Human Needs Ministries
Loving God and loving neighbor
Often referred to as The Great Commandment, Matthew 22:37-40 (HCSB) reads, "He said to him, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.'"
Human needs ministries offer Southern Baptist missionaries the opportunity to love God and their neighbor by combining spiritual and physical assistance.
Since the early 1970s:
• More than $222 million has been provided for human needs projects.
• More than 6,900 human needs projects have been implemented by IMB personnel.
These ministries have been accomplished thanks to the prayers and financial support of thousands who generously give to the World Hunger and General Relief Funds.
World Hunger Funds are available to Southern Baptist missionaries to meet food-related needs such as assisting people with receiving food, buying food, growing food and/or using food properly.
General Relief Funds are available to Southern Baptist missionaries to provide assistance that is not food related such as shelter, clothing, construction materials or transportation.
All human needs projects:
• have an intentional spiritual strategy and share the Gospel (loving God).
• have Southern Baptist personnel who are a part of the community or remain in contact with the community being served (loving neighbor).
• involve local input and expertise to help personnel assess needs and establish goals that make sense culturally, economically and efficiently.
• have accountability measures.
