World Vision head says obedience, not success, is key to helping poor Resist 'compassion fatigue' Religion Today Tuesday, September 14, 1999 Earthquakes, ethnic wars, poverty, starvation – the horrors are so unrelenting that some Christians are developing "compassion fatigue."
"Sometimes I tell our people that no matter what we do, there are going to be more disasters," Stearns told Religion Today. "Sometimes we think, 'Why do we do what we do?' If we do what we do because we think we can eventually eradicate the pain of poverty, we are going to have problems. Satisfaction from obedience "But if we do what we do because we love the poor and the disadvantaged, then satisfaction comes not from our accomplishments but from our knowledge that we have been obedient. Asked why she didn't feel like a failure with increasing poverty all around her, Mother Teresa responded, 'my Lord didn't call me to be successful, but only to be obedient.'"
He says he has always felt a compassion for the poor and a desire to help them in the name of Christ. He has contributed "a good portion" of his income to charities for the poor, and as a young man even refused to let his wife-to-be, Renee, register for china, crystal, and flatware when they got engaged. "I told her then that as long as there were starving children, we shouldn't have those things." President of Lenox China Ironically, 21 years later, Stearns became president of Lenox China, one of the world's largest china companies. God had plans to use the business skills that Stearns developed at Lenox, he said. He gained experience in marketing, human resources, information systems, and board work. But some adjustments were necessary when coming to World Vision. He had a lot to learn about international relief and development, and changes to go through personally. As a top executive at Lenox, Stearns' plate had been heaped with financial rewards. A few months after taking over at World Vision in June 1998, Stearns, who had been "used to staying in the finest hotels all over the world" with Lenox, said he found himself "in the jungles of Uganda holding orphans in my arms" for World Vision. "This required a huge mental adjustment." 'Mother of all learning curves' The first year at World Vision presented Stearns with "the mother of all learning curves," but has been fulfilling, he said. "I had always wondered how I could use my business training more directly in Kingdom work. When the World Vision opportunity came along, it seemed that it was just meant to be. I felt a strong call from God." Stearns wants to get World Vision and the church working together. "We have a lot to offer them and they have much to offer us. We are a capability firm. Churches are groups of believers who have a responsibility to serve the poor. We need to get together." The American church has "tremendous wealth" that could help the poor, Stearns said. "When you see the United Nations estimates that it would take $25 billion to solve the world's poverty problems, you realize that it can be done. If just the 70 million Christians in this country would give $100 each, we would have $7 billion, and be far down the path of solving the whole problem. This is not to say it only takes money to solve the problems, but it would make a staggering difference." Americans are a "people of good will," Stearns said. "If we are confronted with the plight of the poor, we will respond. If World Vision is not effective in communicating, then people won't respond. We want to be a voice for the poor. They don't have a voice." Related story: World Vision relief goal for Turkey is $2 million The Layman Online World Vision embarked on a $2 million aid effort for survivors of the devastating August 17 earthquake in Turkey. August 24, 1999 Donations to World Vision's Turkey relief effort can be made by clicking here or calling 1-888-511-6593 toll-free. |
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