White Cross supports vital needs around the world to promote health and wellness, education and abolishing global slavery. 

For generations, American Baptists’ helping hands have been reaching out to people in need. During World War I, women in the church assisted the American Red Cross by providing surgical dressings, bandages and other medical supplies for U.S. service personnel. As they met these needs, the women became convinced that similar methods would be of great help in the work of Christian mission. In 1919, following the end of the war, American Baptist women organized the White Cross Service League, “channeling the war effort into support for Baptist mission,” to use their words.

Today, men, youth, and children have embraced White Cross. Your gifts continue the legacy of providing practical help and needed supplies where IM serves around the world.

The importance of White Cross is immeasurable, and God multiplies the impact of your support in the countries IM serves.

100 years of White Cross was celebrated in 2019. CLICK HERE to see a sample White Cross 100 Year Certificate for your region or church. Request yours by email to Dolores Bowles at: dolores.bowles@internationalministries.org.

White Cross gifts are vital to IM global servants and partners around the world. Through God’s grace, this crucial ministry continues to bless those who give, those who serve and those who receive. Thank you for your loving commitment to meeting the needs of ministries around the world. Your gifts continue to be a great help.

The new and updated White Cross information package for 2020-21 was sent to each of your White Cross coordinators. You can download a copy below and use the reply form if you wish to mail in your gifts.

To find a White Cross project, go to our Find a Project page and, under “Type,” select “White Cross Projects.” Optionally narrow down your search by selecting a Ministry Priority (Health and Wellness, Education or Abolishing Global Slavery), country, region and/or continent and then click “Search.” In the list below, choose a project and then select either “Learn More” or “Give” on the right.

If you have been a longtime supporter of White Cross, kindly note there are two opportunities. One for birthing baby kits that will be sent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and another opportunity upon request for Nicaragua baby layettes.  You can assemble the kits or send a financial gift to purchase the needed baby and medical supplies. Please only include the items listed on the instruction sheet. 

Each kit includes must-have items to help deliver healthy babies in the Congo, plus an optional gift to purchase Congolese fabric. 

Each kit should include these four items in a gallon-size zippered plastic bag in addition to a financial gift of $2 per kit to cover shipping costs for all ten items that will be sent: Can be handmade or purchased.

1. A baby gown with long sleeves, drawstring or elastic bottom for newborns up to 3 months
2. A lightweight knit newborn cap
3. A light cotton flannel blanket 40″ x 40″
4. Plastic sheeting cut to 45″ x 45″ available either in hardware stores (sold as drop cloths) or in fabric stores. 
5. Optional: A gift of $10 (memo Congo fabric) will enable us to purchase a piece of Congolese fabric for the new mother to wear as she leaves the hospital. (Please do not send fabric).
6. A suggested $2 per kit for shipping sent to IM. All gifts for shipping are valuable $1 dollar or $10 dollars. Some groups take up one collection for shipping which is very much appreciated.
   
   If you buy the items, your group can still get together and sew or iron-on an applique or embroider an elephant, giraffe, etc. to make a set. Be creative!

To complete the kits, IM includes a bulk shipment of the items below. Each kit will receive:

1. One nasal bulb syringe
2. One pair of sterile gloves
3. One umbilical tie
4. One scalpel
5. Two 4″ x 4″ sterile gauge pads

Medical items such as gowns, scrubs, surgical instruments and birthing supplies are needed for 10 partner hospitals in the Congo.Your financial gifts make it possible to provide these items and services even where hospitals do not exist.

Without your generosity, many of the White Cross projects would not be possible. You continue to transform lives by supporting IM ministries in health services, recovery and restoration to wholeness. 

1 John 3:17-18 remind us, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? . . . let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

To give online, select a White Cross project on our Find a Project page (select “White Cross Projects” under “Type” and then click “Search”) or on our “Make a Gift for a Project” page (under “I would like to support,” scroll down until you see “White Cross”).

To give by check, make the check payable to “International Ministries – WC,” write the project name on the memo line, and mail it to our King of Prussia office.

Mail financial gifts to:
International Ministries
1003 W 9th Ave, Ste A
King of Prussia, PA 19406-1210

Ship handwork* to:
Brethren Service Center 
IM American Baptist/White Cross
601 Main Street
New Windsor, MD 21776-0188

* Kindly note that IM incurs additional shipping cost to resend handwork that comes to IM offices. They must be shipped to the warehouse at the Brethren Service Center.

If you have any questions or would like to update your group’s contact information, please contact Jim Bell, Associate Executive Director for Global Mission, at jim.bell@internationalministries.org or 610-768-2361 or by using our online contact form.