Places and faces—places we've been, faces we've gotten to know over time. Near and far, they are people young and old, communities quite similar to or quite different from ours. And while the personalities and locations change, what repeats among them all is need. Often deep and dark, written in the shadows behind the eyes and carved into the lines of the land, it is the need that unites them.
Some need food or water. Some need healthcare. Some need education or friendship. Some need opportunity or resources. Some need rescue. Most are looking for hope and restoration. It's difficult to see such need, especially in the places and on the faces you've come to love.
Community Development is a way to improve cities, towns, and regions, discovering ways to help groups of people become sustainably, holistically restored. Action steps in this initiative are interconnected with other issues, including agriculture, finance, health, and education, as well as the effects of war, conflict, and natural disasters. Our efforts with Community Development are currently taking place in:
- West Michigan [Mentoring kids + connecting locally]
- Guatemala [Building homes + planning projects]
- South Africa [Creating opportunity + bringing resources]