Is LifeWind affiliated with any church or denomination?

LifeWind is a non-denominational development organization. We are not formally associated with any particular church or denomination, but gladly work with many churches and denominational groups. See LifeWind's Statement of Faith.

What makes LifeWind stand out among other organizations that serve the poor?

LifeWind is a development, not a relief organization. We are the primary developer of the CHE strategy, which is now used by churches and agencies around the world to teach communities how to prevent disease, purify water, increase food production, begin micro-economic development projects, and move from a culture of despair to one of hope. LifeWind has been a leader in showing how wholistic (or integral) mission can be made practical.

CHE is distinctive for several reasons:

• Wholistic
  CHE addresses the needs of the whole person: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
• Integrated
  CHE integrates the physical and spiritual aspects of human experience through the seamless combination of disease prevention, evangelism, spiritual growth, and community development.
• People-centered
  CHE focuses on developing the knowledge, skills, and leadership capacity of people and, secondarily, on the improvement of their living conditions.
• Volunteer-based
  CHE trains community members to serve their neighbors as volunteers out of love for God and other people.
• Community-owned
  CHE produces a strong sense of community ownership by helping local leaders find solutions to their problems using local resources.

What is your connection with the Global CHE Network?

One of Lifeind’s prime strategies is to foster the CHE Movement. As an outworking of this, LifeWind led in initiating the Global CHE Network. Our commitment is to the advancement of the Kingdom of God through CHE. LifeWind sees the Global CHE Network as a way to enlist others to join in this cause. LWI models collaborative participation as a member of the Global CHE Network. LifeWind continues to commit resources of staff and materials to the network.

Can I get a job at LifeWind?

Full- or part-time missionary positions become available as needs grow in the field. If you are interested in serving with LifeWind, please send inquiry to Laura@lifewind.org. These positions are not salaried, but require self-raised funds.

In which countries do you work?

We work in more than 80 nations. For more information, please follow the Where We Work link. Some regions where we work are not publicly disclosed for security reasons.

How important is prayer in LifeWind's work?

Prayer is very, very important to LifeWind. We truly believe that God pours out his grace to those who frequently request his guidance and support. Would you like to join us in praying for the global impact of CHE? Follow this link.

How much does it cost to change a community?

The cost varies by region, but on average a mature program requires $5000 per year for three years with a declining investment after that. A typical program impacts between 1000 and 4000 people in a concentrated geographic location.

How does LifeWind share the Gospel?

LifeWind seeks to obey everything Jesus taught and to follow his example. Christ addressed physical and spiritual needs, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and demonstrating compassion for human suffering. He spoke to people about God and invited them to become His disciples. LifeWind follows this pattern. We respect the freedom God has given every person, and so we reject all forms of coercive or deceptive activity. We build bridges of trust through openness and by coming alongside communities with genuine concern for their total well-being. We unapologetically invite people to put their trust in God who gives us power to overcome suffering and every hardship, and to become followers of Jesus Christ.

How long has LIfeWind International been in operation?

LifeWind International was founded as Medical Ambassadors International in 1980. The name was changed in 2006. In twenty-five years our work has expanded to serve thousands of communities in over 80 countries. Link to a Brief History.

Who do you serve?

Our work is directed to people of all walks of life, with special concern for the poorest of the poor. In our programs worldwide, we serve people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender, upholding the dignity of all human beings.

Why do you focus on community health?

Why do you focus on training volunteers?

A volunteer-based, people-centered approach weaves a strong social fabric, which supports dramatic improvements in the total quality of life in a community. Gains achieved by training volunteers for community health are transferred into more capable leadership for other kinds of community projects as well.

How does evangelism fit into what you do?

Our work is based on the life and teachings of Jesus. Following His example, we respect people of all faiths and reject all forms of religious coercion. We do not require anyone to be or become a Christian to participate in our programs or receive our services.

We believe human beings are made in the image of God, and the true character of our Creator has been revealed in human form in Jesus. Jesus taught and demonstrated a life of service and self-sacrifice, and related to people with grace and truth. We seek to present Jesus as the Bible portrays Him, humbly and with grace. We cannot and do not complex belief, but we rejoice with people when they discover that God loves them with deep compassion, which is the core message and meaning of Jesus. We find people of all faiths and culture who are receptive to Jesus. He is good news to the poor.

Do you partner with nationals in ministry?

Yes. Our paid leadership staff worldwide is largely composed of nationals, who work directly with impoverished communities as trainers.They speak the local languages and are knowledgeable in local customs and cultures. LifeWind International equips and empowers local leadership.

How are Community Health Evangelism workers supported?

Local CHE volunteers are not paid. Trainers around the world receive an average salary of $50 a month. Trainers live in poverty zones and are dedicated to their work on a full-time basis. Your gifts make their work possible.

What percentage of your contributions go to fundraising and demonstration costs?

In the most recent audited year, our administration costs were approximately 8%, and fundraising 8%. These are well in line with what is typical for non-profit organizations.

We believe the value of a dollar donated should be evaluated not merely in terms of the percentage used for "overhead" but "impact achieved."

How do you measure impact?

In studies done by independent outside experts in the Congo, Cambodia, and the Philippines, we have seen dramatic reductions in infant mortality rates and incidence of malnutrition, significant increases in local enterprises, people professing faith in Christ, and church growth. Our research and development team is actively engaged in refining the methods and criteria used to measure impact.

Do you receive government money?

We are supported by the voluntary contributions of individuals, churches, foundations, and businesses who desire to share this ministry of compassion in Christ's name. In general, we refuse funding that would restrict our freedom to integrate the spiritual and physical dimensions of the Gospel in our work and/or the training we provide.

Do you believe community health education is sufficient in itself, as an answer to people's health needs?

No. We recognize there are acute illnesses that require curative care. Our efforts to establish community health programs are best understood as complementary to and supportive of clinics and hospitals.

Do you need medical professionals?

Yes. Many of our senior leadership are trained MDs, nurses, or Public Health professionals. If you are a medical professional interested in serving with LifeWind International in the context of our emphasis on community health and wholistic development, we would love to talk with you.

Do you have opportunities for short-term service?

Our primary focus is on CHE, a process that takes time and expense on committed long-term workers. However, there are opportunities for short-term mission service by church teams and individuals supporting ongoing CHE projects.