Christian Relief Services Charities

Analyst Comments [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com’s Take
May 2004
By Dan Wray

Helping the Needy
There is absolutely no confusion about what motivated Gene Krizek, Col. USAF (Ret.), to found Christian Relief Services Charities. It was desire to connect with people and communicate the unique culture of an American Christmas to those in need, with the wholesome holiday festivity of food, family and friends. Krizek’s simple vision of the “haves” sharing with the “have nots” in modest but meaningful acts of humanitarian kindness has evolved into an umbrella of charitable services including volunteer grocery shopping, lawn maintenance and otherwise mundane domestic chores.

Charitable, yes. Christian?
Charitable to be sure, the organization, however, makes no pretense of a biblically evangelistic mission and should not be confused with ministries openly undertaking witness of the Gospel and church planting. In this context then, while CRSC is a nonprofit humanitarian agency delivering broadly benevolent services under a banner of kindness and compassion which most have come to associate with historical Christianity, one may correctly apply the nominal designation of Christian in only the most general sense.

Acts of kindness at home...
CRSC is parent to a number of charitable subsidiaries, several of which operate inside the United States with a strong presence among America’s first citizens, the North American Indians. One such charity, Running Strong for American Youth, takes inspiration from the storied example of 1964 Olympic medallist and USMC (Ret.) officer Billy Mills, an Oglala Lakota (Sioux). Running Strong sponsors a host of projects in the Native American community nationwide, from housing assistance, organic farming and water resource development, to youth guidance and mentoring, midwifery training, and supplemental food distribution. Through Americans Helping Americans in Appalachia, CRSC is addressing such long-term realities as inadequate housing and homelessness, chronic unemployment, lack of comprehensive medical care and misdirected youth with disaster relief, emergency and short-term financial assistance, and life essentials such as food and clothing for all target age groups. Additional domestic services include safe housing, support services and counseling for individuals transitioning out of domestic violence and abuse. Across the board, CRSC brokers volunteer services and donated goods, facilitating supply and more long-term remedies through existing relevant agencies such as churches, civic groups, alert businesses and hospitals.

...and Abroad
Internationally, CRSC is championing the cause of education and health care in Africa where natural as well as man-made disasters have ravaged the continent and its people. Here as well as in the United States, CRSC’s mission is not specifically evangelistic, though cooperation between the charity and native churches is not uncommon and may even in some cases appear to be the rule rather than the exception. CRSC has had success establishing volunteer-staffed medical services in recently war-torn Sierra Leone and AIDS support in Zambia, adult literacy sponsorship in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and water resource development as well as education in clean water practices in Uganda. Similar projects are being pursued in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Funding
Christian Relief Services Charities is, as the name implies, a group of affiliated charities. Fundraising is done under a number of affiliated names through direct mail and Internet appeals, sponsored activities such as walkathons and other local events, and the normal range of planned giving including estate planning and donor investment instruments. Donors may also contribute through the Combined Federal Campaign. CRSC is readily identified with humanitarian causes most would regard as noble, i.e., helping one’s fellow man, and while it must be assumed that some donors may incorrectly infer from CSRC’s name that monetary contributions are advancing Christian ministry, CRSC makes no such explicit pretense. CRSC affiliated charities are board governed, offer charity-specific information, progress reports and testimonials through individual websites, and enjoy a high BBB Giving Alliance compliance rating for financial accountability, with financial reports available upon request. CRSC does not hold current membership in the ECFA, nor do they endorse a doctrinal statement.

Bits and Pieces
As previously noted, Christian Relief Services Charities is a humanitarian organization that is nominally Christian, i.e. Christian in name, providing broad relief services within the United States and parts of Africa. Originally founded by Gene Krizek, Col. USAF (Ret.), in an effort to bring the warmth of Christmas to those locked in the dreariness of poverty and want, CRSC has grown into a multifaceted amalgam of relief agencies involved locally as well as abroad. The organization’s efforts to impact urban America through Americans Helping Americans involve community resource centers in multiple family housing communities offering after-school programs, tutoring, summer camp opportunities, mentoring and career guidance. While CRSC’s impact is not evangelistic, some program opportunities include locally sponsored Bible studies hosted by churches and other interested groups meeting in AHA’s community centers, as well as language and computer training, Scouting and scheduled PTA meetings. “At risk” youngsters are also targeted with alternatives to gang association in cooperation with the efforts of local schools. Organized Community Festivals help to convey some sense of the block parties of previous generations, with food, entertainment and even door prizes, and major holidays are frequently celebrated with a catered formal dinner.

Life’s essentials
In Appalachia, Americans Helping Americans recently brought disaster relief to flood ravaged West Virginia in the form of financial assistance to the most critical to aid rebuilding of homes and businesses, as well as medical supplies and restoration of home heating to dozens of families. AHA maintains ongoing involvement in directing the use of donated resources, food and clothing in an area where unemployment, lack of affordable housing and substandard living conditions are virtually endemic.

Safe Places Residential Program provides up to 24 months of transitional safe housing to single mother families of Fairfax County, Va. attempting to separate from violently abusive home lives. A full range of transitional support services is also available to implement eventual progress toward responsible self reliance.

CRSC’s work in Africa substantially mirrors its efforts in the United States, with donor help allocated to most-help-needed designations such as orphan care, food and medical relief, clean water resource development and management, and education.

Remembering the poor
Christians and students of the life of Christ witness His compassion for the despairing, disillusioned and destitute. In entrusting the New Testament saint with stewardship of his time, talents and treasure, Scripture expressly tells him not to forget the poor. While not all charity is patently Christian, to be uncharitable is patently un-Christian. CRSC offers effective opportunity to Christians and non-Christians alike to be charitable to those in desperate need, both at home and abroad.