How Community Development Leads People to Christ [October Prayer Focus]

TEAM – The Evangelical Alliance Mission • Oct 03, 2017

The second-greatest command Jesus gave us was to love our neighbors as ourselves ( Mark 12:31 ). What better way to do that than by building the kinds of communities for them that we would want to live in?

Whether it’s teaching Ukrainians how to restore their community through recycling or teaching job skills to impoverished Papuans, seeking the welfare of others is a concrete way to show Christ’s love. When others see that God’s people truly care about their families and loved ones, they catch a glimpse of what His loving provision looks like in action.

This October, will you pray with us for community development ministries around the world?

Click here to get a printable version of these requests, and sign up here to get the new prayer focus in your inbox each month.

1. Pray that community work will point back to the Gospel.

While community development is a key way to show Christ’s love to the world, ultimately, true hope is found in His eternal solution rather than earthly projects. That’s why it’s so important that this work constantly points back to Christ.

TEAM missionary AJ Westendorp lives and ministers in an especially impoverished community of Guatemala. He says it “takes a firm hope in the true Gospel … to be able to deal with [things like] dying relatives, violent threats, a lot of children and not a lot of space or resources.”

Pray with us for real, Gospel-centered hope to take root. Pray that community members will come to rely solely on Jesus for their spiritual well-being.

2. Pray for an outpouring of the Spirit on workers.

The Path of Hope ministry in Italy thrives with volunteers who help host community events such as Thanksgiving meals or English classes. Photo by TEAM

Community development can be especially taxing because workers often don’t see immediate results for their labor.

TEAM missionary Stan Goertzen says workers need a refilling of God’s Spirit to continuously pour out their energy and efforts in any community project.

Stan founded the Path of Hope in Italy to serve and bring hope to his community through activities such as a children’s day camp, English classes, Thanksgiving Day dinners, concerts, and more.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will renew workers like Stan when tasks are draining. Pray that missionaries around the world will be overflowing with a supernatural love for the communities they’ve been called to serve.

3. Pray for more workers.

“We have been invited into more schools, but lack the staff to add on additional schools at this time,” says Pattie Eager, a TEAM missionary in Mexico.

Pattie and her husband Phil work with at-risk youth in their community through a program called Transformados (“Transformed”). They host summer camps and after-school activities to point kids in a positive direction and dissuade them from using drugs. But without enough staff members, this work quickly becomes overwhelming.

Please pray for the right workers and missionaries for much-needed community development projects around the world. Pray also that these communities will be receptive and open to the workers the Lord sends.

4. Pray for resources for projects.

For TEAM missionary Kurt zurBurg in Ukraine, instilling change and promoting healthy habits started as a community-wide recycling initiative. Photo by TEAM

There’s no denying the value of community development, so why aren’t more people involved in it? One reason is that most community development projects are extremely expensive and require a substantial amount of physical resources.

In Eastern Europe, one TEAM missionary, Kurt zurBurg, is working to remedy the problem of non-recycled plastic in Ukraine.

“We are currently looking for some significant funding for our Precious Plastic Ukraine Project ,” says Kurt. “We realize that our ideas and opportunities seriously outweigh our resources. We need some backers who are excited about the prospect of the impacts we as believers can have in a very secular section of society – environmental care.”

Pray this month for funds for community development projects, like the one Kurt runs in Ukraine. Pray also for the provision of needed materials and manpower.

5. Pray for lasting change.

Lasting change is what community development is all about.

The goal of these projects is not just to give people quick-fix, temporary solutions. Community development missionaries want to help people build their futures and their children’s futures. And this responsibility should be taken very seriously.

Too often, wells aren’t kept up, schoolhouses disintegrate into disrepair or job programs fall to the wayside after a missionary leaves. But by creating solutions that are self-sufficient, multiple generations are blessed.

Pray that God will reveal sustainable solutions to the issues communities face. Pray that positive change will be created and continue to impact for decades to come.

