VISION, MISSION, STATEMENT OF FAITH, AND OPERATING PRINCIPLES
Children of the Nations' Vision
Raising Children Who Transform Nations
Children of the Nations' Mission
To provide holistic, Christ-centered care for orphaned and destitute children, enabling them to create positive and lasting change in their nations.
Holistic Care
By partnering with nationals in each of the countries we serve, we care for children from infancy to adulthood. We want each child to reach their full potential. We believe that in order to raise healthy, well-rounded children, you must care for the whole child:
- Physical: nutritional food, vitamin supplements, medical and dental care, and sports programs emphasizing physical fitness.
- Educational: quality education (preschool through university), skills training for those geared toward vocational careers, and a Challenge Children’s program for children with special needs.
- Social: children raised in their own country and culture with caregivers from their own culture, visits (for orphaned children) with relatives or extended families, celebration and education of traditional ethnic music, dance, storytelling and dress.
- Spiritual Needs: Biblical training, evangelistic activities, outreaches (such as summer camps and youth retreats), scripture memory, devotionals, worship, and discipleship.
These are big goals and we couldn't do any of this without partners like you! So, this is our promise to you:
- We will place unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.
- We will operate with integrity.
- We will continually pray for our staff, children, communities, goals, and for you!
- We will treat all people with love and respect because each one of us is created in God’s image and is innately valuable.
Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible to be God-inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that for the salvation of the lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and lost; they that are saved unto resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ.
Children of the Nations’ Core Values
These statements of belief drive our vision, mission, operating principles, and everything we do as an organization.
Faith
We believe in placing our trust in God for His salvation, provision, and direction. We are confident that a relationship with Jesus Christ is essential to genuine transformation. We are driven by an assuredness that does not rest solely on logical proof or material evidence.
Integrity
We believe in strict adherence to moral and upright conduct, in accordance to Biblical standards, in all our actions including spiritual, financial, and personal pursuits.
Prayer
We believe God works through the power of prayer. We are committed to praying for our staff, children, communities, goals, and all the work in which we are engaged. Prayer reminds us that we are partnering with God to accomplish His work.
People
We believe that God created all people in His image and therefore all people have value. We believe people should be treated with love and respect. We are dedicated to caring for orphans and destitute children because of God’s mandate in James 1:27.
Children of the Nations’ Operating Principles
Driven by our core values, these foundational methods are the compass for COTN operations and influence the way we carry out our mission.
Child Centered
We believe the most effective way to create positive and lasting change in families, communities, and nations is through a deep investment in individual children. Providing long-term holistic care to children in the most destitute situations results in transformation – children with healthy minds, healthy bodies, emotional well-being, an authentic faith in Jesus Christ, and Biblical ethics/values. It is through the lives of these transformed young people that lasting cultural, social, economic, and political transformation will occur.
Holistic Care
Holistic care is essential in order to raise healthy, well-rounded children who will become change agents in their countries. We seek to create an environment that meets our children’s basic needs, encourages their individual desires and passions, and promotes excellence in achievement. Children of the Nations is committed to caring for our children in four main areas: physical health, social welfare, spiritual care, and education. We are dedicated to working towards end results that have been established for each area of care – end results are COTN-International Board approved long-term goals that support COTN’s mission and vision.
Holistic Care End Results:
• Physical Health: We are committed to raising children who are physically healthy with the ability to demonstrate and promote health in their lives, communities, and beyond.
• Education: We are committed to raising children who reach their fullest potential through quality education, enabling them to display life skills and independent, creative thinking.
• Social Welfare: We are committed to raising emotionally healthy children who can integrate their past experiences into their lives, maintain connections with their communities, achieve lasting and meaningful relationships, and thrive at home, in school, and the workplace.
• Spiritual Care: We are committed to raising children who demonstrate a vibrant and authentic faith in Jesus Christ.
Learning and Development
Continual learning and growth are foundational to ensuring our mission is best accomplished. We welcome the knowledge, skills, and passions of our partners. We embrace process improvement and seek to create standard operating procedures that are ‘living documents’ that can be built and improved upon as we grow and learn as an alliance.
Stewardship
Our resources belong to God. He has entrusted us to care and use them in a responsible manner – therefore, all resources will be wisely used to best support the holistic care of the children and communities we serve. All development efforts will be done in a manner that restores and protects God’s creation.
Sustainability
Children of the Nations defines sustainability as the ability to endure with increasing independence. We believe a sustainable approach to caring for the children and communities we serve is the most effective way to empower individuals and transform nations. Children of the Nations International is committed to designing, assessing, and improving the sustainability of our projects and programs. Children of the Nations is also committed to providing communities with sustainable development tools and methods in key areas including water, agriculture, renewable energy, and microfinance.
Partnership
We are convinced successful work begins with relationships and continues through partnerships offering unique skills and knowledge. We also believe individuals are most effective within their own culture. In each country where we work, Children of the Nations is started through relationships and strives to operate as its own non-profit run by nationals who share our core values and commitment to our vision and mission. Children of the Nations strategically partners with churches, groups, and organizations in each country to best accomplish our mission.
Family and Community
God designed people to live in community. Strong communities are needed for individuals to thrive. Children of the Nations is committed to providing children a “home” atmosphere where they have a place to belong and are accepted as a valued family member. We are committed to providing children with loving and secure caregivers as well as creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates how God created each individual and fosters love, respect, sharing, serving, participation, and fellowship.
Accountability
We are responsible to answer for our actions or lack of actions, in accordance with Biblical standards, including our use of time, finances, and in our work and relational conduct. Children of the Nations’ staff, children and operations are accountable to oversight from local and international boards – clear lines of authority are maintained. We seek to exercise authority with servant hearts, both to challenge our staff and praise their accomplishments, as well as protect the well-being of Children of the Nations.