NATIONAL FOURSQUARE BIBLE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
BTH 2020-2021
COURSE SYLLABUS
1. COURSE TITLE : COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
II. COURSE CREDIT : 3 Units
III. COURSE DESCRIPTION : The course provides an overview
about the study of Community Development its
background, elements, goals, implications, strategies and
emerging trends and issues towards a conventional
Christian Community Development And covers the basic
principles related to theological perspective in community
development. With a seminar-workshop format, this
course is designated to develop interest in community in
the context of biblical evangelism and church growth.

1V. COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of the trimester, the students shall be able to :
1.Develop positive attitude and appreciation in the study of
ComDev.’t. in relation to the Christian services experiences.
2.Understand the essential concepts, processes in the study
of the Eight Components of Christian ComDev.’t.
3.Explain and understand the role and importance of the
church in the community.
4.Understand the importance of holistic ministry in the
community.
5.Conceptualize the Theology of Christian Community
Development .

V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
QUIZZES/ ATTENDANCE - 15%
ORAL PARTICIPATION - 20%
REPORTING /RESEARCH - 25 %
ACTIVITY/REQUIREMENT - 20%
EXAMS - 20 %
TOTAL = 100 %

What is Community Development and its Characteristics
The term “ community “ is used in both our common ,
everyday language and also by professionals, politicians
and corporations.
We hear about “ community care “ , “ community
revitalization “ , “ community service” , and other references
to community.
The word “ community ‘ derived from the Latin and has
been used in the English language since the 14th century.
It refers to both the development of a social grouping and
also the nature of the relationship among the members.

Community Development and its Characteristics
1.Common people , as distinguished from those of rank
or authority
2. A relatively small society
3. The people of district
4. The quality of holding something in common
5. Sense of common identity and characteristics
Community Development is a holistic approach grounded in
principles of empowerment , human rights, inclusion, social
justice , self determination and collective action (
Kenny,2007)..with an explicit focus on the redistribution of
power to address the causes of inequality and disadvantage.
(aifs.gov.aucfc>publications)

Brief History of Community Development
Community development can be traced its roots to the social
reform movement in Britain and North America in the latter half of
18th century . It was used in deprived or underdeveloped urban
and rural settings in North America ( Smith , 1979; 52) .
ComDev was a response to the perceived disintegration of society
due to rapid technological change, economic dislocations,
disruptions in traditional family and community structures and the
extension of government and commercial services into personal
and family life, with negative impacts on personal effectiveness
and community ties( Carey, 1979:20) CD is eclectic, integrating
specialized knowledge from education, public health, economic
development and politics. It ia a discipline unto itself, with a body
of theory , standards of practice and professional associations.

Three Main types of Communities
a)Geographic communities - share physical space, so that
residents come into contact with each other by virtue of
proximity , rather than intent. However, to be a real
community, residents must feel a sense of belonging and hold
at least some values and symbols in common. Example :
feature of the natural landscape, such as river, or local claim
to fame . In geographic communities how power is distributed
has a significant impact on how the community develops.
b) Communities of Interest are sometimes referred to as
“communities within communities” . Members of these
communities choose to associate with each on the basis of a
common interest ( e.g. model railway club) or shared in
common concerns ( e.g. poor air quality).

c) Virtual communities are groups of people that primarily
interact via communication media rather than face to face . It
is called an Online community.
An individual can belong to several different communities
at the same time ; e.g. faith community, a business
community and a neighborhood community.
http://www. Ucalgary .cal-kardjil/community/definitionhtml(accessed Jan11/08)
Others also describe types of communities such as
Urban , sub-urban and rural.

What is the basic concept of community development?
www.peernetbc.com ›
Community development is a process where
community members come together to take collective
action and generate solutions to common problems.
Community wellbeing (economic, social, environmental
and cultural) often evolves from this type of collective
action being taken at a grassroots level.

