Summary
Operation Blessing International (OBI) provides short-term relief and development assistance to economically disadvantaged people and victims of disaster throughout the world. In the United States, OBI focuses on providing food, clothing and other material assistance to inner-city and rural families facing financial hardship. Founded on November 14, 1978 by religious broadcaster, Pat Robertson, Operation Blessing International was originally intended to meet the needs of struggling individuals and families by providing items such as clothing, appliances, vehicles, etc., to be donated by viewers of The 700 Club. As of the present Operation Blessing has helped more than 155 million people in 96 countries and all 50 states as well as distributed goods valued at more than $500 million. Internationally, OBI emphasizes medical missions and resource development in under-served nations and countries requesting assistance. Operation Blessing International is a member of the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations and is registered with the Federal Emergency Management Association and the United States Agency for International Development. Contributions to OBI are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, OBI is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact Information: [ Back to top ]
| Mailing Address: | 977 Centerville Turnpike CSB 322
Virginia Beach, VA
23463-3463 |
| Website: | www.ob.org |
| Phone: | (757) 226-3401 |
| Email: | You need to enable javascript to see the email |
Organization Details [ Back to top ]
EIN: 541382657
| CEO/President: |
Mr. Bill Horan |
Tax Deductible: |
Yes |
| Chairman: |
M.G. Robertson |
Fiscal Year End: |
March 31 |
| Board Size: |
8 |
Financial info from: |
990 |
| Founder: |
Mr. Pat Robertson |
Member of ECFA: |
Yes |
| Year Founded: |
1978 |
Member of ECFA since: |
1995 |
Operation Blessing International Relief & Development Corporation (OBI) is
on the frontlines providing relief in real time for those hurting in the
U.S. and abroad.
By implementing programs that provide hunger relief, medical aid, disaster
relief, clean water, microenterprise and sommunity development, OBI has
helped more than 202.7 million people in more than 105 countries and all
50 states as well as distributed goods valued at more than $1.4 billion.
Founded on November 14, 1978 by religious broadcaster, Pat Robertson, OBI
was originally intended to meet the needs of struggling individuals and
families by providing items such as clothing, appliances, vehicles, etc.,
to be donated by viewers of The 700 Club.
Operation Blessing International is a member of the Association of
Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations and is registered with
the Federal Emergency Management Association and the United States Agency
for International Development.
Contributions to OBI are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by
law. In addition, OBI is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial
Accountability (ECFA).
Operation Blessing uses the following to express its mission:
The mission of Operation Blessing International is to demonstrate God's love by alleviating human need and suffering in the United States and around the world.
In efforts to relieve human suffering we combat hunger, deprivation and physical affliction with the provision of food, clothing, shelter, medical care and other basic necessities of life. We also help facilitate the development of healthy, vibrant and self-sustaining communities by addressing larger issues of education, food security, potable water, employment, community health, and disaster mitigation projects. In every endeavor, OBI seeks to exemplify Christian compassion and benevolence while conforming to the highest standards of integrity.
Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]
Operation Blessing's accomplishments and programs include the following:
Bless A Child
The Bless-A-Child program (BAC) works with local churches and organizations to meet the basic physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of at-risk children and youth. Hundreds of thousands of young people have participated in the programs. These programs presently exist in countries including Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Mexico, South Africa as well as United States. Right now in New York City an OBI sponsored counseling center lends comfort and provides answers to children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, due to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Medical Services
Using multi-national volunteer medical teams, we have provided hundreds of thousands of medical services in countries including Afghanistan, Albania, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Romania, Rwandan refugee camps, Vietnam, and Ukraine!
Hunger Strike Force
OBI uses the Hunger Strike Force, a fleet of refrigerated tractor-trailers, to transport millions of pounds of food, clothing, medical and disaster relief, and building supplies in the USA to disadvantaged individuals, families, and victims of disaster.
Since its inception in 1992, the Hunger Strike Force has:
- delivered and given away more than 164 million pounds of food
- provided more than 109 million meals to the needy
- driven more than 4.4 million miles
- provided 9.7 million pounds of relief and disaster relief supplies assistance.