6. Pray for community participants.

Common meeting and learning places, such as the Merauke Community Center in Indonesia, are prime spots for relationships to form and the Gospel message to be shared. Photo by TEAM

Ultimately, if local community members don’t participate in development projects, sustainable improvements aren’t possible.

TEAM missionary Jared Riepma works with the Merauke Community Center , a joint effort between TEAM missionaries and local Indonesian believers. The center provides English and computer classes in order to develop relationships and share the Gospel.

Now, the center is looking for a native Indonesian Christian to serve as the next director of the center.

Please pray that the Lord will raise up local believers to invest time and effort into these important projects. Pray that the communities themselves will participate in finding lasting solutions to complex issues.

7. Pray for physical protection over workers and projects.

Many places in need of community development are unstable and dangerous due political tension, economic depression or civil unrest.

In the Eager family’s case, the primary threat to their ministry’s physical safety is cartel-related violence that has surged in their part of Mexico.

Pray for continued safety for missionary workers and community participants. Pray that nonbelievers will see the Lord’s divine hand of protection over these ministries and come to place their trust in Jesus.

Thank you for partnering with us in prayer! Click the image below to get a printable version of these requests to remember how to pray all month long.

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Loving Like Jesus Cross-Culturally (Part 1)

By Megan Lunsford • 23 Apr, 2024

When seeking to serve cross-culturally with an authentic love for others, there’s no better example for us than Jesus. If we sat around a table and threw out the question, “How do we love like Jesus?” I think we would have several commonalities as we respond. For example, Jesus loved all people right where they were. He loved those who were deemed the least, those hardest to love, or those who were His enemies. These are all beautiful realities of the heart of Jesus. When we step into relationships, it can be easier to take on the warmer, more gracious gestures of Jesus’ love, especially in cross-cultural relationships. Think about it––when doing life with those who look and act differently than us, we are already out of our comfort zones and would rather keep things as simple and familiar as possible. But there are other facets of Jesus’ heart we often overlook that can transform us and others even more into His likeness. Jesus is love because God is love. Everything Jesus did was out of love; it’s the mere definition of who He is. As followers of Jesus, He calls us to the same: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John:7-12) Every display of love we offer to others is an opportunity for them to encounter the ultimate love of the Father. That’s a pretty big deal! In this article, we’ll look at three expressions of Jesus’ love that we tend to overlook when engaging others cross-culturally. (Next month, we’ll look at three more.) 1. Jesus loved sacrificially. Everywhere Jesus went, crowds followed Him. We even see times in Scripture where Jesus had plans to step away for time alone but those who were hurting found Him and He had compassion on them and stayed with them. Can you imagine rarely having any time to yourself but, instead, constantly being surrounded by crowds of people wanting help from you? Jesus loved sacrificially. He welcomed all who came to Him with love and compassion, never turning anyone away. “When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) In the same way, we can make room in our lives for Jesus to bring sacrificial interruptions which, in His eyes, are orchestrated encounters to transfer His love to others. It can be tempting to be so “on mission” that we are full steam ahead and find ourselves frustrated when the Holy Spirit sends an interruption into our path that we feel we don’t have time for. Or, perhaps, we have scheduled a meet-up but it’s the norm in another culture to be 30 minutes or an hour late. We anxiously think through how it will affect whatever we have planned next. While it’s normal to feel a little stressed, what if the very "interruption” standing in front of you was really a divine appointment sent by God? Or what if that person running late experiences how peaceful and gracious you are in adapting to their culture and therefore, they can encounter a beautiful display of Jesus’ love? To truly represent Christ, we should remain ready and willing for each assignment the Lord sends into our path, no matter the cost or how much we will have to re-route our day. He is always a hundred steps ahead and will work all things for His glory and our good. 2. Jesus loved by discerning each situation well. Think about how many situations Jesus had to respond to on a daily basis. We read in Scripture that there were lines of people waiting to be healed by Him, talk to Him, hear His teachings, or simply touch the hem of His robe. Jesus was fully dependent on His Father to discern each situation before addressing it. “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19) Another temptation we can have when in a relationship with those God has sent us to is to think we already know the solution or what God wants to do before we’ve even asked Him. We believe we are full of knowledge, so we just pull from the bank we have stored within and go with it. However, when we access what is familiar to us as our default, we risk missing out on a God-given solution that might truly be the key to unlocking whatever challenge is in front of us. What does this look like when interacting with others? We can simply ask, “God, what is on Your heart for the person standing in front of me?” Then we listen and respond as He speaks. When we make it a daily habit to pause and hear God’s heart for each situation before responding, we are guaranteed to be effective in loving those around us. He knows the heart of every person that will cross our paths. Imagine how impactful we can be if we first lean on His wisdom and discernment before moving forward. 3. Jesus loved by speaking truth. Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. If we are honest, this conversation makes us a bit nervous as none of us would be comfortable with Jesus calling out intimate details of our lives that we would prefer to hide. But Jesus went further than just airing her dirty laundry. He offered her the hope of the Gospel and a relationship with Him - a divine fulfillment that could never be found in an earthly relationship. Jesus modeled a powerful example of loving others well cross-culturally. He took the low place and spoke truth, truly out of love––speaking to her heart from His. Like Jesus, our goal in sharing the truths about Him and His Word is to bring hope and satisfaction through Him alone. When we speak truth from Scripture, we are calling others higher into all God has for them. The tricky part here is we should avoid speaking truth if it isn’t first fueled by compassion. If it merely comes from a place of judgment, condemnation, or self-righteousness, it will fall flat 100% of the time. But if it truly comes from love, you are likely to not only win a heart back to the Father but, like the story of the Samaritan woman, even an entire village! If you see someone living outside of God’s best for their lives, ask God to show you your heart before engaging theirs. Once your heart is properly postured, you can speak truth out of an overflow of God’s love and trust Him for a transformation in their lives.

