A person standing outside in front of a community garden looks at the camera and smiles

Your church is part of God’s plan

Find out how your church can play a crucial role in ending extreme poverty and injustice around the world.

Find out more

Poverty is not God’s plan. The church is.

Around the world, churches are changing. Changing lives. Changing communities. Changing futures. Tearfund works in more than 50 countries, equipping local churches to lead transformation. It’s a model that’s seeing thousands of people lift themselves out of poverty. And your church can be a part of it.

Catherine De Souza, Elim leader and Tearfund trustee, explains why the church is best placed to respond to poverty.

We are already working with 25,000 churches in some of the poorest areas of the world, but God has given us a bold vision to see 250,000 churches become centres of transformation in their communities in the next seven years.

‘So many churches and communities are eager to get involved, but we will need more resources to support them all.’

Douwe Dijkstra, Tearfund Regional Director for East and Central Africa.

Local church, global difference

We believe that every church can play a part in ending extreme poverty – that’s why we want to equip you and your church to take action. Sign up to our email newsletter for church leaders, Local Church, Global Difference, to receive free resources and hear testimonies from around the world to inspire your church to tackle global poverty in practical ways.

Your church can play a part in ending extreme poverty around the world.

Tearfund exists because poverty is not God's plan.

Why does Tearfund work through local churches?

Around the world, churches are supporting some of the most vulnerable people in areas that aid and development organisations often struggle to reach. Church leaders are often respected role models within their communities and are well placed to lead development initiatives.

We believe that poverty exists as a result of broken relationships with God, ourselves, others and creation. The church can play a key role in helping to restore these four broken relationships, bringing whole-life transformation to individuals and communities.

A person crouching down in front of lots of small plants

Renald, a member of a Church and Community Transformation programme in Haiti, at work in his local community garden | Credit: Ruth Towell/Tearfund

Church and Community Transformation

Tearfund uses a process called Church and Community Transformation (CCT) to help churches actively respond to the holistic needs of their communities in practical and sustainable ways, using their God-given potential and resources. We kickstart this journey by envisioning church leaders and encouraging them to take an active role in bringing about the change they long to see.

Thanks to Tearfund’s Church and Community Transformation programme:

Slide 1 of 3: 3,500 church leaders have been equipped to lead development projects with their congregations.

Slide 2 of 3: 877 church leaders and theologians have taken part in online events to share learning.

Slide 3 of 3: 25,000 churches have been leading sustainable development in their communities.

3,500 church leaders have been equipped to lead development projects with their congregations.
877 church leaders and theologians have taken part in online events to share learning.
25,000 churches have been leading sustainable development in their communities.