›
Values and Principles of Community Development
The most significant feature that distinguishes community development from other community
work is its values and principles.
a.Democratic: The will of the majority must be carried out, but only
after all voices are heard and considered and minority rights are
protected.
Inclusive : There are many barriers to participation in society ; poverty,
disability, age, race, and ETHNICITY are some other characteristics that
often marginalize people. A healthy community embraces diversity and
recognizes that all community members have a right to be heard and
participate in processes that affect their lives.
b) Community Self- determination : Community members come
together to discuss their concerns, assess options and arrive at their
own conclusions. They may seek advise from “ experts” , but consider it
along with other sources of information and their own experience and
make their own decision that are right for them.

c.) Community Ownership: Communities thrive when they
develop their own assets, but, also when they “own” their
problems and issues. When communities accept that it is
“their” problem, then they are more likely to work together
to develop a solution, and the solution will be better than
one provided solely by an external “expert’.
d) Enhance natural Capacities and networks: They are
source of strength in every community; for example, informal
networks and social support systems, or certain individuals
that have particular talents or are able to help others in
need. A community developer identifies these existing
community assets and works with them.
e) Social justice & Equity : This is fundamental to community
development and is at least implicit in all CD work, if not an
explicit goal of a CD program.

Its key purpose is to build communities based on justice,
equality and mutual respect. Community development
involves changing the relationships between ordinary people
and people in positions of power, so that everyone can take
part in the issues that affect their lives
e) Universality: Services are available to everyone, without
requiring means or needs testing.
g.) Service Integration: Often services provided to persons in
need are fragmented, so that one service provider doesn’t
know what other services are available or being used;
resulting in gaps , duplications and sometimes conflicting
advice or treatments.

When to use community development ?
1.to address social and community issues: Community
development is a good approach when you are trying to create
change at a community or neighborhood level. For example, if
your goal is to improve community safety, increase community
cohesion, reduce social isolation or create communities that are
better for children.
2.for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities:
Community development is a good approach to use with
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities because it can
enable self-determination and build the capacity of local
Indigenous organizations and grassroots community groups
(Higgins, 2010).
3. for disadvantaged communities: Community development
initiatives are likely to work well in disadvantaged communities
where they can alleviate some of the impacts of disadvantage on
children and families by building social capital and social inclusion
(Ife, 2016; McDonald, 2011; Price-Robertson, 2011; Wallerstein, 2006).

Types of community development projects
• Decrease in unemployment rate projects. ...
• Homelessness prevention projects. ...
• Neighborhood stabilization projects. ...
• Domestic violence community projects. ...
• Cultural development programs.
What are the five functions of community? sites.google.com › site › community
1. Production
2. Distribution
3. Consumption
4. Socialization
5. Social control
6. Social participation
7. Mutual support

What can bring development to a community?
www.peernetbc.com ›
Community development is a grassroots process by
which communities:
• become more responsible.
• organize and plan together.
• develop healthy lifestyle options.
• empower themselves.
• reduce poverty and suffering.
• create employment and economic
opportunities.
•achieve social, economic, cultural and
environmental goals.

CORE VALUES OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
https://www.valuescentre.com/values-are-important/
Why values important ?
Our values are important because they help us to grow
and develop. They help us to create the future we
want to experience. Our values inform our thoughts,
words and actions.
Values that we find in an organizational setting :
1.Individual Values- reflect how you show up in your life
and your specific needs-the principles you live by and what
you consider important for your self-interest. Individual
values include: enthusiasm, creativity, humility and personal
fulfillment.

b. Relational Values - reflect how you relate to other
people in your life, be they friends, family or colleagues
in your organization. Relationship values include:
openness, trust, generosity and caring.
c. Organizational Values- reflect how your organization
shows up and operates in the world. Organizational
values include: financial growth, teamwork,
productivity and strategic alliances.
d. Societal Values - reflect how you or your organization
relates to society. Societal values include: future
generations, environmental awareness, ecology and
sustainability.

1.Major Values : group inclusion and collaboration. Healthy teamwork
is crucial in order for a community development project to succeed.
2. Meaningful participation and change – speaking of teamwork, it’s
essential that to understand that participation is needed for a greater
purpose. Contribution have significant meaning and values as you move
on towards community change.
3.Respect - respect for community and others is so important in this
process. Without it, the change that’s needed will not be possible.
Focusing on solidarity and being respectful of others is a large part of
the process.
4. Strengths-based assets - a goal of community development is to
strengthen to overall strength of the community and its residents.
5. Integrity – no good work can be accomplished without integrity.
Honesty, dutiful people who value their community and actively seek
out positive change or everyone.
6. Hope – there’s no more important quality for community
development than hope. Change starts with individuals, then it grows as
everyone work together with hope for a better , more fruitful future.

