Often, as I travel, someone will ask me: “What is it that CCDA is really trying to accomplish?” Without missing a beat, I quickly respond that our vision is to see Christians and the ministries that they lead work effectively to bring the biblically informed philosophy of Christian Community Development to bear in under-resourced neighborhoods, resulting in flourishing neighborhoods for the glory of God!
“It is humbling to hear that Jeff [Johnson, founder of Mile High Ministries], a veteran of CCD work, continues to see the value of connecting to our association. He described the ways that we have served some of their leaders through our cohort program and have provided support for their staff through connections with other CCDA-ers around the country.”
Ultimately, CCDA is passionate about unleashing and empowering the church to be fully committed agents of hope and change in vulnerable neighborhoods while keeping this vision for the transformation of both people and places as a missional priority.
Because so many of our staff, board, cohort and organizational members actually live in these kinds of neighborhoods, it is impossible for us to ignore the need for deep-rooted transformation.
I love it when I run across a CCDA member who tells me that their entire church or ministry is based on the principles of CCD. They usually go on to talk about their first encounter with somebody living out this philosophy or the first CCDA conference that they attended that blew their minds because they thought they were alone in this work.
“At the National Office, we constantly remind ourselves that we are not CCDA but that we exist to serve our local members throughout the world, who are CCDA!”
I was recently in Denver, CO speaking with Jeff Johnson, one of the founders of Mile High Ministries in that city. His team has been faithfully living out the principles of CCD for over 25 years. As we talked, he expressed how important their connection to CCDA has been.
It is humbling to hear that Jeff, a veteran of CCD work, continues to see the value of connecting to our association. He described the ways that we have served some of their leaders through our cohort program and have provided support for their staff through connections with other CCDA-ers around the country. I felt encouraged as I listened to his report, that our work of inspiring, training, and connecting Christians with a passion to invest their lives in rebuilding vulnerable communities alongside the poor is of ultimate importance.
I am grateful for the thousands of leaders like Jeff around the country who lead ministries that are faithfully working to bring about kingdom impact in very difficult situations. I’m convinced, more than ever, that we need each other to stay faithful to pursuing the burden that God has placed on our hearts to engage in grassroots, transformational ministry.
“I am imagining what CCDA might look like if, together, we would commit to expanding our influence with leaders, ministries and churches throughout our nation who are not yet engaged in the work of CCD.”
I am also grateful that through the efforts of CCDA members around the country, many opportunities are being offered to encourage those of us in this work. Through the offering of regional conferences, local institute training sessions, one-night cafés, conference calls, and informal meetings, the work of connecting and inspiring one another is taking place.
At the National Office, we constantly remind ourselves that we are not CCDA but that we exist to serve our local members throughout the world, who are CCDA!
As I speak around the nation about the opportunity we have to build flourishing neighborhoods, I often ask those I speak to, to close their eyes and imagine what kind of neighborhood they are working to create for themselves, for their children and for their neighbors. Right now, I am also imagining what CCDA might look like if, together, we would commit to expanding our influence with leaders, ministries and churches throughout our nation who are not yet engaged in the work of CCD.
I strongly encourage you to become a CCDA Organizational Member today!
Thank you for your partnership with us as we seek to be agents of His Kingdom here on earth.
Noel