Hope Works
Hope Works is making a positive impact in the lives and families of thousands of people around the world -- changes that should last for generations to come. In Milwaukee alone hundreds of men and women have graduated from a rigorous Life Skills Training program so they are equipped to enter the work force with the confidence and skills set needed to succeed. Across the globe in South Africa hundreds of other once unemployed men and women are now seamstresses and mechanics supporting their families through Sewing Cooperatives we helped establish in their townships. Not only can they now buy food for their children, they can also provide required school supplies and uniforms as well.
Living Waters
It is estimated that today a child will die every eight seconds of water-related diseases (World Health Organization). These problems don’t have to continue! Providing both accessible and clean fresh drinking water to millions is now possible. Operation Blessing has helped and will continue to help tens of thousands of people living in places including Cambodia, China, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Romania and Uganda.
Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]
Operation Blessing International uses the following to express its statement of faith:
We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that man was created in the image of God, but as a result of sin is lost and powerless to save himself.
We believe that the only hope for man is to believe on Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, who died to take upon Himself the punishment for the sin of mankind and who rose from the dead so that by receiving Him as Lord, man is redeemed by His blood.
We believe that Jesus Christ in person will return to earth in power and glory.
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells those who have received Christ for the purpose of enabling them to live righteous and godly lives.
We believe that the church is the body of Christ and is composed of all those who through belief in Christ have been spiritually regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The mission of the church is worldwide evangelization on the one hand and the nurture and discipline of Christians on the other.
Founded on November 14, 1978 by religious broadcaster, Pat Robertson, OBI was originally set up to meet the needs of struggling individuals and families by providing items such as clothing, appliances, vehicles, etc. that were donated by viewers of The 700 Club. However, as requests for assistance poured in, Robertson and the board of the Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. (CBN) decided to make a financial commitment for OBI assistance out of CBN's general fund.
OBI's impact increased dramatically when local churches and organizations agreed to provide matching funds for assistance projects and individual aid. With the help of these groups, OBI began providing low-income families with food baskets, help with delinquent rent and utility bills, new school clothes and other necessities. Other needs led to additional projects, such as an annual distribution of thousands of blankets to the homeless and a program that provides seeds for community vegetable gardens.
In 1986, Operation Blessing International was formed as a non-profit organization to handle international relief projects. Operation Blessing projects in the United States continued under the auspices of CBN until 1993, when all Operation Blessing activities were transferred to OBI.
OBI's medical missions, which provide medical relief in under-served countries, undertook its first mission in 1994. This program sends volunteer teams of doctors, dentists, other health care professionals and support staff on one- to two-week missions. The teams typically provide a variety of basic medical and surgical services. In 1996, OBI commissioned The Flying Hospital, a specially equipped L1011 jet aircraft. This plane is capable of providing world-class medical/surgical services to people in developing countries and disaster-stricken areas. At the present time, however, in lieu of rising terrorist attacks and world conflict, it has been decided Operation Blessing will not use The Flying Hospital on further missions at this time.
In 1997 OBI committed itself to serving more struggling people in America by expanding our partnership efforts and mobilizing thousands of Christians to help people in need and reach the lost.
Operation Blessing International has communicated the following needs:
Children around the world suffer from the effects of poverty. Many don’t have access to adequate food, medicine, clothing and school supplies. Your contribution can give boys and girls hope for tomorrow! Thank you for helping Operation Blessing reach out to hurting people all over the world. Your gift will quickly go to work to help break the cycle of suffering and bring lasting hope to many in need. See the ministry's website for more information.
Research Analysis
Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]
| Transparency Grade of : A |
| Criteria category | Grade | Other Comments |
| Timeliness: | 100 | |
| Financial Information: | 100 | 10/28/2011 7:59:44 PM: Organization provided all financial information requested. Information was clear and thorough. |
| Foundational Clarity: | 100 | 10/21/2011 4:53:29 PM: Descriptive information was abundant and thorough. |
| Level of Cooperation: | 100 | 10/21/2011 4:53:38 PM: Answers to questions were thorough. |
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]
| Ranking Category | Rating | Overall Rank | Relief and Development Sector |
|---|
| Overall Efficiency Rating |  | 2 of 347 | 2 of 52 |
| Fund Acquisition Decision |  | 13 of 347 | 6 of 52 |
| Resource Allocation Decision | | 6 of 347 | 6 of 52 |
| Asset Utilization Decision | | 7 of 347 | 5 of 52 |
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2006 MinistryWatch.com Shining Light top ministry list