What is CCT (also known as Transforming Communities)?

What is Tearfund's Church and Community Transformation work? What does it do, why is it effective and how does it work?

Written by Tarryn Pegna | 16 Apr 2025

A young woman in bright clothing stands in front of a building under construction. She smiles broadly.

After losing her child due to no direct access to medical care, Aline and her church were inspired by the CCT training they received to build their own health centre in their community in Burundi. Credit: Paul Mbonankira/Tearfund

Church and Community Transformation does exactly what it says on the tin. It is the whole community being impacted, changed, rebuilt, restored, envisioned, empowered and ultimately transformed in order for it to thrive – through (and starting with) the church.

Wherever in the world it may be, the local church is part of one body – Christ’s. And, as Jesus came to reconcile man to God, to restore that relationship with him, so we – the church – are called to follow his example.

Understanding that broken relationships between humans and God, between individuals and themselves and other humans, and between humans and creation, are at the root of all poverty – both spiritual and material – we work together toward being a part of God’s answer to this brokenness. We call this integral mission.

Integral Mission’s four key relationships at the root of restoration or poverty:

People’s relationship with God
Individual’s relationship with self
Humans’ relationships with each other
Humankind’s relationship with creation

In John 10:10, Jesus says, ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’

Integral mission is a response to poverty, led by God’s word and the Holy Spirit, in search of this fullness.

Church and Community Transformation is the practical outworking of Integral Mission.

Overcoming poverty

Overcoming poverty, therefore, becomes about helping people to realise their potential and recognise the resources God has given them – starting from within themselves – and to then use these things to transform their lives and communities.

Though each local church will have features and challenges unique to their context, the core of each Church and Community Transformation journey is the same.

Starting with Bible studies, church members are encouraged and empowered to reach out to their community to work together, to identify what resources they have available to them, and to use these to overcome the challenges in their community.

The process is full of actions and activities that help people to better understand their community – and their potential to transform it.

The widow’s oil: what is in your hands?

Koffi Kan Afely in Côte d’Ivoire shares an example: ‘In the Bible study of Elisha, the widow and her oil, we learned from the life of the widow that she was alone and was going through difficult times, but she still had resources. This is what inspired us. This is how we have started looking for the resources that we have and today things are better.’

The CCT (Transforming Communities) journey empowers people like Jean-Luc and changes mindsets. And, as individuals are impacted and restored in relationship with God, themselves, creation and each other. It brings about holistic transformation which has the power to change futures and generations.

‘After the completion of the campaign, there is a sense of achievement within us that we were able to do something for our community. We will continue to serve our people in whichever way we can.’

Pastor, rural western Nepal

Transformation in the community: how would Jesus do it?

One pastor from Nigeria, Venerable Isaac Danung, explains: ‘When I was trained in integral mission we were asked a question that became a driving force in my life: “If we were to do ministry as Jesus did, how would we do it?”

‘Honestly, our pattern of ministry changed from that one question. It became participatory and used local resources that we had mobilised ourselves. As a church, we became the salt and light of the community.

‘Together with the community, we established a healthcare centre where, so far, 234 babies have been delivered. A primary school was set up. Teenage marriage and pregnancy has been reduced, and there are fewer divorces because relationships have improved between men and women. Many theological colleges have come to us for learning visits because the change has been so great.’

CCT in context

Each context has its own unique set of circumstances and challenges. As local communities take ownership of a particular CCT process, they will adapt and often rename it to reflect this.

The first cycle starts at the household level and introduces individual families to the concept of integral mission. It helps them to explore new ways of thinking and build confidence as they are encouraged and empowered to begin with small projects and changes in their own lives.

The second cycle involves the local church, and these families begin to work together and initiate increasingly larger actions.

When the church feels ready and equipped to do so, these changes and learnings are moved out into the wider community.