Summary
Christian Blind Mission International is the world's leading agency working towards the prevention and cure of blindness and towards the enablement of people with disabilities in developing countries. Founded in 1908, CBMI helps over 10 million sick and disabled people each year at more than 1,000 projects in over 100 of the world's poorer countries.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact Information: [ Back to top ]
| Mailing Address: | PO Box 19000 450 East Park Avenue (29601)
Greenville, SC
29602-9602 |
| Website: | www.cbmus.org |
| Phone: | (864) 239-0065 |
| Email: | You need to enable javascript to see the email |
Organization Details [ Back to top ]
EIN: 362959883
| CEO/President: |
Mr. Ron Nabors |
Tax Deductible: |
Yes |
| Chairman: |
Dr. Van C. Joffrion |
Fiscal Year End: |
December 31 |
| Board Size: |
10 |
Financial info from: |
990 |
| Founder: |
Mr Ernest Christoffel |
Member of ECFA: |
Yes |
| Year Founded: |
1976 |
Member of ECFA since: |
1983 |
CBM International ("CBMI") is an independent aid organization of Christians of various denominations, dedicated to helping blind and other disabled people in "Third World" countries, irrespective of nationality, race, sex or religion. The work focuses on healing and preventing blindness as well as on the education and vocational training of blind people and their integration into society. CBMI works together with more than 600 partners (national churches, international missions, local self-help groups and Christian aid organizations).
The present number of 131 seconded eye doctors, orthopedic surgeons, special educators, physiotherapists, rehabilitation experts and project managers see their foremost task as that of training national co-workers. This reflects the principle that by training hundreds, hundreds of thousands can be healed. Approximately 10,000 national experts are financed by CBMI via the partner organizations.
The project work is performed through a joint network of nine Regional Offices and a project coordination office in Germany.
CBMI supports over 1,000 development projects in 109 countries, most of them in the "Third World" - hospitals with eye units, mobile eye-care services, village health and rehabilitation centers, schools, training institutions and many other facilities.
Thirty years ago, CBMI departed from the long-established tradition of those missions which felt themselves obliged to found or maintain their own stations. As a provider of services, CBMI instead set itself the task of enabling national partners to take care of their own suffering compatriots by means of professional advice, financial aid and support through qualified personnel.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
CBMI uses the following to communicate its mission:
CBMI is an interdenominational Christian medical organization, working to prevent blindness, restore sight and impart living skills to the blind and disabled.
Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]
1998
The initiative "Vision 2020 - The Right to Sight" is launched. The goal of this initiative is to eradicate available blindness by the year 2020. CBM Italy opened in July in Milan.
Over 9 million eye patients were examined, treated, and if necessary operated upon in 1997. They included:
2.5 million children screened for eye problems. Where a vitamin A deficiency was detected, CBMI helpers gave them vitamin A capsules.
Almost half a million visually impaired people who received a pair of glasses.
581'000 trachoma patients who were treated with tetracycline eye ointment or given an eyelid operation.
313'300 blind people whose sight was restored by a cataract operation.
119'000 people in danger of going blind, who were saved by means of surgery.
2.2 million people threatened by river blindness received protection by a Mectizan tablet.
58'200 ENT patients.
63'400 orthopedic and polio patients.
27'900 leprosy and TB patients.
740'700 other patients.
In all, more than 10 million needy people received assistance in 1998.
Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]
CBM uses the following to express its mission:
A whole-hearted acceptance of the revelation of God given in the Scriptures of
the Old and New Testaments.
A confession of faith therein set forth and summarized in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds
summarily stated as follows:
- a. One God eternally existent in three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- b. The Deity and perfect humanity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to heaven, His mediatorial work, intercession and reign and His personal return in power and glory as judges of all mankind.
- c. The universal sinfulness of human nature in consequence of the fall, making man subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.
- d. Redemption from the guilt and power of sin through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ as our representative and substitute and the justification of the sinner by grace through faith alone.
- e. The necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit in the regeneration of the sinner and sanctification of the believer.
- f. The unity in the Holy Spirit of all true believers in the Church which is the body of Christ.
- g. The divine inspiration of all Holy Scriptures, its trustworthiness and its supreme authority and sufficiency in all matters of faith and conduct.
The Church, being the body of Christ, held together and growing up in Him – both as a total fellowship throughout the world and as the local congregation in which believers gather, is subject to the commission of Christ and the command of Christ.
The commission of Christ is to proclaim the Good News to all people, making them disciples and teaching them to obey Him.
The Command of Christ includes loving God with all of our heart, mind and strength and loving our neighbors as expressed in service to the Church and society, in seeking reconciliation for all with God and His people – serving them in body, mind and spirit.
Ninety years ago, Pastor Ernst J. Christoffel (born in Rheydt, Germany, in 1876) set up his first home for blind, physically disabled and orphaned children in Turkey. This was the inception of Christoffel-Blindenmission. There are few organizations which provide services for the disabled in poor countries, yet the need is immeasurably great. Back in the seventies, supporters were therefore sought also outside Germany.
