Research Spotlight: Dr. Rennae de Freitas, Department Chair of Intercultural Studies

As global reliance on nonprofit organizations continues to expand in addressing social issues, Dr. Rennae de Freitas, Department Chair of Intercultural Studies at Nelson University, offers a compelling case for reinvigorating the role of the local church as a central agent of sustainable transformation. In her recently completed Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies—with a concentration in relief and development—Dr. de Freitas explores how churches can, and should, be repositioned as primary partners in community development initiatives.

Her dissertation, portions of which have been published in Missiology and the International Journal of Pentecostal Missiology, examines the Pentecostal Church in Latin America, with a particular focus on its partnership with ChildHope. This ministry supports holistic education through church-affiliated schools, working directly with local Assemblies of God congregations to provide long-term, community-based solutions to poverty, with many of these children sponsored by people in AG churches here in North America. 

What sets this model apart, according to Dr. de Freitas, is its commitment to ecclesial partnership. These efforts are not para-church interventions but are embedded within the life and ministry of local congregations. Children who attend the schools are raised within the church community and often return as adults to serve, teach, or pastor. The result is a self-sustaining ecosystem of spiritual formation, educational advancement, and social uplift—rooted in the local church.

Dr. de Freitas presented her findings at the regional conference for the Evangelical Missiological Society held at Dallas Theological Seminary, emphasizing the theological and practical implications of her research on church-centered community transformation. She argues that when the church is equipped with theological depth, community vision, and structural support, it becomes uniquely positioned to lead transformational change—not just spiritually, but socially and economically.

This approach has significant implications for the training of future practitioners. At Nelson University, Dr. de Freitas is leading curricular development that prepares students in Intercultural Studies and Humanitarian Relief and Development to think critically about sustainability, empowerment, and the intersection of faith and service. Rather than adopting traditional NGO frameworks, students are encouraged to work through and alongside local churches, recognizing them as enduring pillars of trust, leadership, and holistic mission in their communities.

Her research continues to shape conversations within both academic and ministry circles, inviting a reimagining of how faith-based organizations and churches can collaborate without displacing the spiritual and social capital already present in local contexts.

Dr. de Freitas’s work reinforces Nelson University’s commitment to thoughtful scholarship, global mission, and the equipping of servant leaders who engage the world with wisdom and compassion. Her vision is clear: when empowered and engaged, the local church remains one of the most effective instruments for long-term community transformation.

Nelson University is a private Christian university situated just 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. Established in 1927, Nelson University now offers more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degrees, both on campus and online. Committed to integrating faith and learning, Nelson University prepares students to fulfill their God-given callings in a Spirit-empowered community. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or call 1-888-937-7248.