15/06/2026
THE CHURCH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CHURCH PLAYS A VERY BIG ROLE IN OUR ECONOMIES
Most people don’t think of churches and other houses of worship as drivers of economic development. NOR CONSIDER CHURCHES IMPORTANT
But looked at from another perspective, churches and other houses of worship contribute to the local economy in a variety of ways. Most churches employ at least one person, and many have upwards of 20 employees, especially if they operate a childcare facilities or school and universities etc. Since they generally operate a facility, churches are consumers of electricity for lights, sound equipments, video equipments and energy to heat and cool the often large, open spaces. They also use insurance, maintenance, landscaping, and construction services (albeit sometimes as volunteer labor), and they consume office supplies, furniture, curriculum materials, and specialty church items.
Did you know that More than 8 in ten people are affiliated with a Christian religion, and half are Protestants - a member or follower of any of the Christian Churches that are separate from the Roman Catholic Church in accordance with the principles of the Reformation, including the Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran Churches.
On a more personal level, many entrepreneurs report that the christian and religious community have been an important source of moral support for them as they start and grow their businesses. The connections and prayers made in a worship community on their behalf has lead to financial opportunities as well.
Beyond their role as consumers of goods and services, however, churches and their members are also a force for economic development in their local communities.
The church in africa and the whole world is aware of its important role in economic development since the time of slavery. In 1977, Gil B. Lloyd wrote an article, “The Black Church and Economic Development,” in which he demonstrated that, historically, the Black church has played an important role in the social and economic life of the Black community. He argued that the Black church, often in partnership with the federal government, has provided both moral and economic impetus(the force or energy with which a body moves) for the economic redevelopment of urban areas.
Fast forward to 1993, when Black Enterprise featured a cover story entitled, “The New Agenda of the Black Church: Economic Development for Black America.” In it, author Lloyd Gite profiles the work done by Black churches in several urban areas, including Detroit’s Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, which invested heavily in local economic development projects, from building shopping centers to senior citizen housing in order to create jobs, this is slowly but sure coming to pass also in Botswana churches and businesses thus this brings me to mega and not so mega churches in Africa ran by African man of God who have contributed emensily to the economy, business, education, infrastructure, developments, health care etc
Rev. Charles Adams, Hartford Memorial’s pastor, offered his perspective. “The church needs to concentrate on the business of creating economic institutions,” declared Adams. “The issue is jobs. People being laid off through all this corporate downsizing is affecting every black community in our countries. The church finds itself in a situation where it is the best continuing, organized entity in the black community for the acquisition and redevelopment of land, the building of business enterprises and the employment of people.”
Church has tangible evidence to Change in our Communities. In many cities and towns, the net result of diminishing government and private investment, deteriorating infrastructure, business closures and joblessness is the perpetuation of an underclass disenfranchised from mainstream society. While many of these areas are distressed and full of despair, the good news is that churches are bringing the gospel of economic development to these communities.
The CHURCHES are buying lands for project that will include affordable homes, a new worship center, a performing arts building, a recreational facilities, universities, hotels and a commercial and medical complexes
These developments could transform the Lower income communities and have rippling economic effects all over.
“When such developments take place in low-income areas, they increase property values, attract new residents and become magnets for diverse businesses and better-paying jobs. Church-based business enterprises help rebuild a community’s social infrastructure and provide such much-needed values-based services as child care, youth development, elder care and substance abuse counseling. These activities tend to lead to improved schools, better public safety and an enhanced quality-of-life. From this type of community economic development, everyone—those living in the area and those in surrounding communities—benefits.”
Finally, a recent research study by Jonathan Gruber of the MIT Department of Economics looks at the implications of religiosity for economic outcomes. He determines that a major determinant of religious participation is religious market density, or the share of the population in an area which is of an individual’s religion. His findings are that a higher market density leads to a significantly increased level of religious participation, and as well to better outcomes according to several key economic indicators: higher levels of education and income, lower levels of welfare receipt and disability, higher levels of marriage, and lower levels of divorce.
Churches and other houses of worship are part of the network of assets in a local community. Regardless of the fact that their fortunes are tied to the rise and fall of the economy, they are a significant force for economic development in at least three areas—as investors, consumers, and support groups for entrepreneurs.
DR PETROS NONKONYANE
MTH, DTH, DD, PhD
