Intersection of Faith and Aid
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was established as the official humanitarian agency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church by the General Conference in 1983.
The importance of the establishment of ADRA and its continued service to humanity can be found in the example of Jesus, who, during His earthly ministry, showed special concern for the poor and the vulnerable. Jesus demonstrated that help should be given to all with no discrimination. Therefore, ADRA’s work is accessible to all and not limited by gender, culture, religion or ethnicity, and is recognised in ADRA’s purpose ‘To serve humanity so all may live as God intended’.
ADRA works as part of the body of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to fulfil the Bible’s instruction to love thy neighbour and help ‘the least of these’.
FAQs about ADRA, Canadian Government Funding, and Other Government Funding
Does ADRA Canada receive funding from the (local) Government?
Yes, ADRA is applying for funding for specific projects with the Canadian government. These funds are usually
awarded for specific tasks on a competitive basis once project proposals submitted fulfill the quality criteria of
the government/funding partner. To see ADRA’s financial breakdown, please visit ADRA.ca/financials
Does ADRA Canada receive funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)?
No, ADRA Canada does not receive USAID funding for a consistent project/contract. ADRA Canada is a separate legal entity with its own board under the constituency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC). *Disclaimer
ADRA International, headquartered in Maryland, USA, has utilised USAID funding for development and humanitarian assistance programs. For more information, visit https://adra.org/adra-responds-to-usaid-funding-pause-embracing-opportunities-for-continuity
Does ADRA Canada receive funding from the United Nations (UN)?
ADRA Canada, which is part of the ADRA network, has been granted General Consultative Status by the UN since 1997. This allows us to work unitedly with other humanitarian NGOs in crisis, emergency, or community development situations.
No, ADRA Canada does not accept funding from the United Nations, and there are no active projects supported in partnership with the UN.
Does ADRA proselytise?
ADRA was established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to be its humanitarian agency looking after temporal needs of the very poor, the most vulnerable, and those affected by disasters, without any discrimination and motivated by the Church’s faith and concern for the ‘least of these’. As such, ADRA ministers to people by sharing God’s love through actions and “Christ’s Method Alone (MH 1430) is the lens by which ADRA ministers. In other words, He mingled, so do we. He was one who desired their good, so do we. He showed His sympathy for them and ministered to their need, and so do we as ADRA – the humanitarian part of the body. Then… He bade them “follow me”, which is where the rest of the body of Christ comes in and completes the process in that order as Christ did among us.
From another lens, around the globe that are certain countries where churches are not allowed to operate, but ADRA as a humanitarian organization is able to share the love of Jesus in action. If ADRA’s mandate was to proselytise then we wouldn’t be present in these countries.
Why Missionary Work in Crisis Situations Is Problematic.
Crisis situations make people especially vulnerable. In these moments, our role is to provide practical assistance—without conditions. Receiving help should never be tied to a decision of faith or require someone to listen to a lecture about our beliefs.
Imagine you are a survivor or someone in need in a foreign country, within a different culture. Your own faith may be important to you—or maybe not. How would you feel if a humanitarian organization did not practice these values and instead made you feel pressured?
However, this does not mean that we hide our faith. If someone asks us about our motivation, we give an honest answer. But our aid stands on its own. People should never feel that support is tied to an obligation or a change in faith.
Trust is one of the most important pillars of humanitarian work. For this reason, the humanitarian code of the International Red Cross, which has been adopted by aid organizations worldwide, prohibits missionary activities in crisis situations. ADRA also commits to ethical aid that respects human dignity.
Does ADRA Canada receive funding from the Church?
Yes, ADRA Canada receives monthly offerings from the Remittance system disbursed to us from the local church to the local conference and ultimately through the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC). There are also two (2) offerings taken up Canada-wide annually on behalf of ADRA Canada – the May Disaster Famine & Relief Offering (DFRO) and the December National ADRA Appeal Offering.
A Time for Economy and Sacrifice—If our people had the love of God in the heart, if every church member were imbued with the spirit of self-sacrifice, there would be no lack of funds for home and foreign missions; our resources would be multiplied; a thousand doors of usefulness would be opened; and we should be invited to enter. Had the purpose of God been carried out in giving the message of mercy to the world, Christ would have come, and the saints would have received their welcome into the city of God.—CS 36.3
Why does ADRA seek funding from the Government and other organizations?
