As evidenced in the life of Jesus, Adventists believe God is just as interested in the physical and emotional needs of women, men, and children as He is in their spiritual needs.
In Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25, He welcomes the righteous into His kingdom with these words: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Then Jesus explains that when we minister to the least of His earthly children, we are ministering to Him.
Adventist welfare ministry is almost as old as the church itself. In 1874, the first Dorcas and Benevolent Association was formed in Battle Creek, Michigan. Its work and name were inspired by the biblical Dorcas (Tabitha) who "was always doing good and helping the poor" (Acts 9:36). Eight women became charter members under the leadership of Martha Amadon, daughter of John Byington, the first General Conference president. Their activities included making clothes, quilts, and supplying food for needy families; caring for the fatherless and widows; and ministering to the sick.
Other Adventist churches followed their example, and Dorcas societies spread all across America and eventually around the world. Every church was encouraged to organize a Dorcas Welfare Society. Recognizing a federation of local societies could accomplish more by combining resources, the first Dorcas Welfare Federation was formed in 1934 by Chicago-area churches.
Today, the Adventist Church operates two humanitarian agencies—Adventist Community Services (ACS), which operates within the United States and Bermuda, and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), an international agency specifically established for community development and disaster response. Adventist Community Services meets people’s immediate needs through social services such as tutoring and mentoring programs, youth volunteer corps, health screening education and assistance, inner-city missions, and disaster response.
ADRA works in developing countries to improve the quality of life for those in need through community development initiatives targeting food security, economic development, primary health, and basic education. ADRA’s emergency management initiatives provide aid to disaster survivors. ADRA is currently one of the leading non-governmental relief organizations in the world. In 1997 the agency was granted General Consultative Status by the United Nations, a unique opportunity giving ADRA added voice in the international community. In 2004 it assisted nearly 24 million people with more than US$159 million in aid. More than 4,000 ADRA staff members currently work in 125 countries.1
Wherever disaster strikes, one or both of these Adventist agencies will be there providing food, shelter, medical assistance, and other basic needs. Each one of us can help by becoming involved in our local ACS chapters, by volunteering for disaster relief, by donating much-needed funds, and by praying for these agencies and the people they serve.
For more information on the Adventist Church’s involvement in the Katrina and Rita hurricane disasters and what you can do to help, go to www.adra.org and www.adventist.communityservices.org, or call (877) ACS-2702.
Ann Fisher writes from Walla Walla, Washington.
1. ADRA information is taken from the ADRA website:
www.adra.org.
