Church and Community Transformation (CCT) is the key way that Tearfund works to release whole communities from the grip of poverty. CCT is a Bible-based guided training approach that a local church can use with its community to identify the resources they have. This week, give thanks for how CCT is transforming lives in more than 25,000 churches in communities worldwide and pray as we look to expand that work to 250,000.
Sunday 14 January
‘Working with and through churches using our Church and Community Transformation approach is changing lives in Rwanda,' says Emmanuel Murangira, Tearfund's Rwanda Country Director. ‘Every day, I hear of communities working together to improve lives and lift themselves out of poverty. Praise God!' Ask God for more churches in Rwanda to catch this vision.
Monday 15 January
Last year, as part of a research study, Tearfund surveyed almost 8,000 people across four countries: Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Three-quarters of churches taking part in CCT reported that church attendance and financial giving to the church had increased. Give thanks for how God is using CCT to grow churches.
Tuesday 16 January
Jean Batiste was a violent drug dealer and gang leader, feared in his local community in Rwanda. This all changed after he experienced a whole-life transformation when participating in CCT. Pray for people in communities across Rwanda who have yet to turn their lives around.
Wednesday 17 January
Jean Batiste lived next door to Serapie, who was trained by Tearfund partner Association Mwana Ukundwa as a CCT facilitator at the local church. While he was still dealing drugs and leading a gang, Serapie said to him, ‘Come and see how your life can be changed!' Ask God to give our CCT facilitators, like Serapie, the boldness to challenge people in their communities.
Thursday 18 January
After being badly beaten up by a local gang, Jean Batiste started to reflect on his behaviour. ‘I needed to change my life,' he says. As he joined a CCT group and heard teaching at church, Jean Batiste began saving money, and his relationships at home and in the community started to heal. Ask God to continue to bless Jean Batiste and others like him.
Friday 19 January
Today, Jean Batiste is a warden and security manager at the church. He is thankful for the discipleship of his community through CCT and is an active and productive member of the community. Pray for Tearfund's vision to greatly expand our CCT work so that more people, like Jean Batiste, can live life to the full.
Saturday 20 January
‘Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.' (2 Corinthians 9:10) Lord, we thank you for blessing this amazing work that is transforming so many lives across the world. May it continue to multiply and spread so that more people can be released from poverty, for good. Amen.
