Christian Relief, Development, and Advocacy 4(2), Winter 2023  

Hoksbergen and Bronkema, Editors’ Introduction i 

 

Editors’ Introduction 
 

Roland Hoksbergen and David Bronkema – CRDA Co-Editors 
 

 
The main question that motivates the entirety of 

this journal is how the Christian faith can, does, and 

should influence our inquiries and interventions in the 

promotion of thriving communities, both locally and 

globally. This question stands behind all the articles, 

essays, opinion pieces, interviews, book reviews, and 

whatever else finds its way into this journal. Make no 

mistake. The answer to this question is not simple, and 

in fact raises many more questions, but that does not 

mean we should not address it. Instead, as Richard 

Slimbach reminds us at the outset of his essay on 

“Asking Tough Questions…,” we must learn to “love 

the questions,” and, over time, live into them. 

Slimbach opens this issue by asking three sets of 

tough questions about the theory and practices of 

transformational development, inviting dialogue at 

every step. The first set has to do with whether and to 

what extent conversion to Christianity is the 

underpinning of morality and optimal human 

development. We generally say that it is, but does this 

assertion actually hold up when we look at our 

practices, our theories, and the world at large? The 

second set questions whether Christians have taken 

seriously the global forces that have led to such 

astounding economic inequality and environmental 

calamity, much of which Christians have themselves 

perpetrated and seem even now to discount. And the 

third set of questions asks which groups Christian 

NGOs do and/or should work with in partnership. 

Transformational development theory puts a premium 

on partnering with churches in the Global South. Is this 

the best approach?  

The editors are conscious of the fact that 

Slimbach’s essay will likely be provocative and 

controversial. That is fine, because, as Slimbach says, 

we need to talk about hard things. For that reason, we 

invite you, actually we urge you, to respond to any or all 

parts of his reflections. If you indeed do feel moved and 

led to share your thoughts and reactions, whether in 

support, opposition, or simply in dialogue, please let us 

know and we will work with you as you prepare a 

response that contributes to a vigorous, thoughtful, and 

constructive conversation in the next issue of this 

journal  

Following Slimbach’s essay is an engaging piece by 

Katie Toop of World Concern. Toop shares the story 

of a field exercise that helped World Concern and its 

partners in Africa live into the question of what kind of 

a partner they are and want to be with the local church, 

and why. And, in sharing how for World Concern, even 

though they work with other partners, their partnerships 

with the local church hold a special place in their hearts 

and in their programming, she takes on one of 

Slimbach’s tough questions. 

This issue also includes a synopsis of the 

OneAccord 2022 Conference held at Ridgecrest, North 

Carolina in October of last year, and three book 

reviews, each of them living into the tough questions in 

different ways: 

 

• The first is on the role of conversion in our work 

among the poor – Dwight Mutonono’s review of 

Rupen Das’s book, The God that the Poor Seek: 

Conversion, Context, and the World of the 

Vulnerable. Carlisle, Cumbria, UK: Langham 

Global Library 2022. 

• The second addresses the theology of living 

faithfully in this world – Gregory Leffel’s review of 

Mark R. Teasdale’s Participating in Abundant Life: 

Holistic Salvation for a Secular Age. Downers 

Grove, IL: IVP Academic 2022. 

• And the third is on the history of one Christian 

NGO’s efforts to be faithful throughout its over 

one-hundred-year history – Katerina Parson’s 

review of Alain Epp Weaver’s Service and the 

Ministry of Reconciliation: A Missiological History 

of Mennonite Central Committee. Newton, KS: 

Bethel College 2021. 

 

Resources and Upcoming Events 
 

1. Check out the synopsis of OneAccord 2022 in the 

pages below for highlights from last year’s 

conference and consider attending this year’s 

OneAccord 2023, October 17-19, once again in 

Ridgecrest, NC. 

 

2. The Christian Economic Development Network 

will hold their next summit, CED Summit 2023, 

on April 25-26 in Arlington, VA (in the greater 

Washington DC area). The theme will be 

“Cultivating resilience in transformative economic 

development.” 

 

https://www.cednetwork.org/2023summit.html


Christian Relief, Development, and Advocacy 4(2), Winter 2023  

Hoksbergen and Bronkema, Editors’ Introduction ii 

3. Check out the Meros Center, “a research and 

training community for Christian health ministry” 

that is strengthening research in faith-based 

organizations. It is a site “where faith-based health 

organizations, researchers, and learners can find 

the support they need to measure, innovate, and 

share their impact” (https://meroscenter.org/) 

 

4. The Accord Research Alliance podcasts continue 

to be a great source for additional information on 

Christian relief, development, and advocacy issues. 

Two recent podcasts are  

a. Decolonizing the Data Journey: a 

conversation with Dr. Drew Hart 

b. Using the Net Promoter Score for Listening: 

an interview with Emilie Jackson 

 

If you would like to discuss an article you are working 

on or anything else related to the journal, please contact 

the editors at CRDA@accordnetwork.org.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

https://meroscenter.org/
https://accordnetwork.org/ara/
https://soundcloud.com/user-666881060/46-drew-hart
https://soundcloud.com/user-666881060/46-drew-hart
https://soundcloud.com/user-666881060/45-emilie-jackson
https://soundcloud.com/user-666881060/45-emilie-jackson
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