Audio by album ccda_2007

Christian Community Development Association's 2007 Conference Wednesday Evening Plenary with Robert Guerrero.

Christian Community Development Association's 2007 Conference Thursday Morning Plenary "Panel on Kingdom Economics" with Gordon Murphy.

Christian Community Development Association's 2007 Conference Thursday Evening Plenary with Dr. A.R. Bernard.

Christian Community Development Association's 2007 Conference Friday Morning Plenary with Dr. Wayne Gordon.

This workshop urges a holistic understanding of good traditional towns and neighborhoods as communities of justice and generosity, and focuses especially on the importance of traditional urban and architectural form and the place of faith communities in promoting a beautiful civic realm. The workshop will entail an hour long slide presentation followed by a 15-20 minute discussion.

This workshop will examine the various theological methodologies on the question of the interaction of faith and culture in order to provide a more theologically equipped approach to the multiethnic ministry of the urban ethos.

Rev. Cheryl Sanders gives the Friday evening plenary at CCDA 2007.

Dr. John Perkins leads the Sunday morning Bible study at CCDA 2007.

Is your non-profit evaluating whether your current facility best meets your needs and mission? Are you engaged in developing a real-estate strategy for the future?  In this session, your non-profit can learn how to meet the exciting challenges of growth and development involved in the creation of a new facility.

In this workshop, Noel will share what has happened in his life in the last 6 months to motivate him to lose 40 pounds and get his diabetes under control.  All of us in CCDA are running so hard working to take care of others, that we often neglect to take care of ourselves, both spiritually and physically.  Come and get motivated and informed on how you can take 3 practical steps to regain control of your health today.  If Noel can make these drastic changes in his life, you can too!

Corporate profiteers produce and market media for a target youth audience they call mooks and midriffs, "caricatures that exploit adolescent insecurities and hormones," a strategy described as, "grabbing below the belt and reaching for their wallets." The result: average teens now consume digital media for 72 hours each week and increasingly digest that media online in what the New York Times calls, "Websites Without Rules."

This workshop will focus on a proven 12-step personal solicitation program based on the popular Moody Press book People Raising: A Practical Guide to Raising Support. Also a 6-hour DVD/video curriculum and web site www.PeopleRaising.com will be introduced for ongoing fund raising training.

Launching Point is an innovative program developed for people interested in starting a nonprofit ministry in their community.     CDP will provide step-by-step instructions to help a ministry team to...     (1) Form a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation; (2)Establish and train a governing Board of Directors; (3) Develop a strategic plan, establishing goals and objectives for the short and long term; (4)Develop a Resource Development Plan to bring ongoing revenue into the ministry; and, (5) Create an Image Development Plan to build a positive image and market the organization both inside and outside the community.

Dr. Bob Lupton presents the "Empowerment" workshop at CCDA 2007.

In the midst of disasters, the Christian community has the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ to people who are hurting.  World Vision is implementing a national strategy to more effectively respond to disasters at the local, regional and national level.  We will present a few models and ideas on how to be more strategically effective in mobilizing resources and share opportunities for partnering together to serve those impacted most by disaster and crisis.

LFA has leaned on St. Paul as the first urban minister and used his genius of strategically concentrating on key cities and his ability to adapt the Gospel to a particular context.  This seminar will explore how, in our post-modern, global, and urban world, to take the timeless truths of the Gospel and adapt them to current realities.

This workshop is about ways to put the Word of God back into the public schools. It describes how to partner with churches to set up "Good News clubs" in the schools, train volunteers how to minister to children and how to reach into the families of those children as well.

Designed for those beginning their "urban ministry" journey: volunteer, relocator, donor, neighbor, old or young.  "Where do I begin?"  "Should I plug in with an existing ministry or start my own?"  We will look at 5 types of ministry structures, their expectations, limitations, and how they affect the neighborhood.

Got Stuff?  Everybody does!  Learn innovative ideas to increase funds, provide employment opportunities, and broaden public awareness of your ministry through thrift, recycle, and scriptural redistribution!  Is thrift right for your ministry? Do you want to improve an existing operation to make it produce more?  Join this fun workshop.

The Holy Spirit and the present and social dimensions of the Kingdom of God such as social oppression and social justice issues will be the focus. Key Scriptures will be the Messianic passages from Isaiah which tie the Spirit, Kingdom, and Justice together. See also Luke 4:18-19, Acts 1:1-8, and Romans 14:17. How can we release the Spirit to incarnate the Kingdom among the poor and oppressed?