Why Communities are Poor ?
There are many acute causes of poverty like war,
natural disasters, famine, drought , etc. In these case,
the church’s response should always be to help provide
for the immediate needs of the affected .
Poverty in traditionally poor communities, however, is
normally fueled by ongoing factors that inhibit the
individual’s ability to become successful.
Factors leading to poverty in communities
http://www.gdrc.org./susdev/causes-poverty:html)
a) Lack of skills and knowledge
b) Poor health
c) Lack of opportunity
d) Lack of resources

What can bring development to a community ?
a) Become more responsible
b) Organize and plan together
c) Develop healthy lifestyle options
d) Empower themselves
e) Reduce poverty and suffering
f) Create employment and economic
opportunities
g) Achieve social, economic, cultural and
environmental goals
(www.peernetbc.com>) (Ma. Ana T. Quimbo & Francisco O.Tan published jan.2, 2019)

Assets of Community include:
The step in community asset is to work with community
members o develop a plan for documenting the
community assets
1.Skills , knowledge, talents and experience of local
residents
2. Community associations, many of which provide
benefits far beyond the mandate
3. Business
4. Schools, churches , libraries and other
institutions that operate within the community
5. Municipal services such as police, fire, parks and
recreation services
6. Other social services and community organizations
7. Physical structures, e.g. town square, heritage buildings
Natural Resources: (eg. River, trees green space )

Methods of community Development
A method of community development includes:
1. Community research- entails gathering all
information’s and deeper investigations into
community issue.
2. Community education
3. Community organizing
4. Community mobilization and advocacy

BEST PRACTICES FOR BUILDING COMMUNITIES
1. Be purpose driven .
Rick Warren said in his books , Humans often needs a
strong sense of purpose and direction in their
endeavors.
Maslow’s hierarchy of community “needs” offers a
community – oriented twist on the human
need for self-actualization.
2. Keep your focus on your purpose and members.
3.Be deliberate in your decisions about community and
its culture Build an authentic, valuable community.
4. Find tools and strategies that support communities

5.Involve your members
6. Empower your members
Community Development Roles
In all the roles, the worker always respects the
autonomy and self –determination of the community.
Their work conforms to professional standards and
ethics and is comprehensive and systematic in each
approach.
There are many opportunities for anyone who is
involved with community members to incorporate a
community development role into practice.
The roles commonly ascribed to community development
workers are:

The roles commonly ascribed to community
development workers are:
1. Guide - the worker helps the community identify
their goals and find the means to achieve them.
2. Enabler – the worker can enable the community in a
variety of ways. Can facilitate a problem solving
process with the community, which could include
helping them to articulate dissatisfaction and
identify their causes. Or could help them
to organize and plan their activities and
encourage positive interpersonal relationships.
The enabler role is most associated with locally
development strategies.

3. Technical Assistant - it is mostly associated with
social planning. However, in all forms of
community development there is usually some need
by the community to access technical support, in
areas such as community assessment, media
relations, accessing information or project
development.
4. Liaison/Advocate – the intermediary between the
community and other bodies such as government,
institutions or other community factions. The worker
may be asked by the community to present their
views , access information or negotiate an agreement.

The Process of Community Development
The community development provides the basic
framework within which the community should work
altering details based upon it’s issues and resources.
PROCESS:
1.Establish an organizing group
2.Create a vision statement
3.Identify community stakeholders
4.Collect and analyze information
5. Develop an alternative communications
process
6. Expand the community organization

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Community organizing - is a process by which a
community identifies its problems and finds
solutions through collective mobilization of
community people and resources.
The ultimate goal/objective of community organizing is
to effect changes in social and environmental
institutions so that people can direct their own lives.
Community organizing - is a process by which people are
brought together to act in common self-interest.
While organizing - describes any activity involving people
interacting with one another in a formal manner, much
community organizing is in the pursuit of a common
agenda. Many groups seek populist goals and the
ideal of participatory democracy.

