Real Life Foundation is openly Christian and seeks to share the Gospel. That is stated plainly rather than hidden. It also places a hard limit on how we serve.
Our limits, stated plainly
We do not say: receive assistance only if you convert. We say: we serve because we believe every person has God-given dignity and worth.
Real Life Foundation is a Christian organisation. We believe in Jesus Christ and seek to follow His example of love, humility, compassion, service, justice and truth.
We believe every human being has God-given dignity. We believe Christian faith should be expressed through both proclamation and practical action, and that vulnerable people should be protected rather than exploited.
We believe leaders should be accountable, generosity should be voluntary, education should empower, and leadership should serve. We believe communities should participate in decisions affecting their lives.
We believe humanitarian assistance should never be used as a tool for religious coercion. We serve people regardless of their background while remaining honest and open about our Christian identity.
This is the sentence the rest of our work has to answer to. The passages below shape specific decisions, not just sentiment.
Every person bears God's image
“So God created mankind in his own image.”
Genesis 1:27
Poverty, social status, education, gender, occupation, religion, disability or circumstance do not determine a person's worth. This is the sentence the rest of our work has to answer to.
Love
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mark 12:31
Christian service should be motivated by love rather than personal recognition, financial gain or manipulation.
Compassion
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.”
Matthew 25:35
Faith should respond to practical human needs, and respond to them first.
Justice
“Act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly.”
Micah 6:8
We seek to combine justice, mercy, humility and practical action rather than choosing between them.
Service
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”
Mark 10:45
Christian leadership is servant leadership. Position is not the point.
Equipping
“To equip his people for works of service.”
Ephesians 4:12
We prioritise developing people's abilities and their capacity to serve others.
Young people
“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young.”
1 Timothy 4:12
Youth are contributors and emerging leaders, not merely recipients.
Children
“Let the little children come to me.”
Matthew 19:14
Children should be valued, protected, respected and given the opportunity to flourish.
Freedom
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”
Galatians 5:1
We support freedom from exploitation, coercion and oppression, while respecting people's own choices.
Defending the vulnerable
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.”
Isaiah 1:17
We stand alongside vulnerable people and work toward ethical solutions.
Generosity
“God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Giving should be voluntary, never forced through fear, shame or manipulation.
Stewardship of creation
“The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.”
Psalm 24:1
Environmental responsibility is part of stewardship, not an optional extra.
TODO before launch — confirm the Bible translation these are quoted from and add the publisher’s required copyright notice. Consider showing each passage in Urdu alongside the English.