ADRA was established as a separate legal entity of the church to seek partnerships with organisations which work toward the restoration of dignity through development and relief.
ADRA seeks cooperation and funding partnerships with philanthropic organisations, government agencies, denominations and development banks which align with ADRA’s values and the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s concerns and principles in meeting human need. This allows us to extend our reach to respond to needs beyond what could be funded with private donations only.
What type of contract/agreement review does ADRA Canada go through to ensure all projects/partnerships align with SDA values and beliefs?
ADRA Canada extensively reviews any contract and/or partnership agreement to ensure alignment with Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, and values are upheld and actionable in any project implementation. The organization and/or institutional entity (ie. government) may have values they are promoting, however, ADRA Canada does due diligence to evaluate what actions we can ethically adopt and which ones we cannot. No contract and/or partnership agreement is ever entered into unless we can verifiably and in all good conscience sign knowing it aligns with the SDA ethos on any given subject.
Biblical examples where God's people or Christians received financial or material support from Governments, Kings, or Gentiles:
Old Testament
- Cyrus and the Rebuilding of the Temple
- Ezra 1:2-4 – King Cyrus of Persia decrees that the Israelites can return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, providing them with silver, gold, and goods.
- Ezra 6:8-10 – King Darius later confirms the decree and orders that expenses for the temple be paid from the royal treasury.
- Nehemiah and the Reconstruction of Jerusalem
- Nehemiah 2:7-9 – Nehemiah, serving in the Persian court, receives letters and provisions from King Artaxerxes to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
- Joseph in Egypt
- Genesis 41:39-44 – Pharaoh appoints Joseph as second-in-command and provides him with resources to prepare for the famine, which ultimately benefits his family and the future nation of Israel.
- The Israelites Leaving Egypt
- Exodus 12:35-36 – The Israelites receive silver, gold, and clothing from the Egyptians as they depart for the Promised Land.
- Solomon’s Temple Contributions from Gentile Kings
- 1 Kings 5:1-10 – King Hiram of Tyre provides materials and workers to help build Solomon’s Temple.
New Testament
- The Magi Bringing Gifts to Jesus
- Matthew 2:11 – Wise men (likely Gentiles) bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus, which could have helped finance His family’s escape to Egypt.
- Paul Receiving Support from Roman Citizens
- Acts 16:14-15 – Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman from Philippi, supports Paul and his ministry.
- Acts 24:23 – Governor Felix allows Paul to have some freedom and permits his friends to provide for his needs.
- The Roman Government Funding the Voyage to Rome
- Acts 27:3, 43-44 – Paul, as a prisoner, is provided for by the Roman authorities during his journey to Rome.
These passages demonstrate that God sometimes used Gentile rulers and foreign governments to support His people and accomplish His purposes.
What does Ellen G. White say about accepting funding from non-Christian organisations or people? Should ADRA work with them or with their funds?
Copied from EGW Writings®: Welfare Ministry
To Receive From Outside Sources—God will open the way for us from sources outside our own people. I cannot see how anyone can take exceptions to the receiving of gifts from those not of our faith. They can only do so by taking extreme views and by creating issues which they are not authorized to do.—Special Testimonies, Series A 3:43
God Moves Upon Unbelievers to Help—You inquire with respect to the propriety of receiving gifts from Gentiles or the heathen. The question is not strange; but I would ask you, Who is that owns our world? Who are the real owners of houses and lands? Is it not God? He has an abundance in our world which He has placed in the hands of men, by which the hungry might be supplied with food, the naked with clothing, the homeless with homes. The Lord would move upon worldly men, even idolaters, to give of their abundance for the support of the work, if we would approach them wisely and give them an opportunity of doing those things which it is their privilege to do. What they would give we should be privileged to receive.
