taking time to think of someone other than yourself is good for you. It helps you appreciate what a privileged society we live in. Thank you Compassion;)
Hi Jill,
I take it then that you agree with their biblical views? Their abstinence only approach and their ideas of sexual purity, regardless of what effect this may have on families and communities later on. It's your money spend it where you like obviously, I just prefer to give money to causes that are not preaching at the same time they are helping.
That and anyone who would have a co founder of Mercy Australia, on their board of directors makes me distinctly worried at what sort of christian teachings they are receiving.
As to taking time to think of someone other than myself, well I spend a lot of time doing that both in my personal and working life, I tend not to crow about it though because then it becomes less about thinking of others and more about trumpeting my supposed goodness.
Working in our own backyard with the homeless and the mentally ill, with the poor in Aboriginal communities I am acutely aware of how privileged some of us in this society have it.
Lets just hope that compassion aren't helping to train the next wave of christians willing to burn children as witches.
grow up….why are you so against casting out demons…no one is forcing anyone (including you sean) to take dominion over the demons they want to co-habitate with…it does not affect your life in the least and that is certain for all eternity…you should examine why you have so much disdain for those of us who operate in authority in the spiritual realm…are you just jealous or scared out of your wits because you know deep down inside that without the Power of Jesus Christ you are truly JUST A SITTING DUCK FOR THE POWERS OF DARKNESS…THEY WILL GET YOU…and your little dog, too.
grow up….
*sigh* We are talking about demon possession and you are telling me to grow up. I now somewhere inside that hea of yours is something that anchors you to reality, find it again and hold on to it.
why are you so against casting out demons..
Because they have not been shown to exist and evangelical churches use them to control the week willed and mentally ill within their flock.
it does not affect your life in the least and that is certain for all eternity
Lovely Christian attitude there. I am not being abused by religious nutters so I should just leave it alone. Tell me do you walk past someone who is dying in the street and say, "well its none of my business".
you should examine why you have so much disdain for those of us who operate in authority in the spiritual realm…
You like telling people what to do don't you. Let me reassure you that I have examined why I have "disdain" for the practices you carryout – they harm other people. Yet that appears to be alright by your twisted version of Christianity
are you just jealous or scared out of your wits because you know deep down inside that without the Power of Jesus Christ you are truly
Jealous…hmmm…let me think, no, concerned that you might be losing you tenuous grip on reality – yes.
Scared…no…do you still get scared by fairytales? No wait don't answer that, I know the answer.
THEY WILL GET YOU…and your little dog, too.
Not the dog, please not the dog.
Funny, when it boils down to it all you fire and brimstone types have are empty threats.
No be gone before I unleash the imps.