Sensitive Communities

What is a “Sensitive Community”?

At FH we are led by our Christian beliefs, yet we are also committed to serving vulnerable people without regard to race, creed or nationality. Sometimes this commitment takes us into what we call “sensitive” communities. In some of these places, evangelism is strictly illegal. For the safety of those we serve, we exercise extreme caution in how we share matters of faith. The contexts in which we work are different in each area. Please see below for the country specific guidelines for how to best communicate with your sponsored child.

How will my sponsored child learn about Jesus?

Since public education is so poor in many sensitive communities, FH staff facilitates after-school clubs to teach children and encourage them in their studies. There, kids also learn biblical values like obedience, honoring their parents and serving others. Many children take these values back to their home and, once our staff form trusting relationships, they may share their faith directly with those who show interest. Although our work may look different in various areas, by God’s grace we’re seeing communities come together and discover their God-given purpose.

Aren’t these types of guidelines in opposition to the words of Jesus in Matthew 10?

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” (NIV)? Actually, these guidelines seek to follow the guidance Jesus gave to His disciplines in this very passage. While telling His disciples to “proclaim from the roofs” (v27), Jesus did not tell his disciples to seek persecution or attempt to incite it. Rather, He told them to be “on their guard” (v17). Jesus commanded His disciples to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (v16) when it came to sharing with those not open to the Gospel. Likewise, in other parts of scripture we are encouraged to share the Gospel with “gentleness and respect” (I Peter 3:15). In explaining how he sought to contextualize his presentation of the gospel, the Apostle Paul stated, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” (I Cor 9:22) These guidelines do not seek to “disown” Jesus by any means. Rather, these guidelines seek to honor the Biblical encouragement to share the Gospel in ways that acknowledge the cultural contexts in which we are working.