Churches in America want fast results, just like in church planting. We tend to measure our efforts quantitatively-how many teeth have we pulled, how many patients have we seen. That's relief, not development. Large amounts of money are infused because of lack of developmental procedures in place. Relief is dependent on money.
Development is different-perhaps a bit more nebulous.
Inner-city ministries will be dependent on development in the future. We practice some relief, but we must be community-based. Relief is a door opener. Once the door is open we work from the inside out at the grass-root level. A church planting mentality of letting others do it for themselves can lead us to development.