Community organizers create social movements by
building a base of concerned people, mobilizing these
community members to act, and developing leadership
from and relationships among the people involved.
It is s usually focused on more than just resolving
specific issues.
Organizing is empowering all community members,
often with the end goal of distributing power equally
throughout the community.

STEPS TO PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
The development and utilization of a documented
plan will assist in thinking through goals, message,
and methods in an effective and cohesive way,
resulting in better use of resource and more
targeted outcomes.
1.Write a Situation Statement : It is a statement or
definition of the issue the project is seeking to
build a community awareness and support for.
2.Define Goal : The goal more specifically defines what
the project is looking to achieve by engaging the
community.

3.Identify Audiences : The audience will vary greatly and will
most likely fall into one of two categories ;
a) Decision makers people with influence –elected
officials, media, business leaders
b) Information consumers – volunteers and constituents,
families , community leaders
4.Craft a clear message : Message must clearly state the
position and be written in a way that will engage and
motivate the audience.
5.Identify Incentives for Engaging Targeted People and
organization :Identifying incentives are answering
the question each stakeholders will ask, some
privately and other publically.

6. Identify your Outreach Methods “
7. Identify your Spokesperson
People identify with passionate, knowledgeable
people who leads the community outreach . A
spokesperson capable of speaking to the issue
engaging the “ audiences” at all levels.
8. Develop tools or Measures to Asses Progress:
Define a measurable outcomes before implementation
Define the benchmarks progress ,and then be sure to
use them.
9. Develop timeline : Is the schedule or implementation
of the Outreach program.
10. Implement your Plan : Implementation requires an
understanding of each audience and the use of the
appropriate methods and tools to inform and engage
each audience based on situation specific needs.

What is Christian Community Development and
Why Does it Matter?
“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and
pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have
welfare.”- Jeremiah 29:7
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord
require of you But to do justice, to love (mercy) kindness, And to
walk humbly with your God?” -Micah 6:8

What is Christian Community Development and
Why Does it Matter?
Christian Community Development” is a holistic (or
wholistic) philosophy of ministry.
Christian Community Development has a holistic
approach to ministry that deals with the spiritual, s
social, economic, political, cultural, emotional,
physical, moral, judicial, educational and familial
issues of each person.
We all have a sense that the world isn’t as it should be, and
as Christians we focus on the person’s relationship with
Jesus.
The most essential element to Christian Community
Development is evangelism and discipleship.

* Yet solving problems with lasting solutions is more
than evangelism and discipleship.
Christian Community Development matters because it
mobilizes God’s people to love people and their
communities holistically. Jesus came to not only die for
our sins, but to inaugurate the kingdom of God on
earth.

THE COMPONENTS OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Nehemiah begins with lamenting over the city of
Jerusalem. "Those back in the province are in great
trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken
down and its gates have been burned with fire."
Nehemiah 1:3b. This describes the situation in parts
of most American cities today.
They have been neglected and allowed to deteriorate
for almost forty years. The church of Jesus Christ has
at best sat back and watched this happen yet in many
areas has contributed to the problem.
The words of Nehemiah, "great trouble and
disgrace," ring true for us in the church today.

There are many philosophies to solve the problems,
but most fall short of any lasting change. The most
creative long-term solutions to the problems of the
poor are coming from grass roots and church-based
efforts.
The solutions are coming from people who see
themselves as the replacements, the agents, for Jesus
here on earth, in their own neighborhoods and
communities.

These are Biblical, practical principles evolved from
years of living and working among the poor. John
Perkins in Mississippi first developed this philosophy.
John and Vera Mae Perkins moved back to their
homeland of Mississippi from California in 1960 to help
alleviate poverty and oppression. Through their work
and ministry, Christian Community Development was
conceived.

Christian Community Development has eight essential
components that have evolved :.
1. Relocation:
Living Among the People .Living out the gospel means
desiring for one's neighbor and neighbor's family that which
one desires for one's self and family. Living out the gospel
means bettering the quality of other people's lives
spiritually, physically, socially, and emotionally as one
betters one's own.
Living out the gospel means sharing in the suffering and
pain of others. How did Jesus love? "The Word became
flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the
only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (Jn
1:14) Jesus relocated. He became one of us. He didn't
commute back and forth to heaven.
Similarly, the most effective messenger of the gospel to the
poor will also live among the poor that God has called the
person to. A key phrase to understand relocation is
incarnational ministry. Relocation transforms "you, them,
and theirs" to "we, us, and ours."