Hospitality, Help, and the Hope of the Gospel

By Suzanne Pearson • 16 Apr, 2024

TEAM Canada provides warm welcome and trusted friendships for diaspora populations living far from their native countries. As TEAM Canada workers Peter and Ruth (names changed) drive from their home to a nearby community center, they pass numerous apartment buildings and townhouses. Most of the families who live there are immigrants. They’ve left their countries of origin due to political unrest, trauma, and other difficulties. They’ve left family, friends, homes, jobs, and personal wealth behind. They search for peace, justice for the oppressed, and rest from fear and weariness. And as they adjust to a new country and a new language, they are often very isolated from others around them. “The sad reality is most immigrants are never even invited inside a Canadian home,” says Ruth. Peter and Ruth and their team try to change that reality. For the last nine years, the team, which includes workers from partner organizations as well as volunteers, has held English classes at the community center. Three days a week, over 60 students from more than 20 countries come together to learn English as well as to fellowship together and receive practical help in assimilating to a new normal. Meeting Needs and Building Trust That practical help may come in the form of procuring furniture, clothes, or dishes for newcomers, assistance with creating a resume and finding a job, or teaching people how to navigate Canadian laws and the medical system. As these tangible needs are met, relationships are built. “We invite them into our homes for meals and games,” Ruth shares. “We take them on hiking trips, picnics, outings, and out for coffee.” This is particularly important in this type of ministry because most immigrants come to Canada from cultures that value hospitality. Conversely, Canadians do not typically prioritize hospitality and consequently many newcomers feel lonely and isolated. Inviting folks to various gatherings and outings allows the team to spend extended time hearing people’s stories, struggles, hopes, and dreams. When she speaks about building friendships, Ruth’s heart for the people she serves is evident. “Hearing their stories, it’s easy to love them, and many have become close friends,” Ruth says. “We recognize the value of steady one-on-one relationships.”