For over 50 years, we've walked alongside the vulnerable so that they may find hope for all of life.
WHO WE ARE
As a wholistic organization of The Alliance, CAMA’s mission is to demonstrate Christ’s compassion through immediate relief and long-term development that transforms lives and restores communities. In working to alleviate suffering and poverty, we invest in local solutions guided by local leaders and local churches. We are committed to seeing hurting communities reach their full potential as we extend your deep compassion to those who are suffering around our world.
CAMA stands for Compassion and Mercy Associates.
And we pronounce CAMA like "comma," the little special punctuation mark.
WHAT WE DO
OUR HISTORY
The Christian and Missionary Alliance established CAMA in 1972 in response to the Vietnam War. CAMA received 501(c)(3) status in 1974 as it continued to meet the overwhelming needs of refugees fleeing Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Today, as a specialized structure of Alliance Missions, our staff respond to the needs of people affected by violence, poverty, and disasters. The gospel is at the heart of our relief and development efforts.
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1972
The C&MA launches CAMA to meet the needs of refugees in Southeast Asia.
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1974
CAMA becomes a 501(c)(3) non-profit as it continues the work begun two years prior. Relief efforts with refugees evolve into long-term development projects in several locations throughout Asia.
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1984
CAMA begins ongoing relief and development work in Africa, and adds more staff to oversee famine relief in West Africa.
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1990
The C&MA appoints the first full-time CAMA director. We begin serving refugees fleeing the Liberian Civil War, which becomes our largest relief project.
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1999
Relief work is established in the Balkans to assist war-affected families. Our team remains there on the ground today.
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2004
CAMA responds to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, one of history's deadliest natural disasters. Our long-term staff continue to serve in the region.
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2005
Hurricane Katrina becomes CAMA's first major response in the United States.
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2012
CAMA responds to the Syrian Refugee Crisis, efforts that continue today.
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2019
Our team begins meeting the needs of Venezuelan and Rohingya refugees.
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2020
CAMA responds globally to provide relief to those left in need from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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2022
CAMA partners with pastors throughout Ukraine in response to the Ukraine-Russia conflict to empower the local church to share the gospel and provide relief. These efforts continue today.
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2024
CAMA celebrates 50 years of relief and development ministry as a nonprofit organization while continuing the work of extending Christ’s compassion to transform lives and restore communities.
... and our story continues.
Thanks to you, hope is flourishing in hundreds of communities.
ALLIANCE MISSIONS
As part of Alliance Missions (AM), we are committed to providing gospel access to the least-reached peoples of the world. We are one of four specialized AM structures, aligning with marketplace ministries, aXcess, and Envision to see gospel access for and from all peoples.
CAMA
Demonstrates Christ’s compassion through immediate relief and long-term development that transforms lives and restores communities.
marketplace ministries
Facilitates marketplace professionals who bring their expertise to a community to disciple those around them.
aXcess
Proclaims the gospel and multiplies networks of faith communities among the least-reached of the world.
ENVISION
Identifies and develops missional leaders through short-term missions experiences and innovative ministry strategies.