How do you develop a Christian community development ministry?  Learn the key elements needed to have a successful ministry.

Using the Relational Tithe as a model of redistribution, this workshop will explore purposes of the tithe as described and prescribed in the Bible.  The workshop will also facilitate dialog around common contemporary congregational uses of the tithe and where those uses converge or diverge from the Biblical tithe's original intent.  Workshop will include Q&A with people who have implemented the Relational Tithe model of redistribution in the community and congregational settings.

CCDA’s third “R” (redistribution) refers to the economic empowerment and justice that can result from creative, accountable stewardship. This workshop explores the Biblical foundations of stewardship that brings economic transformation, with a special focus on understanding the free market.

Dr. Mary Nelson presents the "Economic Development in the Hood" workshop at CCDA 2007.

This workshop will inform participants about utilizing mentoring to reach out to the children of prison inmates and their families.  The resource of local ChristianUniversity faculty and students will be discussed.  The Taylor University-Ft. Wayne/ Prison Fellowship Mentoring program will be discussed.

Rev. Efrem Smith presents the "Raising Up Young Heroes" workshop at CCDA 2007.

What makes a church a visible demonstration of Jesus' grace and justice in a community? Is it normal to struggle when my church looks more like dysfunctional Corinth than the spotless Bride of Christ? New City Fellowship St. Louis has been asking itself that question for over 15 years in the context of white/black hatred, an influx of 50,000 immigrants and refugees, decaying urban infrastructure, political ineptitude and New City's own mess of sin! Join us as we discuss the core values Jesus has guided us in for the past 15 years and, we hope, many decades to come...Core Values of: the Gospel of Grace; the Kingdom of God; Reconciliation; Team Ministry; the Promises of God; Humility and Weakness; and Trials.

The needs in urban ministry can be overwhelming and often time intensive. This workshop will consider how to balance competing time demands. We will look at a model to evaluate your priorities and set appropriate boundaries.

Urban communities are prime targets for marketing products, images, and ideologies of conspicuous consumption. The drive to build false images of wealth in urban communities is tempting and pushing the poor into lives of consumption and credit. This workshop will provide an overview of the issue, and present a prophetic biblical model to speak against the domination of the poor as profit-engines for corporate wealth.

Effective leaders are effective collaborators, aware of the rich resources present in their organizations and communities. Participants are challenged to identify those resources, build healthy partnerships, and work closely with others.

Mentoring takes many shapes and directions.  This workshop provides you with a comprehensive description of foundational essentials to build a successful mentoring ministry to reach urban youth for long-term growth.  At the completion of this workshop you will have your own mentor manual to refer to after the conference.

Dr. Barbara Williams Skinner & Dr. Isaias Mercado present the "Reconciliation" workshop at CCDA 2007.

Craig Wong & Shane Claiborne present the "Redistribution" workshop at CCDA 2007.

This workshop equips Leaders with tools to develop relationships with other Churches, Ministries, and Organizations within their City - leading to more effective outcomes!

Effective leaders recognize the importance of "bringing out the best" in others.  Participants learn how to identify others' strengths, vary their leadership style, and implement appropriate strategies to develop the talent of those around them.

This session explores the various aspects of Web Site and e-Mail relationship building as it is being used in today's faith based ministries focusing on case studies.  You will be surprised at how simple it can be!  Actual examples of breakthrough usage and results will be illustrated.

Advocacy makes a difference in the lives of those who live in poverty and are marginalized.  As Christians, we are called to serve as advocates for those in need.  This workshop will offer practical strategies to identify the root causes of injustice in your community, mobilize key community stakeholders to speak out for sustainable change, and develop an effective advocacy platform and implementation strategy that best addresses the needs of your community.  We will include discussion on the role young people can play as partners and advocates for change in their own communities.

Problems of mental health and substance abuse affect a significant portion of the general population and exact an even greater toll on those living in poverty.  This workshop will cover signs and symptoms of the most common mental illnesses, an overview of treatment options and current research, as well as issues specific to the community of faith.

An introduction to a strategy learned from neighborhood leaders and documented in Building Communities from the Inside Out: Asset Based Community Development, by John P. Kretzmann and John L. McKnight.  Implementation of "ABCD" requires a clear commitment to discovering a community's capacities and assets i.e. gifts of individuals, associations, institutions.

This workshop will examine the basic models of how non profit organizations and churches can successful work together.  Guidelines and foundational issues will be address along with successful models.  We will examine various levels of collaborations.

