Community&SocietyDevelopment.jpg

Community and Societal Development

How can cross-cultural development workers help communities and societies thrive by following godly principles?

Cameroon’s Failure to Develop Agricultural Growth

by Etienne Siama

Résumé

Dans sa quête pour l’émergence à l’horizon 2035 tel que mentionné par le DSCE, le Cameroun s’est doté d’une SNDR. A mesure  que le temps passe, les objectifs assignés tardent à se réaliser et ceux d’autant plus que l’environnement de la zone du plus grand producteur de riz souffre des affres de l’insécurité, auxquelles viennent s’ajouter les défis de l’ouverture des marchés. Productrice de la denrée alimentaire la plus consommée au monde, la SEMRY est, en plus des forces de son environnement, victime de sa gouvernance. Elle est sous « assistance respiratoire », ne vit  que des subventions et ne produit aucun résultat positif. Les équipements agricoles sont usés et certains rudimentaires ; c’est encore la main d’œuvre humaine qui fait le gros du travail pour une production déplorable.   

Abstract

On its quest for emergence by 2035 as indicated in the Strategy paper for growth and employment (GESP), Cameroon defined a National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS). As time passes, set objectives linger to be achieved, especially as the largest rice producing zone is gravely affected by insecurity, a situation which is compounded by the challenge of opening markets. Producer of the most consumed food in the world, SEMRY is, in addition to the forces of its environment, a victim of its governance. She is under "Respiratory assistance", lives only on subsidies and produces no positive results. Agricultural equipment is worn and some rudimentary; it is still the human labor that does most of the work for a deplorable production.

Read More
The Plight of the Talibé: How Theology and Development Theory Inform Social Action in Senegal

by Brett D. Molter

Wherever there are communities of people living together, social injustice exists. One such social injustice existing in many of the world’s nations today is that of child trafficking. This article seeks to examine the plight of the talibé of Senegal in light of development theory and how it might address this most pressing social injustice issue. Furthermore, through exegeting Scripture, this article will address theological implications of engaging in social injustice issues and what followers of Jesus could be doing to aid in its eradication. Finally, suggestions will be given for future research concerning the plight of the talibé and how might the country of Senegal be further affected if this exploitation of boys is allowed to continue.

Read More
Reflection: Embracing Evil

by Kenton Moody

All I could see was the 666 looming in front of my eyes. What should I do? There were other numbers inked predominantly on almost every available space on his body—the number 18 from the 18th Street gang.

We were in one of the youth detention centers in El Salvador that house young men many of whom have been involved in some type of gang activity. It has been said, “If they weren’t gang members before going in, they will be by the time they leave.” My wife and I have been visiting the center for almost two years getting to know the young men and trying to help them.

Read More
Editor Comment
Christian Witness in the Context of Boko Haram: A Call for Moderation

by Dave Datema

The Boko Haram (“Westernization is sacrilege”) movement literally exploded onto the world stage in 2009 in Nigeria and has been the most active expression of militant, Salafist Islam in Africa ever since. Boko Haram began as a response to secularization in the form of colonialism and Christian mission. In this paper I give an overview of the origin, ideology and impact of Boko Haram in Nigeria. I then promote and explain the thesis that in the context of Boko Haram as a response to secularization, moderation in Christian witness is a virtue.

Read More
EditorComment
A Model for Sustainable Transformation

by Ron and Carolyn Klaus

We stumbled into cross-cultural work late in our lives. Our initial efforts were targeted at the AIDS pandemic because of Carolyn’s medical background and experience in treating people with this disease. It seemed clear to us that the Church is the logical institution to lead the way in dealing with this pandemic. We now believe the Church is the best possible agent, in fact, to do development of all sorts. But today’s Church seems far from doing this, except in a token way. We now believe that only a very different kind of Church will accomplish the radical transformation of vulnerable people that God yearns to bring about as part of his kingdom’s coming.

Read More
The Role of Religion in International Development

by Paul Hiebert

If religion, anthropologically defined, is at the core of any lasting development, then what is the religion that drives programs of modern secular development? The answer is nationalism. The state does not speak for the cosmos, but for a community of people; it is inherently ethnocentric. … It is a secular religion that promises to satisfy human nature and succeed in its work. … National self-interest wins out over sacrifice for humanity.

Read More
Why We Still Debate If “Culture Matters”: A Way Forward

by Kevin Brinkmann

If leading economists, sociologists, and historians for the past 250 years have argued that “culture matters” to development, why is it still debated? And, as a result, not integrated into development policy? Two explanations for this lacunae are (1) a fear of repeating past mistakes from the colonial era and (2) a lack of concrete, quantitative, internationally comparable data. The article points to way forward: create an statistical database using existing international indices of cultural variables to inform development policy and initiatives. 

Read More
Editor Comment
Intentional Student Involvement in City-Building and Development in Cambodia

by Hakchul Kim

For Cambodians to find the right way to develop their country, they need worldview education, biblical values education, and attitude or character education. NIBC has started many schools from kindergarten through college in order to provide a fresh start for the people recovering from the psychological and physical destruction caused by the Pol Pot regime and the killing fields.

Read More
Adopting a Human-Rights Based Approach to International Development

by Stanley Arumugam

It is only in the past decade that religion has been recognized as critical to ensuring sustainable international development efforts. This article focuses on the significant historical contribution of evangelical Christianity in international development and explores some of the ideological tensions that challenge partnership with secular organizations.

Read More
Reflection: Mother Teresa and Ramesh

by Ravi Jayakaran

Using the “Observe-Study-Inference” (OSI) principle, I have studied actual events of transformation and made inferences from these, including the story told here of Mother Teresa and Ramesh. My basic assumption is that transformation is a “Default Intent” of the Creator. That is why I have defined transformation as “progressive, permanent God-intended change.” God intended for transformation to take place in all the people He created, and the scriptures make this amply clear. It is His desire that it happen. As development professionals, we should put all our energy and effort into facilitating transformation, and countering everything that intends to prevent it.

Read More
EditorComment
Reflection: International Students as Redemptive Change Agents in Their Home Societies

by Robert Osburn, PhD

Wilberforce Academy mentees help disciple the nations when they create workable, Christ-centered solutions that relieve the agony of fallen creation and cultures (Romans 8:19). “There is hardly any limit to the ways that redemptive change agents trained in the West can positively impact the destiny of their nations,” says Osburn. “We need to realize that there is no time to waste until Jesus returns, and invest in the best and the brightest at our doorsteps makes strategic sense.”

Read More