Partnerships for Transformational Community Development: Prioritizing Churches as Assets

Abstract

In this era of globalization, tackling the root causes of poverty cannot and should not be done from one perspective or by one organization alone. Addressing the complexities of poverty with a goal of sustainable change and transformational development in a community requires a collaborative approach. A case study reporting on the relationship between Bethany Community Church in Seattle, Washington; World Relief Rwanda; and communities in Musanze, Rwanda, has revealed the core components required in a partnership striving for transformational development, as well as the need for ongoing research and evaluation of collaborative efforts in the community development process. Churches, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders in the global North and the global South need to be working together with humility, intentionality, and shared purpose in order to empower communities and meet people’s physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs.