In 2018, Cornerstone Wesleyan Church in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, began to dream about how they could make a sustainable impact in the developing world. They had been sending money to drill wells in West Africa but wondered if they could do more.
Cornerstone’s leadership team met with World Hope International (Canada) Chief Executive Officer Tanya Nace and began to dream. A pastoral team member, Reverend Deborah Gilbert, went to Sierra Leone on a learning trip to see how World Hope was partnering with the people in Sierra Leone. While there, one thing stood out above the others — the potential for a village partnership.
The partnership would be a massive commitment, but Rev. Gilbert’s passion ignited the staff and church. As they began to dream about how to impact an entire village, they jumped in with both feet and formally began the partnership in January 2020.
How the village partnership began
First, a Village Development Committee (VDC) was set up in Kenenday, electing 10 members of the community (five men and five women) to be responsible for the partnership’s progress and success. Sustainable development only happens when local leaders are empowered to use their strengths to be part of the transformation. 
As this team met together with a rural development specialist, they brainstormed ideas for how they could improve their community. The VDC decided they needed seed for planting, training in how to manage crops, clean water, access to better hygiene and sanitation, and a school. During these times, the VDC received training about knowing their roles, child rights, addressing conflict, and learning about trust and commitment.
Transformational development in Kenenday
Since 2020, the partnership between Cornerstone Wesleyan and Kenenday has benefitted everyone involved. For the church in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, they have stretched and believed God for incredible things, and he has done them. For a village in Sierra Leone, their lives have been completely transformed. What started as a few bags of seed and some instruction has resulted in the community growing crops and saving seed to share with others. They are also sharing their knowledge and helping others thrive.
A deep borehole well provides water for their crops and prevents water-borne illness from taking the lives of their children. A school was built in their community allowing children to attend close to home rather than walking miles to school. Because of this, the young girls are not experiencing violent attacks on their way to school and there are no teenage pregnancies. Latrines and hygiene education has stopped open defecation and is reducing the spread of disease among the people in the village. The church continued to raise funds and asked if there was more they could do to help bring about transformation.
The VDC asked for money to support teachers in their training so that they would be better prepared to teach the children. The church also continues to support Pastor Abdulai’s study at Wesleyan Christian College in Gbendembu as he prepares for his ministry calling.
Child sponsorship is another way that individuals and families in the church are getting involved. Providing quality education, school supplies, food and uniforms to children in giving them hope for their futures.
Follow up
In spring 2022, Rev. Gilbert returned to Sierra Leone and saw the impact her church’s commitment to empowering others was having on Kenenday. She had not visited before the partnership began due to COVID restrictions, but her heart was full listening to stories about the transformation that had happened as a result.
The chairlady, Fatmata, expressed her sincere thanks to everyone who gave to see this work done in her village. “I am glad for what you have done for our community. You have helped us with a water well, toilets, seeds and construction of the school. Since the school has been here, none of our teenage girls are pregnant.”
Another member of the VDC had this to share, “We are thankful to WHI for not only helping us understand our collective responsibilities for the health of our community, but also for providing us with all the facilities that would make life good for us all.”
Partnership matters. What can one church do? One church committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus, partnering together with a community that has gifts and talents to share, can be a part of bringing hope and transformation to an entire community. The village of Kenenday has hope for their future thanks to the sacrificial giving of a congregation on the other side of the world.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:2-4 NIV).
Rev. Natalie Gidney is an ordained Wesleyan minister serving in the Atlantic District and strategic engagement and communications coordinator for World Hope International Canada.
Rev. Deborah Gilbert is an assistant pastor at Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia.
