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What is the
Chalmers Center?
The Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College trains the church world-wide how to minister holistically to the poor without creating dependency. We offer training for both an international context — Africa, Asia, and Latin America — as well as a US/Canada context. This training is available through web-deployed distance learning courses, self-study courses, and week-long training institutes held throughout the world in partnership with churches and ministries.
The training is designed for: a) local pastors and church members, b) missionaries and international ministry staff, and c) US/Canadian churches who minister abroad. It is appropriate for individuals as well as for a ministry team.
Helping the Church Help the Poor
We are not a missions organization, a non-government organization (NGO), or a community development ministry. Instead, we are a training organization that equips the local church to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ by addressing the spiritual and physical needs of low-income individuals within its community. Our focus is to "help the church help the poor to help themselves."
Since its inception in March 1999, the Chalmers Center for Economic Development has firmly held to its vision that the local church will embody Jesus Christ by bringing healing to the physical, social, and spiritual needs of poor people. The Chalmers Center strives to achieve this vision through its mission of conducting best practice research and providing high-impact training that equips churches worldwide to empower the poor both economically and spiritually. By God’s grace alone, the Chalmers Center has equipped God’s people in over 65 countries and across the U.S. to use church-centered economic development strategies to minister to poor people.
Training Topics
The ministry strategies and programs:
- Are holistic, church-centered and community based.
- Provide an opportunity for outreach and evangelism.
- Have been tried and tested in various locations around the world and reflect the latest and best practices.
With our training, you will 1) gain an understanding of the harm that can come from doing relief when the situation calls for development, 2) identify the basic principles and tools needed to develop relationships with low-income individuals in your community, and 3) be able to implement biblically-based economic development ministry programs.
For ministry among the very poor in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the training prepares you to create a ministry strategy based on microfinance and microenterprise development. For ministry in the US/Canada, the training prepares you to create a ministry program centered around savings and asset accumulation, financial literacy, job training, housing, and healthcare.
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