One of the visions of former CBMI director Siegfried Wiesinger was to set up an international network of supportive associations, also in order to reduce the risk of a decline in donations in one country or another.
In North America, Australia and various European countries, independent CBMI organizations came into being. Step by step, this "CBMI family" grew, making it necessary to establish a modern structure to coordinate the activities of the national associations.
Joining forces is not just a reaction to the increasingly difficult situation of donor organizations in the donor countries. Instead of strengthening existing institutions, the number of aid organizations continues to grow. At the same time, the overall social conditions are deteriorating. In such times, CBMI, which is, after all, the major international NGO for disabled persons and eye patients, has set itself the task of ensuring professional standards of donation acquisition, and of gradually expanding the financial basis for the services it provides.
1908
Pastor Ernst J. Christoffel opens the first home for blind, physically disabled and orphaned children in Malatia, Turkey.
1925
Opening of a residential school for the blind in Tabriz, Iran.
1955
Death of Pastor Christoffel in Isfahan, Iran, at the age of 78.
1956
"Christliche Blindenmission" changes its name to "Christoffel-Blindenmission" in honour of its founder.
1961
Pastor Siegfried Wiesinger (1930 - 1989) is appointed Director of the mission.
1963
Ophthalmic work begins in Afghanistan, shortly afterwards also in Iran.
1967
CBM extends its work to the first African countries - Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.
1973
CBM supports its first aid project in South America (Peru).
1976
An independent association is founded in the USA. Further CBMI associations follow in Canada (1978) and Australia (1983).
1986
The millionth cataract operation is performed by a CBMI-supported project since 1966.
1988
The large number of CBM friends in Austria and Switzerland means that independent member associations are established in these two countries.
1989
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognizes CBM/CBMI as a collaborating agency in the fields of preventing and curing blindness.
1992
CBM constituencies in western Germany (Bensheim) and eastern Germany (Potsdam) unite.
1994
All Christoffel-Blindenmissions and "Christian Blind Missions" join hands under the umbrella of CBM International, with head office in Zurich.
1996
Opening of CBM in Britain, followed in 1997 by CBM Belgium.
1997
The three millionth cataract operation is enabled by CBM International.
CBM International has communicated the following needs:
The ministry has several different projects in need of sponsorship. More information may be found on their website.
Research Analysis
Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]
| Transparency Grade of : A |
| Criteria category | Grade | Other Comments |
| Timeliness: | 100 | 8/29/2008 12:08:59 PM: Organization made financial information available less than 5 ½ months after their fiscal year end. |
| Financial Information: | 100 | |
| Foundational Clarity: | | |
| Level of Cooperation: | 100 | They were proactive in sending their information without our asking for it. 8/28/08 |
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]
| Ranking Category | Rating | Overall Rank | Relief and Development Sector |
|---|
| Overall Efficiency Rating |  | 2 of 353 | 2 of 54 |
| Fund Acquisition Decision |  | 26 of 353 | 11 of 54 |
| Resource Allocation Decision | | 9 of 353 | 7 of 54 |
| Asset Utilization Decision | | 3 of 353 | 3 of 54 |
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MinistryWatch.com’s take
June 2004
By Andy Preslar
Christ’s Mission to the Blind
The Christian faith has always had something special to say about blindness. We proclaim Jesus as the light of the world. We say that faith in him is the only means by which spiritually blind individuals (i.e., all of humankind apart from Christ) may “see” God (John 1:1-18). But the Gospel writers do not merely make spiritual claims about Jesus’ being the true Light. They also tell of how He actually healed people afflicted by physical blindness (John 9:1-34). In fact, our Savior introduced himself and his ministry by claiming to be the true Messiah who comes “to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18). As the Lord Jesus ministered in word and deed, so his followers must minister to the physical as well as the spiritual needs of people. But we are not all miracle workers. So is there anything we can do about blindness?
CBMI’s Mission to the Blind
Organizations such as Christian Blind Mission International (CBMI) show us that the answer to this question is unequivocally yes. CBMI works with 734 partner organizations to support more than 1,000 projects in more than 100 developing countries which are working to implement medical solutions for curable and preventable blindness. The history of CBMI goes back to the early in the 20th century when a young theological student named Ernst Christoffel heard of the outbreak of violence against Armenians living in Turkey. He determined to go and help these people, and together with his sister Hedwig, eventually founded a home for the blind in Turkey. Beginning in the 1960’s, Christoffel Blindenmission, named in honor of its founders, began to combat blindness in places such as Iran, Afghanistan, Africa, and South America. Friends of this organization went on to found Christian Blind Mission in North America. CBM soon opened several affiliate offices overseas, becoming CBMI.
