Community development: The mandate of the church

Abstract

This article examines the church’s mandate for community development by tracing its foundations in the Old Testament, the New Testament and historic Christian practice. It first considers the Old Testament as Christian Scripture and analyses God’s developmental initiatives, environmental stewardship, anti-slavery measures, poverty alleviation and care for the marginalised, as formative models of community-building. It then explores Jesus’ social engagement in the New Testament, highlighting how his healing ministry, socio-humanitarian actions, feeding miracles and commitment to justice advanced social and economic inclusion. The study also surveys key expressions of community development within Christian tradition. Together, these explorations demonstrate that community development is not an optional activity but an integral dimension of the church’s vocation.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This study integrates biblical theology, New Testament studies and practical theology with development studies, social justice theory and medical anthropology. By combining exegetical analysis with social-scientific perspectives, it offers a holistic and contextually grounded framework for understanding the church’s role in community development and encourages constructive engagement between theology and contemporary development practice.