Our Christian roots

That Christian perspective lies at the heart of all we do but we are happy to work with people of all faiths and those of none, who share our mission of fighting poverty through trade.

Our foundation principles are based on aspects of God revealed in the Bible and especially in the person and teachings of Jesus Christ.

This excerpt from our strategic plan explains what our Christian identity means to us:

• We draw our inspiration from the life and teachings of Jesus, and from his death and resurrection. We were founded and continue to be led by people with an active Christian faith.
• We work with people of all faiths and none who share our vision and our commitment to the fight against poverty.
• We have a particular focus on mobilising the support and prayer of the UK Christian community.
• We commend the Christian faith through practical action and service to others, rather than through evangelism. Our Christian basis helps us to work effectively with other faith-based organisations and communities around the world.
• We believe every person is made in the image of God, and has a right to flourish and fulfil their God-given potential, both individually and in community with others.
• We understand poverty to be complex, and not limited to material shortage alone. Promoting well-being, dignity, participation, and relationships are key parts of our practice, and reflect our Christian perspective.
• We recognise the importance of caring for the world that God has created and promoting good environmental practices.