This book presents conclusions from the first phase of a collaborative research programme on the potential role of small and intermediate urban centres in the development process. It draws on discussions and work undertaken with the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya.

This book is the result of contributions, help and support from numerous people and several agencies. We are particularly grateful to the Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries, the Swedish Council for Building Research and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) for funding the work on which this volume is based - and doing so before the subject had come to be regarded as important and relevant. Within these agencies, special thanks is due to Olle Edqvist, Pietro Garau, Bruce Hyland, Bob and Ingrid Munro and Arcot Ramachandran. We are also grateful to our friends and colleagues in IIED's Human Settlements Programme who have worked with us on this subject - Jane Bicknell, Silvia Blitzer, Ana Maria Cabrera, Maria Graciela Caputo and Julio Davila. Julio Davila deserves special thanks for his help in refining and editing the final text; so too do Jane Bicknell and Ana Maria Cabrera for patiently putting up with endless last minute changes to the text.

Love burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Love never fails, and that is who we are as flames in motion. We are God's love in motion. Even though waters may come and try to quench our love and God's light in us, know God's promise that "rivers cannot wash it away" (Song of Songs 8:7). Denise Stewart, in Flame in Motion, shares her own heartfelt story of challenges, perseverance, and clinging to God's love and the light of His saving grace through His Son, Jesus Christ. Denise openly expresses her love for God and encourages the reader to know that God's love is everlasting. God is faithful. Abiding in His love is living, breathing, and resting in love we can count on because His love for us is enduring love. God's love is not human love, even as we are reflections of His love to one another. We, despite our imperfections, are the hope of glory called to shine the light of Jesus Christ to the world. We achieve this through intimacy with our heavenly Father. Now is the time. God wants us. He loves us. Even as waters rise, no matter what is going on in our lives, they cannot quench His love because God's love never fails.

Love burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Love never fails, and that is who we are as flames in motion. We are God's love in motion. Even though waters may come and try to quench our love and God's light in us, know God's promise that "rivers cannot wash it away" (Song of Songs 8:7). Denise Stewart, in Flame in Motion, shares her own heartfelt story of challenges, perseverance, and clinging to God's love and the light of His saving grace through His Son, Jesus Christ. Denise openly expresses her love for God and encourages the reader to know that God's love is everlasting. God is faithful. Abiding in His love is living, breathing, and resting in love we can count on because His love for us is enduring love. God's love is not human love, even as we are reflections of His love to one another. We, despite our imperfections, are the hope of glory called to shine the light of Jesus Christ to the world. We achieve this through intimacy with our heavenly Father. Now is the time. God wants us. He loves us. Even as waters rise, no matter what is going on in our lives, they cannot quench His love because God's love never fails.