Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) has received a $1.1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the CCDA Flourishing Congregations Initiative.The project is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. The aim of the initiative is to [...]Read More
When Worship Develops a Community
If I asked you, “What’s the one thing most needed for Christian community development?” What would you say? Strategy? Relationships? Funding? These are all essential ingredients, but is there one thing that is most important? The last year and a half have taught me and others in Cleveland, OH, that [...]Read More
Collective Imagination: Seminary Students in Portland Embrace Collaborative Influence
An Old Question with a Dangerous New MeaningSince the Covid-19 pandemic my pastor friends here in Portland, Oregon have been asking an important question: “What is our new vision?” In a place like Portland, this question has a history of leading the church toward collaborative partnerships between [...]Read More
Redefining the Role of Faith Communities through Social Entrepreneurship
In the realm of community development, the intersection of faith, business acumen, and social justice forms a potent triad. This is particularly true for faith communities that adhere to the Christian Community Development (CCD) principles. Social entrepreneurship, an innovative approach that blends [...]Read More
10 Resources for Cultivating Flourishing Church Communities
At the heart of Christian Community Development is the body of Christ fully engaged in the process of transformation. The church is uniquely equipped to affirm the dignity, gifts, and skills of individuals and communities. We want to equip you with tools to help you, your congregations, and [...]Read More
Four Ways to Support Middle Eastern Communities
In September 2017, I discovered a major discrepancy in social justice spaces as a white pastor. I came back from a human rights delegation with Community Peacemaker Teams in Iraqi Kurdistan. This was during a referendum that would’ve given the Kurds their own nation-state. It was voted on and passed [...]Read More
Restoring Community Belonging
Those Leaving Prison and Those In Churches Need Each Other To HealPrison reentry efforts can too often—unintentionally—keep men and women returning from prison isolated from the rest of their communities. With specialized reentry nonprofits, paid staff, transitional housing, and other important [...]Read More
Look! I am Doing a New Thing, Don’t You Perceive It?
Wellington Heights Community Church was birthed out of our family's living room as a group gathered to consider what it looks like to love God, neighbor, and neighborhood. We structured our time with prayer and discussion on CCDA Immerse, discerning what it may look like to embody the CCD [...]Read More