NURTURING PEOPLE + COMMUNITIES WITH COMPASSION AND EXPERTISE

HOW WE WORK

We start by listening.

The foundation of all our work

Community development is the foundation for all our work. We start by listening to local needs and amplifying marginalized voices to provide expertise that benefits the whole community. Our multisector programs respect local priorities and encourage people to pursue the values of God’s kingdom as we work together toward lasting transformation.  

Cultural awareness leads to sustainable transformation

Nurturing healthy communities

We walk alongside local communities to help identify their needs and provide expertise that supports their goals. Our programs are designed to create opportunities and support values that nurture healthy communities and flourishing people.


IDEAS is at work in
local communities like Bialet Massé, Argentina

Seeing the complete picture while meeting needs

Holistic strategy.

We focus on holistic community development and work with local communities to address needs in agriculture, health & wellness, education, disability, and anti-human trafficking. Our programs are built to nurture flourishing in the social, intellectual, physical, and spiritual aspects of personhood.  

Connecting belief and action to enter into broken systems

Integrated approach.

As in the life of Jesus, being, doing, and saying are at the heart of the way we work. With our words, we encourage people to love one another and live out the values of God’s kingdom. Through our actions, we demonstrate God’s care for a broken world. In our lives, we invite people to experience forgiveness, grace, and mercy.

Curiosity about the people and customs where we work

Cultural understanding.

Taking time to learn local languages and understand local cultures is the cornerstone of how we develop our programs. We recognize that each community is unique and that there are different ways to live out shared values like love, care, and service. Lasting transformation of attitudes and behaviors in ourselves and others only occurs when we have open hands, humble hearts, cultural awareness, and deep understanding.  

Our associates bring needed expertise and best practices

Expert
services.

We are committed to evidence-based practice, professional development, and continuing education. We provide services that are underdeveloped and expertise that is underrepresented in the communities where we work.  Our associates are experts in agriculture, education, health & wellness, disability, and anti-human trafficking.

Our commitment to flourishing means pursuing it in healthy ways

Sustainable transformation.

We walk alongside people and move from delivery of services to training to consulting to handing off programs to the community. All our programs work toward community ownership and long-term sustainability.

Going beyond delivering services to holistic transformation

Measuring + assessing success.

We work to meet people’s needs and create an environment where hearts and attitudes are changed. We target, measure, and assess outcomes related to both meeting needs and changing hearts, but we are careful to never make heart change a requirement for receiving services.

We help our people grow and thrive in every corner of their lives

Support, Development + Training

We support our associates in their personal, professional, spiritual, and social lives. We provide community life services, professional oversight, professional development plans, and program operations training and support in all of our locations.

Boy measuring wood

OUR WORK

Community development is the foundation for all our work. Our experts partner with local people to identify needs and provide services that benefit the whole community. We also seek out and amplify the voices of the marginalized.

IDEAS agricultural programs provide training in regionally appropriate soil rejuvenation methods to lift farmers above the bare minimum subsistence levels. We also equip farmers to teach others in a dynamic process with long-term impact. 

Our community development programs identify and remove societal barriers and relational barriers that exclude persons with disabilities. We strive to create an environment where all people are valued, loved, heard, and empowered.

Our community development programs integrate methods to identify and mitigate risks for vulnerable individuals and those victimized by human trafficking. We care for those at risk so they feel valued, seen, loved, and protected.

IDEAS health and wellness programs provide access to high-quality healthcare services, health education, and medical equipment. We bring together best practices and local understanding to promote sustainable, holistic flourishing. 

IDEAS education programs focus on people on the margins such as refugees, students with disabilities, and those without access to education. We create life-giving spaces where people can develop their God-given potential.  

  • IDEAS works in multisector programs that serve local communities. Explore Jordan!

  • IDEAS works in multisector programs that serve local communities. Explore North Africa!

  • IDEAS works near Almaty in multisector programs that serve local communities. Explore Kazakhstan!

  • IDEAS works in multisector programs that serve local communities. Explore Guatemala!

  • IDEAS works near Córdoba in multisector programs that serve local communities. Explore Argentina!

Where we work

As of 2019, the surface of the Dead Sea is 430.5 metres below sea level, making its shores the lowest land-based elevation on Earth.

Answering your questions about IDEAS

FAQ

  • Evidence-based practice involves using current and relevant research to guide decision-making and action.

  • Experienced program leaders and intercultural training help our associates learn cultural norms, values, and practices. Language and culture training are also part of ongoing professional development.

  • One way we measure success is if a program effectively addresses structural injustices. Another way we measure success is when we see a positive changes in people’s attitudes and behaviors toward others within their families or communities.

Celebrating removing barriers to dignity

Stories of Transformation

Alma was born in Guatemala with a disability called spina bifida. Unable to walk, she spent the first 14 years of her life isolated, locked in a room, confined to a bed or the floor. Her mother said she was a mistake. Her father said she was not his daughter. Alma wanted to go to school and have friends, but her disability made that impossible.