Relocation is community based in the very essence of
the word. There are three kinds of people who live in
the community.
First "relocators" are people who, like the project
director, were not born in the inner city but moved
into the neighborhood.
Second, are the "returners." These are the people born
and raised in their community and then left for a better life.
Usually they return from college or the military.
They are no longer trapped by the surrounding poverty
of their neighborhood. Yet, they choose to return and live in
the community they once tried to escape.
Lastly are the "remainers." These are the ones that could
have fled the problems of the inner city but chose to stay
and be part of the solution to the problems surrounding
them.

2. Reconciliation People To God .
Reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel. Jesus said
that the essence of Christianity could be summed up in
two inseparable commandments: Love God, and love
thy neighbor. (Mt 22:3739)
First, Christian Community Development is concerned
with reconciling people to God and bringing them into a
church fellowship where they can be discipled in their
faith.
Evangelism is very much a part of Christian Community
Development. It is recognized that the answer is not just
a job or a decent place to live but having a true relationship
with Jesus Christ. It is essential that the good news of Jesus
Christ is proclaimed and that individuals place their faith

in Christ for salvation. Christian discipleship is very much a
part of this philosophy also.
The gospel, rightly understood, is wholistic. It responds to
people as whole people; it does not single out just spiritual
or just physical needs and speak to those. Christian
Community Development begins with people transformed
by the love of God, who then respond to God's call to share
the gospel with others through evangelism, social action,
economic development, and justice.
People To People The most segregated time of the week in
our nation is Sunday morning during church services. e.
Christians pray in the model prayer that the Lord taught:
"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in
heaven." Mt 6:9 Churches should reflect heaven on earth,
and heaven will be the most integrated place in the world.
People of every nation and every tongue will worship Christ
together.
This is the picture of the church Christ presents to his
people.

The question is: Can a gospel that reconciles people to
God without reconciling people to people be the true
gospel of Jesus Christ? A person's love for Christ should
break down every racial, ethnic and economic barrier.
As Christians come together to solve the problems of
their community, the great challenge is to partner and
witness together across these barriers in order to
demonstrate our oneness in Christ.

Christian Community Development recognizes that
the task of loving the poor is shared by the entire
body of Christ, black, white, brown, and yellow; rich
and poor; urban and suburban; educated and
uneducated.
While the Bible transcends culture and race, the church
is still having a hard time with living out the reality of
our unity in Christ. Christian Community Development
is intentional about reconciliation and works hard to
bring people of all races and cultures into the one
worshipping body of Christ.

This comes not so much through a program but
through a commitment to living together in the same
neighborhood. This is why relocation is so important
and how each of the other principals builds upon it.
We must begin by getting to know people right where
they are at. As we listen to their stories and get to
know their hopes and concerns for the present and
future, we also begin to identify one another’s deepest
felt-needs; those hurts and longings that allows us
opportunities to connect with people on a deeper level,
which is always necessary for true reconciliation to take
place. The power of authentic reconciliation between
us and God, and between people of every culture and
race is an essential component of effective ministry in
our hurting world.

3.Redistribution (Just Distribution of Resources)
When men and women in the body of Christ are visibly
present and living among the poor (relocation), and
when people are intentionally loving their neighbor and
their neighbor's family the way a person loves him or
herself and family (reconciliation), the result is
redistribution, or a just distribution of resources

When God's people with resources (regardless of their
race or culture) commit to living in underserved
communities seeking to be good neighbors, being
examples of what it means to be a follower of Christ,
working for justice for the entire community, and
utilizing their skills and resources to address the
problems of that community alongside their
neighbors, then redistribution is being practiced.

Redistribution brings the principles of Justice back to the
underserved communities. Justice has been available only
to people with the economic means to acquire just
treatment.
Redistribution brings new skills, new relationships, and
new resources and puts them to work to empower the
residents of a given community of need to bring about
healthy transformation.
Christian Community Development ministries harness the
commitment and energy of men, women, and young people
living in the community, and others who care about their
community, and find creative avenues to develop jobs, schools,
health centers, home ownership opportunities, and other
enterprises of long-term development.