Through the efforts of CBMI, some 10 million blind and otherwise disabled persons receive medical aid each year. CBM works through partnerships with mission agencies, local churches, aid organizations, self-help groups and individual volunteers. CBMI does not maintain any projects of its own overseas. Its role is to support local projects by means of: (1) financial support, including provision of large quantities of medical supplies (90 percent of CBMI’s program services expenses are accounted for by gifts-in-kind), (2) the provision of professional specialists to work overseas, (3) education and advocacy, and (4) an international team of advisors in the fields of eye care, rehabilitation and special education. CBMI has nine regional offices (one in the U. S.) which serve as a first resort for counsel and instruction for CBMI’s many project partners. CBMI has more than 100 staff members working with more than 10,000 local health workers. Among the most common professions of CBMI staff are: ophthalmologists, orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists, and special education experts. The local staff with whom they work include eye doctors, nurses, opticians, technicians and administrators. CBMI takes a community-based approach to combating blindness. This requires that they go beyond prevention and cure for blindness to address other disabilities (e.g., deafness). Another feature of CBMI’s community-based ministry is their support for programs which focus on the rehabilitation, training and social integration of persons with disabilities.
CBMI is a specifically Christian organization in more than just name. CBMI sees its mission of curing and preventing blindness and other physical maladies in relation to God’s overall mission to the world, which includes preservation and salvation. A part of their stated purpose is to contribute to the proclamation of the Gospel. CBMI does this by cooperating as much as possible with churches and Christian organizations who seek to incorporate evangelistic and pastoral ministries into their programs for blind and otherwise disabled persons. CBMI also promotes the dissemination of the Bible in Braille.
Blindness: Causes and Cures
Although not common known, the fact is that fully 80 percent of the cases of blindness in the world are curable or preventable. Tragically, the number of people who are at risk of blindness appears to be increasing. The World Health Organization lists the primary causes of curable and/ or preventable blindness as: malnutrition and poor hygiene aggravated by a lack of clean water; insufficient health education; and a shortage of medical personnel, supplies and facilities for treatment. CBMI exists to address these problems. More specifically, CBMI addresses the following kinds/ causes of blindness:
- Trachoma - This infectious eye disease afflicts 150 million people, most of them living in Africa. A proven method of prevention is simply to wash regularly and to apply Tetracycline eye ointment, which can be obtained for $5 per tube. More advanced stages of the infection require an inexpensive lid operation. CBMI raises awareness, ships supplies and sends trained personnel to prevent and cure this form of blindness.
- Cataracts - Cataract is a curable form of blindness which is caused by a progressive clouding of the cornea. More than 20 million people, 90 percent of whom live in Third World countries, suffer from cataracts. Blindness due to cataracts can be healed by means of a simple and inexpensive operation. CBMI is working to ensure that people around the world have access to this procedure. Their “Save the Sight” campaign focuses on raising awareness concerning the problem and its solution. The goal of the campaign is to raise the number of cataract operations performed by concentrating on the initial and further training of doctors and nursing staff. CBMI enabled 426,000 such operations in 2003.
- Xerophthalima (Vitamin A Deficiency) - This type of blindness afflicts small children through malnutrition. It is permanent, but it is also preventable. Vitamin A capsules, administered three times a year for five years, provide complete insurance against Xerophthalmia. CBMI distributes and helps administer these very inexpensive capsules to children the world over.
- Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) - This is a disease which infects 18 million people worldwide. It occurs when a small black fly bites a person and deposits larvae under the skin. These produce tiny organisms which infect the host’s body, eventually spreading to the eyes and causing blindness. River Blindness can be treated by a drug called Mectizan, which must be taken regularly (once or twice a year) to save sight. CBMI distributes and helps administer this vital medicine.
Community-Based Rehabilitation
CBMI’s mission extends beyond prevention and cure of blindness to address the needs of the permanently blind. It is not always possible, especially in Third World countries, to respond in time to prevent or cure illnesses and injuries which can lead to lifelong disability. The goal of CBMI’s rehabilitation program is to help disabled persons become integrated into society, and to help them lead a life of personal responsibility in which they have both the aid and the respect of their fellow citizens. To this end CBMI supports projects which provide ongoing medical services, teaching and training in basic life skills (e.g., reading and writing Braille, sign language), vocational training, and / or support and care for disabled persons. The process begins with training rehabilitation workers (preferably indigenous). These workers diagnose and assess the specific needs posed by disabilities in order to determine the best long-term strategy for helping people. Environmental, familial and social factors relative to each disabled person are assessed, and an appropriate rehabilitation and integration program is adopted for the individual. CBMI seeks top-quality and committed professionals to work in its rehabilitation programs. Positions available include Community-Based Rehabilitation experts, teachers of the blind and deaf, and vocational trainers.
Vision 2020
CBMI describes Vision 2020 as “a global campaign with the aim to eliminate blindness by the year 2020.” The kinds of preventable blindness described above are the main targets of this far-reaching and ambitious program. Vision 2020 is a cooperative effort which governments, national and international aid organizations, private companies, medical professionals (particularly ophthalmologists) and other groups which specialize in the prevention of blindness. CBMI launched Vision 2020 in 1999, and the campaign now involves dozens of members and supporting members. Vision 2020 serves to expand the essential work of CBMI through raising awareness, mobilizing resources and promoting the development of national blindness prevention programs.