What do we need to release this season?How can I prepare myself for the arrival of Jesus when the Christmas season can bring about some unpleasant feelings? The Christmas season can be a time of trouble and worry for many people. It can be a hectic season, a rough reality, and our hearts may be …
Embracing Advent: Preparing Our Hearts for a Meaningful Christmas Celebration
The lights are up. The stores are bursting with tinsel, decorative trees and gifts galore. All around the world, a great "to-do" is made about Christmas. But just what are we really celebrating? The coming of Christ is undoubtedly one of the most monumental events in history; however, …
Holding onto Hope
I’ve been thinking a lot about the first Advent and the early years of Jesus’ childhood. I wonder what Mary was thinking as she brought her son into the world, so far from home. Instead of nesting she had to flee to Bethlehem. So much for planning a cozy home birth. And yet, she held …
Waiting on His Justice and Transformation
By Sunny Sue Chang JonasTransformation. We wait for His transformation. We wait in line to buy a snack, we wait for a friend to return a phone call, we wait for the day to be over, or for a new day to begin. We anticipate what’s coming next and in doing so, we wait. In fact, sometimes …
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A Letter from Interim President & CEO Dr. Mary Nelson
Dear CCDA Family,I am excited about my new role as Interim President & CEO of CCDA. Bringing over 50 years of experience in Chicago-based Christian Community Development as well as national leadership on several fronts, I am ready to serve our much needed association. Joining our strong …
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Without Walls or Borders
by Christina FoorOne beautiful piece of the Gospel is how God weaves together stories of people from all different backgrounds. In a small migrant shelter in Juarez, Mexico, people from several divergent worlds gathered together – Cuban asylum seekers, college students from both sides of the border, …
CCDA & Value Our Families Coalition
By Jamesetta TambahOn Wednesday, July 17th, I had the opportunity to advocate in Washington D.C. on behalf of my family on the issue of immigration. I am Jamesetta Tambah, the daughter of Liberian refugees who came to the United States in the early 90’s under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). …
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Lenten Immerse: Hospitality
Can you think of a time when you received hospitality from someone? Maybe it was an expression of kindness, a welcoming embrace, a warm meal, or a listening ear. Perhaps it took the form of someone who supported you when you didn’t feel you deserved it, or a new friend in an unfamiliar place. Take a …