Key Assumptions on Community Development
(A CRWRC Working Paper Last Revised April 2003)
CRWRC enters into partnerships with partner agencies to accomplish community
development. CRWRC views organizational capacity building with partner
organizations as a means to the end of community development. Within CRWRC and
the context of it’s partners, good organizational development must result in good,
Christian, holistic community development. CRWRC also desires to leave a legacy of
sustainable organizations that can be an effective Christian witness in their culture.
Community development is a broad term with a variety of definitions. From our perspective,
good community development is a process that1:
1. Is indigenous and developed from participant involvement and enthusiasm
2. Is people centered, emphasizes relationships, and is not project centered
3. Is viewed as long term
4. Is built on contributions by local community (Community Assets)
5. Identifies and invites key community stakeholders to participate
6. Is not a product but results in
 Tangible, measurable individual and community change
 leadership multiplication and sharing of power
 Believe that you are
there for the community
 real impacts, visible overtime, and including long- term, just,
and the community is
systemic changes
there for you
 transforming change based on Christian values (arising from
 Allow the community to
vital engagement with Jesus, His Word, and His people)
make their own
 changed power structures
decisions
 challenging cultural norms

Be able to say “no” to a
 the flourishing of the body of Christ
community when a
 dissemination of skills and benefits beyond initial members,
proposal could increase
their families and communities
dependency.
7. Occurs at the nexus of prayer, worship and action
8. Involves people learning to take responsibility for their lives
and to solve their own problems.
9. Helps people increase their ability to identify and utilize the assets God has given them
10. Strengthens community organization that leads the process
11. Is facilitated by leaders who are physically present in the target communities
12. Identifies churches in the communities as key assets for positive change and integrally
involved in transforming the lives of individuals and communities
13. Networks communities for assets and knowledge
14. Does not avoid conflict but uses it in a way that brings about positive change
15. Recognizes the value of the “outside” change agent
16. Also transforms the change agent
17. Celebrates success and moves from success to success
18. Uses story-telling as a tool for change
19. Build on willingness, readiness and ability
20. Arises from a safe and trusting environment so people will take risks
21. Produces reconciliation and peace building (Reconciliation to God and neighbors)
22. Starts small with clear objectives
1
Given that community development is a process, not all these characteristics will be present at the
beginning of the process. This list may also include more characteristics.