We should become acquainted with men in high places, and by exercising the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove we might obtain advantage from them, for God would move upon their minds to do many things in behalf of His people. If proper persons would set before those who have means and influence, the needs of the work of God in a proper light, these men might do much to advance the cause of God in our world. We have put away from us privileges and advantages that we might have had the benefit of, because we chose to stand independent of the world. But we need not sacrifice one principle of truth while taking advantage of every opportunity to advance the cause of God.—Special Testimonies, Series A 3:29, 30
Call Upon Great and Good Men to Help Us—There is a world to be warned, and we have been very delicate about calling upon rich men, either church members or worldlings, to aid us in the work. We would that all professed Christians stood with us. We would that their souls might be drawn out in liberality in aiding us in building up the kingdom of God in our world. We should call upon great and good men to help us in our Christian endeavor work. They should be invited to second our efforts in seeking to save that which is lost.—The Origin and Development of the Thanksgiving Plan, 5
Such Gifts Not to Be Refused—When we show to the world, to angels, and to men that the prosperity of the cause of God is our first consideration, God will bless us. Sometimes He works through unbelievers, and unexpected relief comes. The Lord puts it into the hearts of men to help. The means coming in this way is not to be refused. When means comes from unbelievers it is to be used by the human agent to honor God. Every spiritually-minded, wholehearted giver will rightly apply every God-entrusted talent.
The Lord does not have to depend upon our means. He will not be restricted by the human agent. His way is always the best way, and any help that may come to advance His cause and work in any of our institutions is to be used as coming from Him. Gifts from unbelievers are not to be refused. The money is the Lord’s, and is to be received with gratitude. Let God work and send by whom He will…. We believe time is closing. Eternity is at hand. Our supply of means is limited, and the work to be done is great. It is now that faith must be exercised. Our sufficiency is in God.—Manuscript 47, 1899
Wealthy Will Provide Facilities—Let those who labor in the interests of the cause of God lay the necessities of the work in —– before the wealthy men of the world. Do this judiciously. Tell them what you are trying to do. Solicit donations from them. It is God’s means which they have, means which should be used in enlightening the world. There are stored up in the earth large treasures of gold and silver. Men’s riches have accumulated. Go to these men with a heart filled with love for Christ and suffering humanity and ask them to help you in the work you are trying to do for the Master. As they see that you reveal the sentiments of God’s benevolence, a chord will be touched in their hearts. They will realize that they can be Christ’s helping hand by doing medical missionary work. They will be led to cooperate with God, to provide the facilities necessary to set in operation the work that needs to be done.—Manuscript 40, 1901
Impressed by the Spirit to Give—The higher classes have been strangely neglected. In the higher walks of life will be found many who will respond to the truth, because it is consistent, because it bears the stamp of the high character of the gospel. Not a few of the men of ability thus won to the cause will enter energetically into the Lord’s work.
It Is God’s Money—Why not ask the Gentiles for assistance? I have received instruction that there are men and women in the world who have sympathetic hearts, and who will be touched with compassion as the needs of suffering humanity are presented before them….
The matter has been presented to me in this light. Our work is to be aggressive. The money is the Lord’s, and if the wealthy are approached in the right way, the Lord will touch their hearts and impress them to give of their means. God’s money is in the hands of these men, and some of them will heed the request for help.
Talk this over, and do all in your power to secure gifts. We are not to feel that it would not be the thing to ask men of the world for means, for it is just the thing to do. This plan was opened before me as a way of coming in touch with wealthy men of the world. Through this means not a few will become interested, and may hear and believe the truth for this time.—Stewardship Series, no. 1, 15, 16
How to Make the Approach—Multitudes who are prosperous in the world and who never stoop to the common forms of vice are yet brought to destruction through the love of riches….These men are in need of the gospel. They need to have their eyes turned from the vanity of material things to behold the preciousness of the enduring riches. They need to learn the joy of giving, the blessedness of being coworkers with God.—MH 211-213.
Why does ADRA cooperate with different organisations?
ADRA works with trusted partners including the Seventh-day Adventist Church, other faith groups, and non-government agencies to expand its services and resources around the world and help improve the quality of life of millions of people. Together, if each one brings in his or her specific strengths and expertise, we are stronger.
ADRA’s global network of Adventist churches and volunteers, as well as education and health institutions gives us access to places and people that many other organisations cannot reach. ADRA and the Adventist Church continue to work collaboratively to bring about significant change in remote and disadvantaged areas around the world.
*Disclaimer – During the Alberta Wildfires in 2024, USAID gave $130K CAD toward the relief of that isolated emergency response that ADRA implemented.
