What is Church and Community Transformation?
Right now, poverty is breaking into the lives of people in communities across the UK – not just material poverty, but relational, spiritual and emotional too, as people become isolated and afraid. Poverty takes without warning, stealing hope and leaving behind despair.
But the Church is called to bring light to the darkest of situations, welcoming people into a new life with Jesus. Church and Community Transformation (CCT) will take your church on a journey to discover what this call means for you.
- Discover more about the specific challenges facing those in your community.
- Discover how your church can work together with your community to address these challenges.
- Discover how you and your church are being called to demonstrate the love of God and the fullness of the gospel.
This biblically-based concept and approach has delivered incredible transformation around the world and we want to see the same impact in churches like yours, across the UK, helping you and your community to flourish.
Our heart is to come alongside your church, creating a space where you can listen to God, each other and your local community, and prayerfully discern how you are being called to respond.
God at work through CCT in Ballymena
CCT isn’t just a toolkit for the individual church—it’s a catalyst for unity. In Ballymena, local churches are moving beyond their walls to tackle community needs as one. Watch how their recent CCT workshop sparked innovative partnership ideas and renewed a shared mission of restoration.
Voiceover: Ballymena, like many towns in Northern Ireland, has experienced many challenges over the years. Drug-related deaths are rising and recent community tensions led to riots and protests that made national and international news.
However, the local Church is responding. Partnering with CAP and Thrive Ireland, local churches have begun a Church and Community Transformation (CCT) journey.
Christine Sawey: The Lord is jumping for joy because he sees a town that he loves, which is Ballymena. And he sees different churches who have a love for him too, coming together, pooling their resources and their desire to serve him in this town together.
Wendy Savage: To have the structure of this is something that we have needed in Ballymena. To actually come in here and actually talk and be directed and give a little direction. There is so much to take away each week from that.
Darren O’Reilly: This last year in Ballymena, we have had drug deaths, we’ve had houses burnt out. These people have a heart for this town. You can see their hearts changing from brokenness to hope. I think that’s what the miracle of this process is.
Voiceover: Church and Community Transformation is a biblical-based approach that helps create space for churches to listen to God, each other, and their local community and prayerfully discern how God is calling them to respond. Representatives from ten churches in Ballymena have committed to come together and use Church and Community Transformation as a tool to help bring hope, instead of despair.
Diane Holt: Already, there has been a lot of fantastic relationships established. They’ve all learned from each other what everybody else is doing, which they didn’t necessarily know before. And so it’s more about what can we better do together rather than as individual churches.
Jennifer McLernon: I’ve, for a long time, been very, very passionate about Christian unity and about churches working together. I think it’s certainly building on what we’ve already got.
Jonathan Leakey: We would love to see collaboration between churches. Ones, twos, threes in missional, justice, outreach. There’s a lot of creativity in the room and ideas sparking already. Looking forward in the coming year to see that worked out.
Diane Holt: We’re just seeing those little light bulb moments for people and you know, you can see little cogs whirring in people’s minds and God is definitely speaking to people.
Darren O’Reilly: There is always somewhere for us to go as a church to bring God’s healing, to bring God’s shalom in this place in a very practical way.
Wendy Savage: This has facilitated, I suppose, our understanding of what we can potentially do within our town. I really am excited about what the future holds in this.
Christine Sawey: Together in unity, we can make Jesus’ kingdom truly come down here in Ballymena. It’s exciting times.
Voiceover: CCT can help you, your church and your community to thrive. Join churches across the UK and start using CCT to discover, revive and respond to God’s unique call for your community.
Through CCT, you’ll receive:
- A structured approach: You’ll receive clear, step-by-step guidance through our ‘Stop, Look, Listen and Walk’ modules, all rooted in biblical teachings.
- Tools and resources: You’ll have access to toolkits, training materials and guidance to support your church’s unique journey.
- Bespoke support: No church or community is exactly the same, and that’s why CCT is adaptable based on your church’s own context and needs. We’ll provide ongoing mentoring and support to walk alongside you throughout your CCT journey.
- A community-focused approach: CCT helps your church to move away from outreach activities that do things for the community and embrace initiatives that work with the community, creating lasting impact.
- An opportunity for everyone to contribute: CCT is wonderfully collaborative, providing the opportunity for everyone in your church to take part and grow in their discipleship journey.
How it works:
- We equip a small group through a series of workshops and in-depth training. We’ll provide your church with all the materials and resources needed.
- The group from your church is usually made up of a combination of those in leadership and other church members.
- The training will be guided by a trainer from CAP, who will work with your church to help you understand more about the unique needs, strengths and opportunities within your community, and the vision that God has placed on your hearts. You’ll explore how you can bring holistic transformation to both your church and your community as part of God’s restorative plan.
- The CCT training is split into roughly ten to twelve sessions and can be completed within six months to a year, depending on how frequently you choose to meet.
Hear from a thriving church
All Hallows Church is a thriving church in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, dedicated to supporting their community through free debt help, a community cafe, and activities for families and children of all ages. Through CCT, we’re collaborating with All Hallows Church to help them review their current community engagement and ministries, and shape their future in a way that enables their church and local community to thrive and flourish. The church is full of passionate Christians committed to bringing God’s love to the lonely, isolated and vulnerable, and finding long-term solutions so that future generations can thrive.
CCT has given us a way to listen more closely to what our community’s needs, hopes and aspirations are. The congregation has enthusiastically embraced the work of CAP, with many giving generously of their time and money.
Reverend Gilly Hall, Assistant Curate of All Hallows Church
Just like Jesus, All Hallows Church is extending the gospel of hope wherever they go, because when God’s love and practical action meet, both churches and communities are transformed.
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