Evangelical development NGOs represent the fastest growing category of development NGO yet relatively little is known about how they understand and frame what it is that they do, how they combine material and sacred dimensions in their work, and how they negotiate the contestations that occur as they engage with governments, donors, supporters and beneficiaries. Deftly combining institutional history and ethnography, this book offers an illuminating in-depth look at one particular evangelical development NGO, Tearfund, and explores the changing role that its Christian identity has played in its work over its 50 year history. Centring around the intense internal debates about how to bring about ‘good change’ in poor communities, this book delves deep into the complex intersections of development, evangelism and socio-economic change.
Praise
“A path-breaking and timely contribution to the burgeoning field of global development studies and the prominent role religion plays in development today”.
— Charles Piot, Professor of Cultural Anthropology, Duke University.
“An invaluable resource for students, scholars and practitioners”.
— Séverine Deneulin, Associate Professor of International Development, University of Bath.
“A highly significant book”
— Elias Kifon Bongmba, Professor of Religion, Rice University.
“An important work for those wishing to understand how religious identity affects international development processes”.
— Jill DeTemple, Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Southern Methodist University.
“A well-researched and compelling book”
— Emma Tomalin, Professor of Religion and Public Life, University of Leeds.