How We Give Life

The GLOBAL COMPASSION RESPONSE NETWORK, an outreach of Somebody Cares America, gives life by ministering the love of Jesus in times of disaster. While meeting the need for physical preparedness before disaster and responding to areas affected by disaster, we ultimately seek to meet the core spiritual need for wholeness of Jesus Christ in each person’s life.

Ours is a work not just of meeting short-term needs, but of bringing the long-term transformative power of Jesus to the arena of crisis and disaster relief and preparedness.

The Global Compassion Response Network, while itself a relatively new name on the scene, is an outreach founded upon the rich history of Somebody Cares America (its parent organization) in disaster response and relief. Somebody Cares has long been active in compassion ministry and disaster response, from aiding individuals in personal crisis to rushing relief to survivors of large-scale tragedies. For decades we have been a tangible expression of God’s love to the hurting. Through our responses to numerous hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis in the USA and around the world, a ‘net that works’ has been developed to partner in relief, which we now call the Global Compassion Response Network (GCRN). In each case, our heart is to not only to mobilize quickly and effectively through partnering with others (we are known for our ability to be on the ground before others organizations, and this is product of our grassroots,relational approach), but also to stand with the locals in long-term recovery and transformation long after everyone else has moved on.

GCRNs MISSION
Global Compassion Response Network, an outreach of Somebody Cares America/International, prepares, connects, and mobilizes churches, ministries and organizations to play their unique role in preparation and response to disasters in the U.S. and around the world.

GCRN EXISTS TO:
- Prepare and train families, churches, and cities for emergencies and disaster response
- Direct the coordination of response to disasters among members to insure aid is appropriate, timely and effectively builds up the local Body in the affected area
- Extend a relational structure for autonomous organizations to work together through information sharing and collaborative initiatives
- Provide immediate relief to survivors through local partners for the most effective use of resources
- Empower local partners for long-term community recovery
- Facilitate community relationships

WHAT IS IT?
GCRN is a COALITION of organizations, churches, and individuals who are passionate about bringing tangible help and hope to those affected by crisis. Whenever possible, assistance is provided through the local Church, which knows the community better than an outside agency. The coalition is a “net that works” through relationships as well as sharing resources, skills, services and assets. Through this network, each member is enhanced, empowered and encouraged to do what God has called them to do in the midst of disaster.

WHY IS IT?
When disasters happen, real people have very desperate needs. Often, resources to meet the needs become tied up in bureaucracy and bottlenecks. However, we have experienced the synergy and effectiveness released in times of response when relationships and resources have been cultivated before a disaster occurs. GCRN is creating that foundation of relationship and synergy now through preparation, training, and coordination so that our response in times of crisis will be more effective, more cohesive, and more powerful in meeting the needs of the people and revealing the love and life of Jesus Christ.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
GCRN works through relationship. It has been said that we are the hidden thread knitting together needs, resources, leadership, and support when a disaster occurs. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars on administrative overhead, Somebody Cares and the Global Compassion Response Network funnel donated funds and urgently needed resources directly to communities that are hardest hit – to be distributed primarily through those on the ground who know and love their neighbors and neighborhoods. Being a tangible expression of God’s love means we must excel at unity, organization, and giving. GCRN is building the infrastructure to make this happen: a virtual Joseph storehouse, training modules, response coordination and consultation. Through relationship and preparation, we will be able to respond quickly and directly to communities affected by disaster – all across the country and around the world.