Compassion International

In 1952, Compassion International was founded by evangelist Rev. Everett Swanson who was moved by the plight of orphans in South Korea. Fifty five years later, Swanson's program gave rise to Compassion, an organization that is Christ-centred, child-focused, and church-based.

Compassion International now assists over 1,000,000 children in over 25 developing nations around the world.

This is our story

Nothing had prepared American evangelist, Rev Everett Swanson, for the disturbing scenes he encountered during his time in South Korea in 1952. Surrounded by chaos and destruction, he walked the streets of Seoul. He saw homeless children dressed in rags, sleeping in doorways to avoid the cold and begging amidst the rubble and destruction caused by the Korean War. Compassion welled in Rev. Swanson's heart.

During one of his early morning walks Everett encountered what he presumed were piles of rags being loaded onto a garbage truck. Upon closer inspection, he was horrified to discover that the rags were in fact the bodies of street children who had died from exposure during the night. The sight of such bottomless misery may have crushed a man of lesser faith, but Rev. Swanson took his burden to God. With his heart burdened by what he had witnessed God's quiet, but unmistakable voice propelled him into action.

On his return home, Everett talked to a missionary friend who challenged him to do something to save children from dying like this. He organized a network of concerned Christians who were willing to provide destitute Korean orphans with schooling, clothing, food, and other needs. In 1952, from the basement of his home in Chicago, he started the Everett Swanson Evangelist Association (ESEA) to coordinate an unprecedented effort aimed at relieving children's suffering.

Soon, ESEA was working with lepers, beggar boys, widows, unwed mothers, the deaf, and the blind. Sponsors sent money, as well as warm clothing, vitamins, and other goods. They could support Korean evangelists as well as needy children. He traveled back to Korea dozens of times and enlisted the help of Christian orphanages willing to care for his orphans. Within ten years, 10,000 Korean children were being cared for.

The need for ongoing support for the children led Everett to establish a one-to-one sponsorship program, whereby individuals in the USA could provide Bible-based education, food, clothing, shelter and medical care for just a few dollars a month. The name Compassion came from Everett’s reading of Matthew 15:32, a verse on his heart during this time:

“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’" Matthew 15:32 (NIV)

Milestones

Compassion Canada

Help also came from other nations, as Compassion Canada was born in 1963 in the home of Bob and Janet Forsyth of Blenheim, Ontario. This committed couple wanted to expand Compassion's ministry from the United States to Canada, and allow caring Canadians to respond to the needs of children around the world.

Compassion Canada became the second of eleven partner countries, which form the Compassion network today — Compassion Australia, Compassion Canada, Compassion Germany, Compassion International (US), Compassion Netherlands (Holland), SEL France, TEAR Fund New Zealand, Compassion Italy, Compassion South Korea, Compassion Switzerland and Compassion United Kingdom.

In 1972, Rev. Jim Somerville became the first Canadian president and Compassion Canada's offices moved to London, Ontario. Rev. Somerville carried Compassion's torch until 1983, when Dave MacLeod continued in his place. Since 1993, Rev. Barry Slauenwhite has served as president/CEO.

In 2002, in the United States, Compassion International celebrated its 50th Anniversary. In 2003 Compassion Canada followed suit marking its 40th Anniversary. In 2009 Compassion Canada celebrated its 70,000 sponsored child.

Driven by a passion to assist some of the world’s poorest children Compassion is now active in 25 countries of the world, serving over 1,000,000 children. Worldwide, we are rejoicing together at a man's legacy that continues to change the lives of children.

Milestones