4. Leadership Development.
The primary goal of leadership development is to restore
the stabilizing glue and fill the vacuum of moral, spiritual,
and economic leadership that is so prevalent in poor
communities by developing leaders.
This is most effectively done by raising up Christian
leaders from the community of need who will remain in
the community to live and lead. Most Christian Community
Development ministries put a major focus on youth
development, winning youth to Christ as early as
kindergarten and then following them all the way
through college with spiritual and educational nurturing.

Success in the world’s eyes is leaving the
neighborhood and owning a home in a more
affluent community.
Leadership development is possible only when there is
longevity of ministry.
Leadership development is of the highest priority in
Christian Community Development.
Each ministry must have a dynamic youth ministry
that is reaching young people with the good news
of Jesus Christ and then equipping them to
become faithful followers of Christ, and effective
community leaders.

When a ministry utilizes Asset Based Community
Development (ABCD), it names all of the assets in the
community that helps the community see its many
positive characteristics. It is through these assets that
people develop their community. Instead, it is the
community members themselves that decide what area
they would like to improve.

The focus is on the community members seeing
themselves as the solution to the problem, not
some government program or outside group that
is going to be their salvation. It is essential for
community leaders to help the community focus
on maximizing their strengths and abilities to
make a difference for their community.

The philosophy of Christian Community
Development believes that the people with the
problem have the best solutions and
opportunities to solve those problems.
Christian Community Development affirms the
dignity of individuals and encourages the
engagement of the community to use their own
resources and assets to bring about sustainable
change.

5. Church-Based :It is the writer's position that
nothing other than the community of God's
people is capable of affirming the dignity of the
poor and enabling them to meet their own needs.
It is practically impossible to do effective
wholistic ministry apart from the local church.
A nurturing community of faith can best provide
the thrusts of evangelism, discipleship, spiritual
accountability, and relationships by which
disciples grow in their walk with God.

One problem today has been that the church is
not involved in developing its communities.
Because of this, many para-church organizations
have started to do the work of loving their
neighbor that the church had neglected.
It is the responsibility of the church to evangelize,
disciple and nurture people in the Kingdom.
Yet, from the command of Jesus, it is also the
responsibility of the church to love their neighbor
and their neighborhood.

The church helps people to understand that each
person has gifts and talents and all must utilize
those for the greater good of the community.
A worshipping church breaks down many of the
barriers including racial, educational and cultural
barriers that often separate people in
communities.

7. Wholistic Approach .Oftentimes, many in
ministry get passionate and involved in one area
of need and think if they solve this particular
problem that all else will be resolved. Christians,
often focus this area on a personal relationship
with Jesus Christ.
The most essential element to Christian
Community Development is evangelism and
discipleship.
Yet solving problems with lasting solutions is more
than evangelism and discipleship.

Christian Community Development has a
wholistic approach to ministry that deals with
the spiritual, social, economic, political, cultural,
emotional, physical, moral, judicial, educational
and familial issues of each person.
Wholistic approach is difficult because there are
so many aspects to a person’s life.
That is why there is no better way of helping a person
than having him or her committed to a local church. A
church that is committed to Christian Community
Development sees not only the soul of a person as
significant, but also his or her whole of life on earth.

It is important to network with other churches
and organizations in communities.
In order to accomplish the wholistic aspect of
ministry, pastors and leaders must be networkers.
Christian Community Development builds
coalitions in communities so that they can work
together to solve the problems.

8. Empowerment : Empowering people as
community developers meet their needs is an
important element to Christian Community
Development.
How does a pastor ensure that people are able to
help themselves after they have been helped?
Oftentimes, Christian ministry, particularly in
poor communities, creates dependency.
The Bible teaches empowerment, not
dependency.
In the Old Testament, empowerment is an
important aspect to God’s care for the poor

In Deuteronomy 24 and Leviticus 19, God
instituted the gleaning system.
The farmers harvested their crops but were
only allowed to go through the field one time.
What was left behind or dropped on the ground
was available for any widow, alien, orphan or
poor person to come and harvest.
This program was one that empowered people.

