BETHEL BIBLE SEMINARY PARACHURCH PARTNERSHIPS FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE HONG KONG CHURCH NETWORK FOR THE POOR (HKCNP)’S CHILD DEVELOPMENT FUND A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP BY MA SAU KUEN SUSANNA STUDENT # 15531550 HONG KONG AUGUST 2020 All Scripture references are from New International Version unless noted otherwise Copyright © 2020 by Ma Sau Kuen Susanna All rights reserved DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my husband and best friend William, and my beloved children Darren and Jayme, for their encouragement throughout my study. May the lessons in this dissertation be a part of our spiritual relational journey together wherever we are. You Are Blessed When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: 3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule. 4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. 6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. 7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. 8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of competing or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. 10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. 11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort, and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens— give a cheer, even! For though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.” — Matthew 5:1-12 CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS .......................................................................................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... ix ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................ x ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................. 1 Statement of Purpose ................................................................................................... 4 Definitions of Key Words and Terms .......................................................................... 4 Audience ...................................................................................................................... 5 Stakeholders ................................................................................................................. 5 Scope and Limitations ................................................................................................. 6 Integration with Dimensions of Transformational Leadership .................................... 6 CHAPTER 2. CONTEXT OF MINISTRY ........................................................................ 9 Historical Background ................................................................................................. 9 Poverty Statistics ....................................................................................................... 10 Relevant Congregational and Community Issues ...................................................... 14 History of HKCNP and CDF ..................................................................................... 19 Current Situation ........................................................................................................ 21 How This Project Can Transform an Aspect of Christian Ministry .......................... 23 CHAPTER 3. LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................... 26 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 26 History and Trends of Parachurches in Social Service .............................................. 26 Types of Parachurches and their Roles ...................................................................... 28 Elements of Parachurch Partnership .......................................................................... 31 Obstacles to Parachurch Partnerships ........................................................................ 35 Poverty ....................................................................................................................... 36 Research Gap ............................................................................................................. 41 Key Reference Model ................................................................................................ 44 v CHAPTER 4. BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL BASIS .............................................. 48 Church/ Parachurch ................................................................................................... 48 Partnership ................................................................................................................. 51 Poverty Alleviation .................................................................................................... 56 Mentorship with Biblical Values ............................................................................... 60 CHAPTER 5. PROJECT DESIGN AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................... 63 Research Design ........................................................................................................ 63 Qualitative Research Methods ................................................................................... 65 Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation............................................................ 71 Research Validity, Reliability and Objectivity .......................................................... 83 CHAPTER 6. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS ................................................................. 88 The First Research Question ...................................................................................... 88 The Second Research Question ............................................................................... 104 The Third Research Question .................................................................................. 120 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 129 CHAPTER 7. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS .............................................. 130 Summary of Key Research Findings ....................................................................... 131 Effective Parachurch Partnership ............................................................................ 134 Effective Poverty Alleviation .................................................................................. 136 Personal Principles Learned .................................................................................... 137 The Sustainability of Project Outcomes for the Future ........................................... 138 Recommendations to the Government ..................................................................... 139 Application to Similar Organizations, Ministries, and Communities ...................... 140 Recommendations for Future Research ................................................................... 141 Anticipated Future Use of Project ........................................................................... 142 How the Personal Learning Community was Involved in the Project..................... 143 Conclusions.............................................................................................................. 143 APPENDIX 1: ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CDF PROGRAM .................................... 145 APPENDIX 2: KEY PARTNERSHIP ELEMENTS IN TODD’S MODEL.................. 148 APPENDIX 3: MEANING OF THE WORD POOR IN HEBREW .............................. 150 APPENDIX 4: INCARNATION OF JESUS AS POOR ............................................... 153 vi APPENDIX 5: INTERVIEWEES’ INFORMATION: ................................................... 154 APPENDIX 6: INTERVIEW GUIDE ............................................................................ 162 APPENDIX 7: IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ............................................... 163 APPENDIX 8: INFORMED CONSENT FORM ........................................................... 164 APPENDIX 9: FOLLOW-UP ON INTERVIEW ..........................................................