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The Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA) is well recognised by church members throughout the Pacific Union as an organisation that provides relief to those facing disaster.rnrnWhat many people don’t understand, however, is that ADRA is much more than just development and disaster.rnrnThe meaning of Development in ADRA’s sense - community development – is about empowering local communities (ie your church) to lead and develop their own strategies and manage their own resources.  We at ADRA are facilitators or brokers of this change process.rnrnThe relationships built with all layers of society are unique in our ministry.  We regularly meet with national and local government officials.  We engage with church, business and community leaders, as well as with technical experts in academia for research and new project development.  More importantly though, we develop relationships with community members no matter what circumstances they are in or faith they profess.  This not only happens once a week but every day.rnrnIn New Zealand, ADRA has worked closely with the Adventist Health and Discipleship ministries and with local churches through the Community Transformation Partnerships (CTP) initiatives.  This partnership, which is focused on holistic community wellbeing, shows that different church ministries can work very well together. More importantly, through CTP, church members practice discipleship in practical ways as they interact with community members, develop relationships, meet their most pressing needs, and then slowly win souls for Jesus.  This is what I call ‘the gospel in work boots’.  Not only church members become disciples but churches are positioned in the communities as caring churches, as churches that ‘walk the talk’.  This collaboration is part of ADRA’s ministry as a ‘Game Changer’ in New Zealand.rnrnIf we want those we serve to not only experience Jesus, but surrender to Him, Jesus’ ‘method’ is at our disposal (He mingled, showed sympathy, ministered to needs, won people’s confidence, then bade them, follow Him[1]).  Relationship building, community engagement, and follow through are clearly important steps in this journey!rnrnAt ADRA, we may not preach or evangelise publically, as most of our government funding prohibits us from doing it, but we are a Game Changer contributing towards a holistic gospel and disciple making.rnrn[1] Source: Ministry of Healing by Ellen White, p. 143