What is Barnabas Fund? - What makes us distinctive?

What helps make Barnabas Fund distinctive from other Christian organisations which deal with persecution?

We work by:

• directing our aid only to Christians, although its benefits may not be exclusive to them ("As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10, emphasis added)
• aiming the majority of our aid at Christians living in Muslim environments
• channelling money from Christians through Christians to Christians
• channelling money through existing structures in the countries where funds are sent (e.g. local churches or Christian organisations)
• using the money to fund projects which have been developed by local Christians in their own communities, countries or regions
• considering any request, however small
• acting as equal partners with the persecuted Church, whose leaders often help shape our overall direction
• acting on behalf of the persecuted Church, to be their voice - making their needs known to Christians around the world and the injustice of their persecution known to governments and international bodies

We seek to:

• meet both practical and spiritual needs
• encourage, strengthen and enable the existing local Church and Christian communities - so they can maintain their presence and witness rather than setting up our own structures or sending out missionaries
• tackle persecution at its root by making known the aspects of the Islamic faith and other ideologies that result in injustice and oppression of Christians and others
• inform and enable Christians in the West to respond to the growing challenge of Islam to Church, society and mission in their own countries
• facilitate global intercession for the persecuted Church by providing comprehensive prayer material

We believe:

• we are called to address both religious and secular ideologies that deny full religious liberty to Christian minorities - while continuing to show Gods love to all people
• in the clear Biblical teaching that Christians should treat all people of all faiths with love and compassion, even those who seek to persecute them
• in the power of prayer to change peoples lives and situations, either through grace to endure or through deliverance from suffering

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
(Matthew 25:40)