Three Principles come out of God’s welfare
System in the Old Testament.
1. There must be opportunity for people to get
their needs met.
In Deuteronomy and Leviticus, this happened to
be a field with food in it.
2.The person who had a need must be willing to
work for it. The widow, alien, orphan or poor
person must go into the field and pick up the
crops.
This, then, involved work on the part of the poor.
This is also found in 2 Thessalonians 3:10
which says, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.”

3.When these first two principles are working, a
person's dignity is affirmed. All people have
inherited dignity by being created in the
image of God.
Oftentimes, charity demeans a person and
strips him or her of dignity.
The last principle of empowerment affirms a
person's God-given dignity.

Poem is used as a Philosophical guide to
those working on Christian Community
Development
Go to the people
Live among them
Learn from them Love them
Start with what they know
Build on what they have:
But of the best leaders when their task is done
The people will remark "We have done it ourselves.

Christian Community Development I believe,
represents the best approach to not only develop
these future leaders, but to transform our most
under resourced communities into thriving
communities through the power of God, and the
efforts . https://www.nsc-church.org/CCDA 8 Points.pdf •

HOLISTIC MINISTRY
The root meaning of the word "holistic" is whole,
from the Greek holos. Christians recognize that
the world is broken and incomplete, falling far
short of the glory God intended at the dawn of
creation.
Through holistic ministry, Christ's redeemed
community responds to the world's brokenness
by proclaiming and modeling the joy of a right
relationship with God in Christ, and participating
in the ongoing Kingdom work of personal and
social restoration.

As Christ is making us whole, God's Spirit works
through us to bring wholeness to others.
Holistic ministry can be summarized as:
Reaching your community with the whole gospel
for the whole person through whole churches.
Reaching Your Community with the
Whole Gospel . . .

The whole gospel brings salvation in its fullest
sense—forgiveness of sins, inner conversion of
individuals in regeneration and sanctification,
physical and emotional healing, the transformation
of social and economic relationships, reconciliation
and peace overcoming sinful human divisions,
and the ultimate triumph of Christ over the forces of
evil on a cosmic scale.

for the Whole Person . . .
Holistic ministry views persons through God's eyes,
as body-soul wholes created to live in wholesome
community. Thus the church ministers to every
dimension of human need, and seeks wholeness at
every level of society—individuals, families,
communities, nations, and the global human family.

Holistic ministry values every person as a unique and
marvelous creation, bought by Christ, destined for
eternity.
Because of the Spirit's power to make all things new,
a transformational perspective sees persons in
terms of their potential rather than their problems.

Holistic ministry breaks down the barriers between
those serving and those being served.
Ministry does not feature perfect people who have it all
together, reaching out to miserable needy sinners.
Rather, we recognize that we are all on a journey of
transformation together, "from one degree of glory to
another" (2 Cor. 3:18).
Each of us has contributed to the pain and suffering and
decay in the world.
Ministering Christ's wholeness to others is part of what
makes us whole.
Holistic ministry values every person as a unique and.

We thus serve with a posture of gratitude and humility,
acknowledging our own brokenness before the cross.
Ministering Christ's wholeness to others is part of what
makes us whole.
Holistic ministry breaks down the barriers between
Ministering Christ's wholeness to others is part of what
makes us whole.

B. Through Whole Churches
Holistic ministry takes place in holistic congregations,
where disciples of Christ live out their salvation in loving
fellowship.
Amy Sherman, "Inside of our churches we are to be a
reflection of the coming Kingdom, and we are to be
doing the work of the Kingdom—a work of justice, of
love, of healing, of hope and transformation."
When the church functions rightly as the body of Christ,
it will also serve as the hands and feet of Christ in the
world.

Because the church plays a key role in God's
redemptive plan, the goal of holistic ministry is not just
to bring persons to Christ but to welcome them into a
congregation of his followers.
Para church ministries fill an important role, but they
cannot substitute for a worshiping, discipling church.
Holistic churches welcome those who are served with
open arms. They also call and equip new believers to
join in the church's mission.
thus serve with a posture of gratitude and humility,

A holistic approach also means that the whole church
pulls together toward a unifying ministry vision that
recognizes the unique gifts of each individual member.
Each Christian bears fruit only as a branch of the larger
vine (1 Cor. 12:20). Similarly, each individual
congregation needs the ministry of the whole
community of the redeemed.

