Disciples congregations who join the Circle of Compassion strengthen the work and witness of Week of Compassion for generations to come.

The Circle of Compassion is for churches that establish a named fund of $10,000 within the Week of Compassion Endowment Fund, giving above and beyond their regular special offering each year. As annual distributions from the endowment are received, it frees up designated dollars to support communities  during times of disaster, displacement, and enduring need. This distribution is included as part of the congregation’s denominational giving record, increasing the church's annual Week of Compassion support.

The term 'circle of compassion' was inspired by an African pastor who said compassion moves as a circle. Sometimes we give, and at other times we receive - but most of the time we cannot tell the difference. ​In the blessing of receiving and of giving, the circle continues.                            

Why join the Circle?

We have a 'From Our Doorsteps…' fund already in place to make local grants toward the needs of our friends and neighbors; we saw this as a chance to create a matching '… to the Ends of the Earth' fund with Week of Compassion, to address the needs of neighbors beyond our own.
     -  Washington Avenue Christian Church, Elyria OH
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Standing the morning after Hurricane Charlie barreled through – damage, debris, trees and power lines down, impassable roads, leaders strategizing to connect with members across the city – a cell phone rang: “This is Week of Compassion….how can we help?” The Circle is our touchstone to tell the story, help our words become action, extend God’s compassion, moving others’ hearts from being troubled to finding peace.
      -  Pershing Avenue Christian Church, Orlando FL
​Week of Compassion has long been a beloved offering. We’ve been especially proud of being a part of the Circle of Compassion. Each year we look forward to the report that tells us how much our Circle endowment has earned to support this ministry. 
     -  Battery Park Christian Church, Richmond VA
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When our small church received a large gift, we knew immediately that we needed to share a portion of this gift with our neighbors in need in Seattle and around the globe. By joining the Circle of Compassion, we partner with Week of Compassion to extend God's love and mercy, where it is needed most, for many years to come.
     -  Northwest Christian Church, Seattle WA

How do we join?

In the same way Week of Compassion’s mission and ministry unfold across a variety of partnerships, locations, and responses, the ways in which congregations join the Circle of Compassion are as creative, beautiful, and varied as the churches themselves:
​West Mesa Christian Church (Albuquerque NM) challenged themselves to raise $10,000. A member stepped forward with a matching gift and in a few months, West Mesa reached their goal. For this established congregation, “establishing a fund to perpetuate the work of Week of Compassion is very appealing. We hope we can be a catalyst for other Southwest Region churches.”

While caring for facility improvements, Saint Andrew Christian Church (Olathe KS) also envisioned a portion of capital campaign dollars would create permanent funds focused on justice and witness, including a Circle of Compassion fund. “Usually capital campaigns are about building something or paying off what you’ve built. This was a great chance to think creatively to benefit those beyond us, making a real impact.”
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When ten Illinois Valley (IL) Cluster churches met together during Lent for Sunday evening worship, the offerings were combined to establish a Circle of Compassion fund in the cluster’s name. First Christian Church (Pekin IL) shared in the establishment of that fund and then was inspired to use outreach budget funds to create an additional Circle of their own. ​
First Christian Church (Chattanooga TN) reached their 150th Anniversary and used funds from their outreach endowment to establish a Circle of Compassion fund to celebrate. When First Christian Church (North Kansas City MO) marked their 100th, plans included an offering from their outreach resources to create their Circle fund as well. ​

At First Christian Church (Sacramento CA), talk among church members, retired pastors, and a long-standing connection to Week of Compassion led to a starting gift, with a congregational covenant to meet the member’s challenge of completing the $10,000 goal. “The church is grateful for this example, and takes the challenge to fulfill this worthwhile obligation to support Week of Compassion’s ongoing work.” 

