Resources

Understanding the dynamics of a community engagement approach
to integral missions leads to a healthy and biblical understanding of human dignity. Using he Social-Ecological and HWVA models to inform a CE approach, individuals and communities have not only experienced economic growth and access to educational opportunities but also greater sense of well-being and
peace in growing in their relationship with God as their Father, Redeemer, and Friend.

A similar feature among the models was the importance of understanding the impacts of a community’s worldview and beliefs on health to discussing the spiritual aspects of health and behavior change. Community engagement and cultivating relationships were two common themes motivating the models. A primary difference among the models was the direction of engagement.

Missionaries, NGO staff, and volunteers can engage in a spectrum of customized trainings from those serving on the front lines. These trainings give special attention to participatory engagement, understanding plants and appropriate technologies, and opportunities in community development.

Kingdom living requires a God-pleasing response to finances and
poverty. The Chalmers Center for Economic Development is a great resource and training organization to become a leader in Christian financial literacy and
economic development.

Resilient Recovery is an effective peer support ministry for individuals navigating the pathway of recovery. Alcohol, anger, porn, work, eating disorders, the list is long. Individuals desire intimate connection with each other
and with God. Resilient provides such an opportunity by providing biblical lessons walking participants through the cycle of law and gospel, confession and forgiveness, healing and reconciliation.

The study shows no significant differences in labor supply,
consumption, life satisfaction, or food security among ultra-poor households in the six months following the program. The study suggests “grit” as a possible mechanism of Protestant values on economic outcomes.

Participation in religious services is associated with numerous aspects of human flourishing, including happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and close social relationships. Evidence for the effects of religious communities on these flourishing outcomes now comes from rigorous longitudinal study designs with extensive confounding control. The associations with flourishing are much stronger for communal religious participation than for spiritual-religious identity or for private practices. While the social support is an important mechanism relating religion to health, this only explains a small portion of the associations. Numerous other mechanisms appear to be operative as well. It may be the confluence of the religious values and practices, reinforced by social ties and norms, that give religious communities their powerful effects on so many aspects of human flourishing.

The study aimed to understand the implementation of CHE in the field and identify areas of variation and adaptation that could lead to opportunities or barriers in achieving the desired impacts of CHE. The results show variation in each of the four phases and provide a starting point to further study CHE as an integral mission model. The paper suggests additional opportunities for future research to identify core components that could strengthen and improve the effectiveness and practice of integral mission models.

Jason Paltzer and Keyanna Taylor describe the opportunities to strengthen the evidence coming from faith-based health organizations to improve outcomes and credibility. Meeting the financial and design knowledge of organizations to conduct and disseminate research is critical to increasing impact in community health ministry