The Process of Transforming Impact in a Community Hcbc Nw Example

8/7/2019 The Process of Transforming Impact in a Community Hcbc Nw Example

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SOCIALTRANSFORMATION

Build Trust Come Together Make Decisions Design So

PHYSICALTRANSFORMATTION

Health/Sanitation Nutrition Education/Vocational Legal/Immi

SPIRITUALTRANSFORMATION

Deed Life Word Sign


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EXAMPLE OF THE SPANISH MINISTRY IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN

THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A NARRATIVE

SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

People in need come to us looking for help via their network within our Spanish ministry constituency or from other

form of reference. The program manager is the first contact with the person who is then assigned to a case manager.

From the very beginning this person is introduced to the concept of community involvement as part of our process to

help. The concept behind the process is that all processes in order to be effective need to happen in the midst of a

community implementation. Programs implemented for individuals or for segments of population are ineffective toimpact entire communities because ignore the principle of social networks.A program like this seeks to rescue the

young generation by impacting the entire environment where this generation is growing and to which it belongs. If a

decision to be a part of the community and to work with his/her entire family is made, then the process is initiated and

the person is connected to a cell group in the area where he/she lives. This person fills out an application and the cell

leader contact him or her for a personal visit and invitation to the cell life.

1. Build Trust: Social transformation starts with building trusttrust between the HCBC NW Spanish Ministry, theindividuals and the community. This involves building and nurturing relationships across cultural and social lines

in the community and between the community leadership and their members. This step can last from two

months to two years.

2. Come Together: Community participation gains momentum in this phase. Local leaders and cell group membersare encouraged to rally together to participate in early activities: Backyard Bible Clubs, Great Adventure, Turkey

distribution, toy distribution, meal distribution, and benevolence assistance. These are excellent opportunities

to mobilize the community because it is a high-visibility, high-impact intervention. As the community works

together, relationships are strengthened. These stronger ties become critical to the success of the steps that

follow.

3. Make Decisions: During this phase, community members assess their needs and priorities and develop a multi-year plan of action. Together they determine how a large portion of the project budget is to be allocated. Men,

women and youth are involved in this process, as the many positive effects tend to carry over into other areas o

community life.

4. Design Solutions: Now that a community has decided where they want to go, they begin designing practicalsteps to take them there. These can include: trade training, children literacy programs, health, nutrition and

other activities and projects. The Spanish Ministry TCDP provides oversight and assistance, but lets the

community work together to design its own solutions.

5. Take Ownership: The final step in this transformation marks the beginning of true self-sustainability for acommunity. Communities experience ownership as they create durable community structures such as a Health

Committee, Food Marketing Co-Ops, Literacy Association, and Community Credit Unions. Economic and

productive activities become the engine that sustain and perpetuates these structures for years to come without

outside help.


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PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION

These are the steps a community takes toward physical transformation. Typically begin with food security, literacy

programs or ESL classes and build on each other to self-sustaining economic development. All of these strategies are

often visible simultaneously in a mature project.

1. Health/Sanitation: lack of health insurance and inadequate sanitation jeopardize the most vulnerable: childrenand women. Programs to educate and bring services providers to the community elevate the expectations of

success in life and hope for a future.

2. Nutrition: lack of employment and problems regarding immigration status, combined with traditional nutritionamalpractices create a perfect storm especially in the young generation. The implementation of a food bank

and nutritional assistance capacity training programs could help the present situation and prevent malnutrition

in the future.

3. Education/Vocational: One key problem children confront is the lack of home support for their education. Theyare normally born from uneducated parents and their possibility of extra assistance at home is nonexistent.

Literacy programs, mentoring strategies and after hours coaching are essential to improve their scores as well as

to avoid frustration that later is transformed into drop outs. Parents at the same time need to build capacity inareas like English language proficiency, trades, and other vocational training that could open up better job

opportunities or the development of micro businesses.

4. Legal/Immigration: Without attacking the root of all the problems of the poor Hispanics, all efforts to assistthem are compromised. Immigration and legal advice are critical components previous to making any real

impact in their physical needs.

5. Economic Development: Finally, when hard-working but poor families increase and better manage theirhousehold incomes, the entire community is strengthened. Microenterprise programs lend capital, build

capacity and provide technical assistance to the entrepreneurial poor, who then repay their loans to a revolving

loan fund. Microloans, along with small business training and other services, help sustain self-governing

community structures as they continue their partnership with the church.

SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION

The underlying cause of the process of transformation hinges around the community and its individuals experiencing an

encounter with God. There is no transformation possible outside a spiritual transformation that births from a healthy

relationship with Christ and His transforming power. The success of the entire program depends on this and it is the

foundation and base of all its activities.

1. Deed: "Preach the gospel always, if necessary use words." ~ St. Francis of Assisi. The gospel is communicatedfirst by actions and attitudes than by words alone. As people start seeing Christian love and care in action they

begging to open up to the message.

2. Life: Life in the small group, serving one another, caring one for the other, living a transparent Christian life inthe small group, communicates the effective power of transformation. Even when confronting crisis and

setback, grace communicated in those circumstances has the power to present an example of the way God

relates with the sinner.

3. Word: the power of the message when evident in the lives of the messengers invites and confronts people to adecision regarding the focus of the message which is Christ and he crucified. The Bible Study and the one-on-one

gospel presentation of the gospel while being lived out in the life of the small group clearly challenge people to

make an eternal commitment with Christ that will transform their lives as well as their families forever.


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4. Signs: the community sees Gods answers to public prayer. This gives credence to the testimony of believers.5. Shalom: True transformation culminates with Shalom, a Hebrew concept referring to people in right

relationship with God, their neighbor, and their environment. A local church becomes a beacon to surrounding

communities. This experience, then, can be reproduced in other places.

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The Process of Transforming Impact in a Community Hcbc Nw Example