What Is Holistic Ministry?
Communities can be reach with the whole gospel for
the whole person through whole churches. By living
out the whole gospel, holistic ministry overcomes
artificial divisions — between social action and
evangelism, between ministering to individuals and
seeking social justice, between an emphasis on
discipleship and a passion for outreach.
It means an incarnational lifestyle of integrity,
compassion, and invitation. It means sharing good
news both for this life and for the life after death.

It means loving neighbours both far and near with the
same joyous abandon that Jesus displayed, especially
those who are most needy and least lovable.
The source of holistic ministry is God's redeeming love
and transformational power. This makes us bold in
sharing God's glorious salvation through word and
deed.
Not that our ministries presume to "save" others or to
"fix" the world! But as Jesus told His followers,
"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you"
(John 20:21).

The Role and Importance of the Church in the
Community
Church is more than just entertainment, having large
numbers of people attending services or hearing messages
of empowerment from the pulpit that makes one feel
good.
Church is the lifeline of any society. Church is a unique
place that should instill change in people’s lives.
So what do people need from church?

People need to have their spiritual, emotional and
physical needs met. We are living in a crazy world
today. II Timothy 3:1 “but know this, that in the last
days perilous times will come.”
More and more children are growing up in broken homes,
unemployment is on the rise and Christians are
sinking deeper into debt like never before.

Drastic times call for drastic measures. Targeted small
groups should be implemented in churches to be
available to meet the needs in each believer’s life.
This momentum can then spread out beyond the walls
of the church and be incorporated into the community
where the church serves.
Churches are a public service to the surrounding
communities. They provide just about everything.
All leaders of churches, big or small, must recruit more
young men and women to serve in diverse capacities in
the ministry.

Community Development Principles the Church should
Apply to all Ministries
1. Community ownership.
The most effective way to attract and involve new
people in the church is to involve them in the
conceptualization, planning and implementation of
what to do. Plan the programs and ministries internally,
and then spin the wheels trying to get outsiders
interested.
But interest will be automatic for people who have an
opportunity to be a part of shaping something that
responds to needs they have or issues they face.

2. Cross-sector partnerships. In the “Externally Focused…”
books, Eric Swanson and Rick Rusaw encourage
churches to be open to partnering with other non-church
organizations in their community that could be
characterized as “morally positive and spiritually neutral.”
Churches prefer to limit ourselves to our own
resources responds to needs they have or issues
they face.

But the truth is, we exercise at least a mustard seed’s
worth of discernment, we will find many benefits and
advantages to partnering with others in areas about
which we are both concerned or passionate.
All throughout the Bible, God used “other people” to
accomplish God’s ultimate purposes; everything from
armies to prostitutes to borrowed donkeys.

3. Leadership development.
In struggling communities, select few people may
have the needed passion, vision, or reputation
but not the skills and resources.
That’s where faith communities can come in. Without the
training, mentorship, and resources received from their
church partners.

In the churches, we need to always have our antenna up
looking for passion and vision, not only within our
church but outside as well, and tap into it wherever
possible.
A missional approach to ministry would ask, “How can we
resource this person to make an impact for Christ where they
already are?”
True leadership development starts with passion, and
churches need to find ways to fit jobs to people, not vice
versa.

THE THEOLOGY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

GOD- People are aware of God’s presence; know themselves
to be loved and valued by God; and allow God
to inform their values, ambitions, lifestyle and sense of
meaning.
EARTH - People are physically nourished by the produce of
the earth; enjoy its beauty; share in development of
the earth’s productivity; and act to ensure all earth’s
creatures enjoy its beauty and abundance.
COMMUNITY -People live in communities where they are
physically and emotionally safe; where they feel
welcomed, valued and loved; where social structures
ensure justice, equity and opportunity to participate
in social life and decision making.

HOUSEHOLD - People live in households where they feel
safe and loved; have opportunity to learn, grow and
mature; experience intimate, loving and interpersonal
relationships; and where there is adequate provision
for their most important needs
INDIVIDUAL- People are physically, emotionally, mentally
and socially capable of living in positive relationships
with others, creation and God.