who is CCDA?

As some of us around town talk passionately about how CCDA (Christian Community Development) has been an important vehicle over the past six years for training, inspiration, and connection, we often get asked, "What is CCDA?"  This note from the CEO, Noel Castellanos, and the video below, help define CCDA...and who it is more so than what it is.

Dear Familia,

A new friend of mine (who had very little prior exposure to CCDA) attended our recent week-long Immersion in Chicago to learn more about our association. She was blown away by the experience. While she gave rave reviews about the quality of our instructors, the compelling curriculum, and the amazing leadership provided by Dave Clark and our entire staff, what made the biggest impression on her was the attendees’ personal connection to the movement of CCDA.

Although many of our founders and leaders, such as John Perkins or Wayne “Coach” Gordon, have inspired us over the years with missional lives that embody CCD (Christian Community Development) and charismatic messages, CCDA is not any one person. CCDA is not an organization that mandates ministry activity or controls grassroots efforts. CCDA not a funding provider (although we want to empower our ministries to become more sustainable). And neither is CCDA primarily a political or social movement—although our work requires both social and political engagement on behalf of the poor.

CCDA is, rather, a God-inspired, Spirit-led, Kingdom-centered movement of radical Christ-followers, who are passionate about entering into the pain of the poor in their communities and who are praying for and working towards the wholistic restoration of all that is broken.

Oftentimes, I haven’t been sure quite how to talk about our members because I can easily switch between saying “they,” or “you,” or “us.” I will be forever grateful to Scott Lundeen, who created our "I Am CCDA" conference video and tagline a few years ago, because it perfectly captures what I believe is at the core of who we are.

As CCDA, we want to see expressions of “neighborhood-focused church-life” thrive in communities that have often been neglected by the church at large and society. And we know that CCD ministry work is crazy, messy, exhilarating and challenging. But it is work that is connected by a broad movement we call CCDA—an association that is stewarded by our board and national office staff, but—that is ultimately fueled by YOU, our members.

Over the past month, I have met with and spoken to many CCDA board members, individual and organizational members, funders, partners, conference sponsors, Cohort participants, staff and Immersion attendees about CCDA, and I, too, am blown away by our collective love and passion for this movement—raised up “for such a time as this.”

When I consider all that God is doing through CCDA and other ministries to lift up the cause of justice in our world, I am drawn to the prayer of Jesus (from the ‘hood of Nazareth), who asked us to pray this prayer to our heavenly Father: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Together, I am convinced we can faithfully see Jesus' prayer for Kingdom presence become more of a reality in under-resourced communities across our world.

Finally, I encourage you to join us at our National Conference in the Twin Cities, September 26-29, 2012, and to remember: "Yo soy, tu eres, nosotros somos CCDA" (I am, you are, together we are, CCDA).

Much love,
Noel