Interview with World Vision President

Guy Kawasaki has posted an interesting interview with the president of World Vision.

Here are three of the questions Guy asked:

1. Question:Are you trying to end poverty or evangelize Christianity?

   Answer: As a Christian organization, we are motivated by our commitment to Christ
   to love our neighbors and care for the less fortunate. That's why we do
   what we do. We don't proselytize. We do not force our religious beliefs
   on anyone, and we don't discriminate in our delivery of aid in any way. If
   the people we serve want to know why we are there, we tell them. St.
   Francis once said: "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if
   necessary." Love put into action is a compelling and attractive worldview.

2. Question:How can people who do not want to radically change their lives make a
   difference in the lives of the poor?

   Answer:To really change the world, values must change. Consider the civil rights
   movement. Racial discrimination was once openly accepted in the United
   States. Today it is unacceptable to our mainstream culture. Very few of
   us are civil rights activists, but we let our values speak in our work
   places, our schools and to our elected officials.

   Today, we live in a world that tolerates extreme poverty much like racism
   was tolerated fifty-plus years ago. We can all become people determined to do
   something to change the world. We can speak up, we can volunteer and we
   can give. Ending extreme poverty will take money, political and moral
   will, and a shift in our value system. When enough ordinary people embrace
   these issues, things will begin to change. Margaret Mead once said: "Never
   doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.
   Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

3. Question: In the eyes of God, do you think someone who goes to Africa and helps AIDS
   victims is better or worse than someone who writes a check every month?

   Answer:I can't speak for God, but I believe God is pleased whenever anyone does
   something out of love to help the downtrodden. Hands, hearts, and
   checkbooks are all vital. If we all just did a little--our part--we
   could change the world.
   

You can read the rest of the interview here.