History of CRY...

Care and Relief for the Young (CRY) was founded in the UK by Pastor Mertyn Dunsford, Christian business people and other Christians working at a senior level in the caring professions. Initial requests for help in caring for Romanian orphans came, immediately post revolution, through Martyn's Romanian church connections. Subsequently the charity made its first purpose to serve the needy in Romania, paying particular attention to children living in state orphanages and on the streets of the capital Bucharest.

From early 1990 to 1992 the charity was heavily involved in various acts of aid and support to Eastern Europe, including placing workers directly into children's homes in Romania. Since 1992 when Care and Relief for the Young (CRY) became a registered UK charity, the work has hugely expanded with the charity currently supporting some 30 programs in 20 countries - some on an ad-hoc basis, others on a regular basis. Care and Relief for the Young (CRY) has given over $5 Million Dollars of support to needy children and young people over this 18 year period.


In 2005, CRY UK's Executive Officer, David Farndale, founded CRY USA INC as a 501c3 not-for-profit charity with the purpose of generating additional awareness of and support for the various programs from our 'Good Friends in the USA'. And possibly over time also to support existing/or introduce new local programs in North America, Central and South America.

It seemed very 'natural' for the UK and USA to be working together as allies and partners on 'good causes' to the benefit of human kind and to help relieve suffering around the world. The setting up of CRY USA also seemed an obvious development given that CRY UK had a growing number of people in North America already supporting programs and children. This would then enable them to route their financial support through CRY USA instead of CRY UK enabling their donations to become tax deductible. But most importantly, David strongly felt that God was directing him to set up our own US non-profit charity.

WILL YOU HELP US?
After an initial slow start, mainly due to demand on David's time in the UK, CRY USA is now in a position to launch a program awareness and support campaign - commencing with David making a 10-day whistle-stop tour of South Western USA in May 2010, and this new website going live (April 2010). The charity's administrative base is now firmly based in San Diego, California.  Our attorney's are based in Naples, Florida where David has some personal connections in Christian communities and business.

David would welcome hearing from anyone keen to Get Involved with CRY USA - there are lots of ways in which you can help, even if you only have a few hours spare a month! We especially need people to promote CRY USA in their own locality, hand out some brochures, gather some support through their existing contacts, churches, community groups, friends, encourage child sponsorship, etc. It's very easy and very rewarding work. Very effective too as part of an evangelistic outreach - get your community, schools and businesses involved!

THE GREAT COMMISSION
For those of us who are Christians, the "Great Commission" is very clear - scripture tells us...

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  - NIV (©1984)

Jesus calls all His followers to act and share the Good News of salvation throughout the world. Of course, Mission fields can be very close to home - a neighbor who has not heard the Good News, or a poverty stricken area just down the road. However many people hear this calling also travel great distances on missionary trips throughout the earth, making incredible sacrifices, traveling to remote regions of the world beyond the civilized cities into jungles and deserts.

And others stay locally-based, but actively support and promote church-based humanitarian programs worldwide - just like CRY's - spreading the word of Jesus Christ to the Nations (i.e. including unreached People (ethnic-linguistic) -groups - but this does not mean geographical Nation States) - playing their part in fulfilling the "Great Commission". Helping and resourcing indigenous churches to minister to the poor in their own locality.

The places and people who need to hear the Gospel are everywhere, not just in our own neighborhood ...charity does not just 'belong at home'! That's a very outdated and naive perspective nowadays as any child or young person will agree - we have a responsibility, especially as Christians, for caring for and showing compassion to people everywhere - every nation, tribe and tongue - to the glory and Kingdom of God. And sharing our resources to back that up.

The humanitarian basis to CRY's work and that of its partners, has proved to be a highly effective vehicle in spreading the Good News - enabling and resourcing local churches (and also individual Christians) to reach out and share Christ's love in practical ways to those in need around them.

And what else does scripture tell us?

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." James 1:27 - NIV (©1984)

By supporting CRY USA and its programs, YOU will be playing your part in the Great Commission. May God richly bless you as you get involved in this great Mission and effective work.

  MORE - Read what Others have to say...

  MORE - Check our Mission & Vision...

  MORE - Read our Faith Statement...

  MORE - Check out CRY UK - our 'big sister' charity where it all started...