community development Archives - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

Building a Bridge of Hope

River running through Am Timan in Africa.

God has uniquely positioned TEAM Chad to help build a literal bridge of hope over troubled waters.

Nov 17 2022

Life in the sub-Saharan country of Chad is not easy. In this landlocked African nation twice the size of Texas, there is only one major airport and few paved roads. With problems such as water-borne illness and poor sanitation, Chad has one of the lowest life expectancies of any nation in the world. And yet Chad is a harvest field that is desperate for the Light. For TEAM global workers Scott and Eric, as well as their wives and families, Chad is home. Here among nomadic Muslim people groups in southeastern Chad, God uses TEAM’s holistic approach to ministry to…

Holistic community development enables people to see that God cares for them and the issues they face each day.

Aug 18 2022

James didn’t mince words in his epistle to the early Church. “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food,” says James. “If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16 NIV) The effort to address both physical and spiritual needs is often referred to as “holistic ministry.” When these principles impact an entire community, the result is holistic community development or “transformational development.” Michael Cochran, his wife Susan, and their four young children know first-hand that transformational…

Thanks to CPI's network, dozens of churches like this one in Mangaldan have been planted across the Philippines.

Dec 15 2021

The students at the Church Planting Institute are a mismatched bunch. High school dropouts and college professors. A former gang member and a former aspiring priest. Mature believers and brand new ones. But they’re all attending the CPI because they share two things in common. “It’s basically, do you believe in Christ? Are you passionate about Him enough to invest your life in multiplying for Christ?” says TEAM missionary David Weaver. “And if you are, then … we’ll take you wherever you’re at and disciple you from there.” This easy entry philosophy might not lend the Filipino school much prestige,…

Gaby thought Christians were fanatics. Now, Gaby’s whole life is centered on knowing God and leading others to Him.

Oct 13 2021

“I remember that my mother told me, ‘Now that you know about the word of God, are you ready to wear a straightjacket?’” Those aren’t the words you expect a Christian mother to say to her newly-saved daughter. But Gaby knew her mom’s teasing came from a place of inexpressible joy. Gaby married and had children young, so she spent years trying to recapture her youth. While her husband “worked all the time,” Gaby says, “I really like to be in the streets.” Her mom tried to tell her about God. Gaby thought it was madness to give up freedom…

Every ministry has a beginning. Join us in prayer for some of the new ministries God is creating right now.

Oct 01 2021

The Korat people of Thailand don’t consider conversion lightly. Buddhism is so woven into their culture that switching religions is seen as akin to changing one’s nationality or family ties. In many ways, for the Korat, religion is about relationships. And that’s why Mek, a Thai pastor, is ready to try a new kind of outreach. Next year, his church is partnering with TEAM missionaries Amy and Ryan Green to start a community center. “Our plan is to … serve the community, build relationships and look for opportunities to share the Gospel and train disciples to … make disciples,” Ryan…

With limited internet access, one Peruvian church has had to think differently about how to do church during an ongoing pandemic.

Jun 10 2021

Throughout the pandemic, churches have celebrated the power of online services. People who would never have set foot in a church could casually hop online for a bit of hope. But for people in the community of Ciudad de Dios, going online for church is an impossible luxury. Located on the outskirts of Arequipa, Peru, the neighborhood is made of people working simple jobs with meager wages. Any internet access comes in the form of cell phone data. And with schools online during COVID-19, families have had to use most of their data for their children’s educations. Now, well into…

With a well built to last at least 30 years, the Kanyemba village in Zimbabwe will be able to make long-term investments to grow their community.

Oct 13 2020

Under a bright blue sky, in the dry shrubland of northern Zimbabwe, a small group gathered around a concrete platform and an odd-shaped contraption with two handles. It was a brand new well. The members of Kanyemba village took turns, two at a time, to crank the well, pulling the water up from its underground reservoir. The new handles were stiff at first, but the more they were used, the easier the job became. Children, women and men all stepped up and took their turn. Anyone who wanted to help was welcome. As everyone waited and watched for the first…

Two teen girls ride horses during equine program. This is one way Rancho el Camino does missions in Mexico

Equine classes at Rancho el Camino are a chance to learn discipline, patience and what it means to follow God.

Jul 17 2020

You don’t find Rancho el Camino without a bit of determination. Driving away from the beautiful beaches of La Paz, Mexico, you take the highway to the outskirts of town and turn sharply onto a dusty, bumpy, gravel road. But as you draw closer, you may just sense what has attracted so many people before you. People say they feel something different at the ranch. Some are moved to tears. Others demand to know what causes the strange sensation. Over the years, TEAM missionaries Pete and Emily Johnson have come to see the ranch as a “thin space.” It’s a…

Will you pray with us for communities around the world that need clean water and the hope that Living Water brings? Photo by TEAM

Mar 01 2018

There’s a reason Jesus used water as a metaphor to describe salvation in John 4:14. Simply put, we can’t survive without it. Yet, in many parts of the world, clean, life-giving water is difficult — or impossible — to come by. That’s why so many missionaries strive to meet this physical need — and use it as a tool to share the Gospel. Through water-based ministries, missionaries are finding ways to build relationships with those they are trying to reach. They also have the chance to show God’s love and mercy in a very real, tangible way. This March, will…

Whether it's building a home or hosting a VBS, community development is best when fostered by missionaries who are invested in their communities. Join us in praying for community development ministries around the world. Photo by TEAM

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…

Tag - community development

Building a Bridge of Hope

A People Highly Prized by God

The Church Planting Program That Became a Filipino Movement

A Hurricane Destroyed Her Neighborhood — and Led Her to Christ

The Unique Prayer Needs of New Ministries

When Your Church Still Can’t Meet in Person — or Online

Clean Water for Today – and Tomorrow

The Ranch Where Heaven Meets Earth

When Water Brings Eternal Hope [March Prayer Focus]

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