Church World Service turns 70 in 2016. The journey of our agency from 1946 to today is nothing short of miraculous and next year will see a renewal of CWS and our mission.
CWS was formed at the height of the refugee crisis after World War II. Millions were displaced, hunger was rampant. The world needed the Church in the World in Service. In those first years, U.S. churches provided more than 11 million pounds of food, clothing and medical supplies to Asia and Europe.
Seventy years later, our world is faced with the largest population of refugees since the very crisis that CWS was founded in response to. Our work spans the globe, from protecting vulnerable youth in Latin America to increasing access to clean water in Africa, promoting good hygiene practices in Asia, supporting those searching for a better future in Europe and a plethora of other programs.
As we live into our mandate “to do in partnership what none of us could hope to do as well alone,” our mission remains the same: Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, comfort the aged, shelter the homeless. We believe that everyone should have a place to call home that is safe, secure; which honors their dignity and is a source of hope for the future.
It a privilege to be on this journey with you and to serve a great mission. Seventy never looked so good.
The Rev. John L. McCullough is the President and CEO of CWS.