Cross International

Our Strategic Plan

Cross International Catholic Outreach is committed to working itself out of existence.  To achieve this ambitious goal, we emphasize  outreach programs that help needy individuals and communities become self sufficient, effectively breaking the cycle of poverty that plagues so many areas of the developing world.

This effort began with the creation of a strategic plan - the series of objectives that would guide our everyday activity.  The plan, outlined here, will provide you with a better understanding of how Cross International Catholic Outreach will produce tangible benefits for the poor with your contributions.  We are deeply grateful for every gift you send, and we work hard to ensure that it is used efficiently and effectively.

Assist the poor through Christ-centered churches

This strategy means that more of your gift reaches the poor.  Thousands of churches in developing countries already run programs to aid the poor, including orphanages, clinics, schools, job training centers, and home-building ministries.  These churches simply lack resources. By supplying the existing ministries with the commodities they want to distribute (food, medicines, clothing, school supplies, building materials, etc.), Cross International Catholic Outreach can effectively double or triple their impact and outreach to the poor. This strategy also empowers local pastors, helping them spread the Gospel to those who need it most.

Provide cost-effective material aid

Many charities send money to ministries overseas, but this strategy is rarely cost-effective. Churches in developing countries are rarely able to purchase the items they need at competitive prices. In fact, prices for items such as rice and beans can be twice as high in "local" markets as they are elsewhere. To get "more bang for the buck," Cross International Catholic Outreach can often meet a ministry's needs by either obtaining goods as in-kind gifts or by shopping the world market and shipping commodities in bulk. The savings can be significant. In some cases, careful shopping can supply a ministry in a developing country with ten times the goods at the same cost.

Employ a holistic and community-oriented strategy

Some charities rely too heavily on a "Santa Claus" approach to providing the poor with aid. While this may be satisfying to the "Santa" doing the handouts, it rarely results in a positive, long-term benefit for the poor. Cross International Catholic Outreach avoids this style of outreach. Instead, the ministry locates communities in which it can provide a sustained outreach with achievable goals. Our intent is to build up local communities, empower local church leaders and assist the poor in ways which will help them break the cycle of poverty. This strategy often leads to several linked projects within one location. For example, a village might begin with a school-based feeding center, add a clinic to treat local families, expand its outreach with a communty-wide housing program to provide basic shelter for the homeless and conclude with a micro-enterprise development project to provide jobs. Cross International Catholic Outreach wants to give the poor "a hand up" rather than "a hand out."

Create a true exchange between the Church in America and churches in developing countries

Scripture makes it clear that the poor are blessed with great faith. This gift has tremendous spiritual value, but few American Christians have experienced its power. Cross International Catholic Outreach believes that a profound exchange is possible between churches of developing countries and the Church in America. We encourage visits to Haiti and other spiritually rich developing countries. We have also established ministries in which the poor pray for the spiritual and physical needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ who live in America. There are currently more than 6,000 groups praying regularly for Cross International Catholic Outreach "Mission Partners" with needs.

Hold to a high level of integrity and accountability

Cross International Catholic Outreach's  president and board of directors hold themselves to a high level of personal integrity and financial accountability. Your trust is important to us, and we will do everything in our power to see that your gifts, large or small, are used appropriately and effectively.