I Love This!

Some said it could never happen…

Last week Compassion Canada held their annual staff conference, a time of strategy, training, and celebration as they look back on 60 years of “releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name” and enter into the next 60.

One of the highlights of the gathering was a guest message from Michael Messenger, President and CEO of World Vision Canada. He responded to the invite from his Compassion peer Allison Alley and offered encouragement and a promise to learn from and with one another as these prominent organizations seek similar outcomes.

This may seem unremarkable if you aren’t familiar with the particular subculture in which these faith-based charities operate.

Unfortunately, for many years there was a perception of competition between these organizations. It wasn’t overt, but there are many stories of subtle (and occasionally open) critiques of each other and their models and methods from people on both sides. As a teen who was new to the dynamic I got the distinct impression that I was supposed to choose which one to support. It confused me.

I should clarify, these divisions were never (to my knowledge) official positions or publicly advocated by senior leaders. It was more something you might pick up if you spoke to people at booths at a conference where both were represented. The sense was that each organization believed they were doing things the “right” and “Christian” way, and that the other was not.

In recent years I’ve had the privilege of getting to know both Michael and Allison and have done some work with leaders from both Compassion and World Vision. (I’ve been a donor to both as well). What I’ve seen has been an intentional mutual effort to change the narrative.

The session last week now seems natural. It makes sense that Michael would be supporting and cheering on Compassion, and Allison does the same for World Vision. I know that they are friends.

There are multiple factors that contributed to the awkward history, and just as many that have brought about the new reality, but credit has to go to all levels of leadership from both organizations (board, executives, staff, etc.) who have agreed to move forward with collegiality and sharing of best practices so that each can be more effective.

(Of course some readers, like so many donors, will jump to wondering if a formal merger would be beneficial; I’m not sure that would be the case and mergers are much more complicated than most people understand).

So, kudos to Allison and Michael and their teams! In a world where division and suspicion seem to be dominating so often I am encouraged by your example of humility, strategy, and leadership. May we see more of the same in more and more places.

Contact me if I can be helpful to you and/or your organization.

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