Orphans' alliance members backed by ECFA

Churches, para-church ministries, and adoption agencies who work under the umbrella of the Christian Alliance for Orphans now have the opportunity to receive oversight and membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. The group made the announcement ahead of a major seminar on orphans scheduled in May.

The Christian Alliance for Orphans works with churches, organizations, and individuals to inform and educate them in how to engage in orphan and adoption ministry, including providing aid to orphans overseas.

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) provides accreditation to evangelical and non-profit organizations which comply with established standards for financial accountability. Alliance board president Maridel Sandberg says ECFA will be the official arm to help ensure donors to supporting organizations know their money is being used with the best business practices, whether groups become ECFA members or not.

"Our goal is that this organization would be kind of a stamp of approval, so that when the local person wants to donate money to an orphan-care program or an adoption agency or such things, that they would have a better comfort level of who to work with," Sandberg explains.

The arrangement was announced for the benefit of those considering attending Orphan Summit IV, scheduled by the Alliance for May 1-3 at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sandberg says the conference is about helping individuals, churches, and groups to understand how to take the next step to help orphans stateside and around the world.