A Disciples church and a UCC congregation merged to create Faith First Community Church (Davenport IA). Leaders agreed that proceeds from the sale of one church building would be given to establish a Circle of Compassion fund. Rather than a legacy fund in the name of the sold church, they were inspired to build a Circle of Compassion fund in the name of their newly merged congregation, because “that way, we can continue to add to it.”
The possibilities are endless! Contact us to learn more about becoming a Circle of Compassion congregation!​

Circle of Compassion

First Christian Church
First Christian Church
Battery Park Christian Church
First Christian Church
First Christian Church
First Christian Church / The Table*
Washington Avenue Christian Church 
First Christian Church *
Pershing Ave Christian Church *
Bellevue Christian Church *
First Christian Church
Park Hill Christian Church
First Christian Church
University Place Christian Church
First Christian Church
Kingsway Christian Church
First Christian Church
First Christian Church
First Christian Church
First Christian Church
First Christian Church *
Karl Road Christian Church
University Christian Church
Mantua Center Christian Church
First Christian Church
Central Christian Church
Central Christian Church
Faith Christian Church
Cherokee Christian Church *
Community Christian Church
First Christian Church
Northwest Christian Church
Hamilton Christian Church * 
First Christian Church
Memorial Boulevard Christian Church
First Christian Church
​Friends of the West Virginia Region
Westview Christian Church *
Mid Ohio Valley Parish
Central Christian Church
Bethany Memorial Church
Creekwood Christian Church
Central Christian Church *
First Christian Church
First Christian Church
First Christian Church*
First Christian Church
Northway Christian Church
First Christian Church
Draper Christian Church *
Hurstbourne Christian Church
First Christian Church
Central Christian Church
Christian Church of Arlington Heights
​First Christian Church
Eureka Christian Church
University Christian Church *
First Christian Church
​Hillyer Memorial Christian Church
Ridglea Christain Church
First Christian Church
Beargrass Christian Church
First Christian Church
First Christian Church
Midwest Boulevard Christian Church *
First Christian Church
Peachtree Corners Christian Church *
First Christian Church
​First Christian Church (150th Anniversary)
First Christian Church
Saint Andrew Christian Church
West Mesa Christian Church
​Illinois Valley Cluster of Christian Churches
Hood River Valley Christian Church
​First Christian Church
First Christian Church (100th Anniversary)
Faith First Community Church
University Christian Church
First Christian Church
​First Christian Church
​First Christian Church
* closed congregation / legacy fund
Perry IA
West Point MS
Richmond VA
Tyler TX
Meridian MS
Knoxville TN
Elyria OH       
Moline IL
Orlando FL
Bellevue WA
Duncan OK
North Little Rock AR
Pikeville KY
Champaign IL
Edmond OK
Germantown TN
Paris TN
Gainesville FL
Winder GA
Bowling Green KY
Bucyrus OH
Columbus OH
Fort Worth TX
Mantua OH
Keokuk IA
Indianapolis IN
Decatur IL
Memphis TN
Prairie Village KS  
North Canton OH
Mount Carmel IL
Seattle WA
St Louis MO    
Gibson City IL
St Louis MO
Lufkin TX
​West Virginia
Wilson NC
Ohio
Lexington KY
Bethany WV
Flower Mound TX
Corpus Christi TX
Harrisonville MO
Ashland KY
Bellflower CA
Wheeling WV
Dallas TX
Wagoner OK
Draper VA
Louisville KY
Duncanville TX
Hermitage PA
Arlington Heights IL
Fullerton CA
Eureka IL
Seattle WA
Kent WA
​Raleigh NC
Fort Worth TX
Bloomington IN
Louisville KY
Wadsworth OH
Falls Church VA
Midwest City OK
Madisonville KY
Norcross GA
Charlotte NC
Chattanooga TN
​Crawfordsville IN
Olathe KS
​Albuquerque NM
​Illinois
​Hood River OR
​Pekin IL
North Kansas City MO
​Davenport IA
San Diego CA
​Sacramento CA
​Tacoma WA
​Burbank CA