Question of the Month

HOW CAN CHARIS REALLY IMPACT THE WORLD???
 

Consider for a moment the nations of the world. ALL of them have needs that can be met when servants of the Lord are empowered with His vision and His strength. When Jesus walked the earth, he met both spiritual and physical needs as directed by Father God.

Charis endeavors to do the same. As God gives us direction and opens doors in the United States and other countries, we are seeking to meet some important physical needs concerning pregnancy, birth, families, and health. We are also concerned with the huge spiritual needs of people around the world.

From within the poorest of third world countries to the richest of industrialized nations, Charis-trained birth professionals are reaching out and using their skills and passions to positively impact the lives of people. (see Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8)
 

According to UNICEF, maternal and newborn deaths have a number of common structural and underlying causes, including:

• Poorly resourced, unresponsive and culturally inappropriate health and nutrition services.
• Food insecurity.
• Inadequate feeding practices.
• Lack of hygiene and access to safe water or adequate sanitation.
• Female illiteracy.
• Early pregnancy.
• Discrimination and exclusion of mothers and children from access to essential health and nutrition services and commodities due to poverty and geographic or political marginalization.

These factors result in millions of unnecessary deaths each year. Their wide-ranging nature and interrelatedness require them to be addressed at different levels – community, household, service provider, government and international – in an integrated manner to maximize effectiveness and reach.

The solutions to these impediments are well known, particularly those relating to the direct causes of maternal, neonatal and child deaths. The necessary interventions involve the provision of packages of essential primary health-care services for children across a continuum of care that spans pregnancy, childbirth and after delivery, leading to care for children in the crucial early years of life.

(excerpted from The State of the World's Children 2008 )

THROUGH OUR MEMBERS AROUND THE WORLD, CHARIS IS WORKING TOWARD MEETING THOSE NEEDS!