It takes a battalion of people filled with compassion to enable sustainable change at a community level. We also agree with the idea of block grants. They imply a direct trust in field staff to assess and design effective programs that are appropriate for individual communities. Such grants provide freedoms for organizations that know and understand the local situation, and that have formed partnerships with local NGOs and churches. Block grants would enable development professionals to do what we do best and align with acknowledged best practices in the field of development.
Sustainable development requires changes in behavior, priorities, and values.
It is a complex process, a spiritual one that makes appropriate use of community resources. Since real, lasting change so often is infused with faith, we celebrate the welcoming of spiritual dialog into this conversation. After all, it recognizes the truth that people are made in the image of God, in need of His love and the compassion of others also made in His image.