New Growth Through Listening

Servant Partners
Jun 22
3 min read

CTC participants discovered God at work in their midst and were equipped with a new skill for transformational Kingdom ministry.

Could listening itself be a profound ministry? This idea was a radical paradigm shift for many Latin American leaders who participated in Servant Partners' Community Transformation Certificate (CTC) program or Certificado De Transformación Comunitaria. Accustomed to a ministry model focused on "doing," they were surprised to discover how listening plays a central role in community transformation. The CTC program emphasizes a three-fold way of listening: to God, oneself, and the community—a holistic practice that challenges one to stop and listen before acting.

The CTC invites participants to look and listen for signs of God’s transformative shalom sprouting in their communities. Through asking questions and intentionally listening to neighbors, participants join their communities to build something together. They create “seed projects” - small initiatives embodying one of the Nine Signs of a Transforming Community - in response to what they have heard and shared in community. In South Asia, one participant explained how listening influenced their seed project and led them to create a garden as an opportunity for their community to generate income. This non-traditional method of ministry drew attention from fellow pastors; the same participant shared, “My colleague was skeptical about vegetable gardening as ministry.” But gardening built meaningful connections, economic opportunity, and hope for those on the margins.

Many well-known mission and ministry models communicate that ministry is about executing, achieving, and toiling to quickly produce results. Additionally, ministries in marginalized communities often operate as "service providers," bringing money or services with a programmatic, top-down approach. Outside ministers give, and local people receive charity, rather than both working together as agents of transformation in mutual relationship. In reality, the Jesus-following leaders of a community are its greatest resource.

This orientation and emphasis on listening yielded unexpected discoveries for leaders in Latin America. As Beauty Ndoro, Associate Regional Director for Latin America, observed, participants experienced a light-bulb moment when they realized that "people in the community have answers and God is already there." Slowing down, resting, listening, and trusting in the Holy Spirit’s transformative work allows community ministers to recognize and identify God’s existing work in a marginalized community. It frees them to be collaborators with God and neighbors rather than becoming primary decision makers, managing programs and resources apart from the community.

Servant Partners' Rule of Life, a set of corporate spiritual disciplines and rhythms rooted in Luke 4:18-19, further supported this perspective shift. In Latin America, many leaders were devoted to prayer and scripture reading, but the concept of Sabbath rest as a spiritual discipline was new. Philip Ndoro, Regional Director for Latin America, shared the story of a Chilean leader who, accustomed to working relentlessly, initially struggled with the idea of rest as a necessary part of his ministry. He then applied Sabbath rest by taking time off to connect with God and his family, a practice that profoundly changed his perspective. He practiced three-fold listening by paying attention to his own body for the first time. Alvaro testifies,

“Fue un tiempo en familia donde pudimos compartir y disfrutar mucho.

Pude salir a caminar, orar y tomar tiempos para hablar con mi esposa.”

("It was family time when we could share and enjoy very much. I was able to go out on walks, pray, and take time to talk with my wife.")

By listening, CTC participants discovered God at work in their midst and were equipped with a new skill for transformational Kingdom ministry. The CTC has had over 125 participants across Latin America, 27 in South Asia and 100 in the United States. It remains a core mutual transformation program and key context for discerning joining Servant Partners staff. The Community Transformation Certificate will continue to guide participants into a ministry posture of sitting at Jesus’ feet, expectantly listening and waiting for His Spirit’s movement.