Why are two religious groups with doctrinal affinity so estranged relationally and politically?  This workshop delved into the historical reasons for the current development as to why the white bible-based church community is so divided.

This workshop is designed to offer insights and practical application for mutually edifying serving experiences between suburban and urban churches who are currently in a partnering relationship.

This workshop will examine the history and mission of credit unions.  We will look at examples of credit unions serving the poor in communities throughout the US.  We will discover innovative strategies for starting a new credit union or partnering with existing institutions.  Come and discover how a credit union can be part of fulfilling the CCDA value of Redistribution by bringing services and resources to help people work their way out of poverty.

Many churches foster race and class divisions by appealing to consumer appetites.  This presentation challenges consumerism's fostering of ethnic and economic segregation in the evangelical church, and offers a theologically grounded call to restructure the church's passions and practices in view of a nobler, all-consuming vision of the Christian faith.

Come and learn from the wisdom of Dr. John Perkins and Dr. Wayne "Coach" Gordon as they field questions about Christian Community Development; and bring any questions that you may have to be answered by these founders and veterans of CCDA.

The workshop will detail the impacts of climate change on the poor in inner cities in the U.S., what actions can be taken to make people less vulnerable to heat waves and other impacts of climate change, and what actions Christians involved in community development can take to help solve global warming.

The crux of LFA or any movement is to be able to translate its passion into a concrete program that incarnates opportunities for those we serve.  This seminar will analyze a number of best practices and how they achieved this capacity.

Research can serve ministry by helping to exegete the context, address a problem, identify assets and stakeholders, assess impact, or move toward a goal.  This workshop provides an overview of methodological, theological and ethical dynamics of ministry-related research, focusing on participatory action research that involves the community in problem-solving learning.

This workshop is centered around teaching the body of Christ to live and be missional, and how we have shifted our ideas of surface church ministry toward community development.

What if church is the best answer we have to the problem of race?  Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Chaequa Walker-Barnes share their journeys from Klan country and black militancy to a common vision for life together in the body of Christ.  They discuss how Christians--black and white--can rethink poverty, family, education, and health together in the context of church beyond the color line.

Recognizing conflicting core values as the primary obstacle to understanding and reconciliation, From Suburbia to Urbana reveals common leadership struggles that many well-intentioned leaders from suburban culture often face when initiating community development efforts in urban environments for the first time.  Very popular with suburban churches.

After more than five years in Binghampton, our Christian community development efforts include three house churches, a full-service primary medical clinic, a housing rehabilitation ministry, a Community Development Corporation, and a track record of sending missionaries to Afghanistan, India, and Somalia.  Why does it sometimes feel like we're failing?

Imagine a world where the Church and Police Officers are partnered together to mentor students, helping them to find God's hope for their lives and where people of God care for Law Enforcement Agencies as they protect our urban streets (just like the Apostle Paul cared for his jailers in Acts 16).  Police Chaplains have the potential to be the men/women of God's peace, connect with the Police Department and Community being served, build relationships with the most at-risk youth and impact the Police Department and Community with God's hope and love.  This seminar will help give understanding to what Police Chaplaincy is about and how to get involved in your city.

Are you called to serve the city yet you are facing tough educational choices for your children?  Dr.’s Rebecca and Chris Gray interviewed mission-minded families across the country researching the choices and affects of school choice whether inner city public school, private, home schooling and charter school.  Rebecca opened in August 2007 a public charter school k-8th, International Baccalaureate Program single gender, dual language (English and Chinese).  Come here more about that effort based on their research.

King's earliest sermons demonstrate his conviction that the Gospel must deal with the daily struggles facing the poor and marginalized.  Newly released early documents chronicle King's early preaching and theological development, and demonstrate the power of the Montgomery community in refining and emboldening the symbolic leader of the Movement.

How history has defined today.  This will be discussion, Q & A dialogue and debate about what to do with the dilemma history has handed us.  (Participation requires attendance in the workshop, The Historical Clash of Race, Politics and Church)

1.  This workshop will provide historical evidences that illustrate why the church is divided along racial lines.  2.  It will identify key hindrances to racial unity within the Body of Christ.  3.  The workshop will introduce ways and means to heal the racial division that exists in the Church.

The Issachar Community is a residential experience equipping young adults from low-income, high-risk urban communities for servant-leadership, locally and globally.  The two-year experience helps young adults, 1) make the transition to healthy, interdependent adult living; 2) build a bridge to higher education; 3) learn basic tools of social analysis for practical and effective community leadership; and 4) develop the spiritual resources for a life of service in hard places.

How can you attract and retain good board members?  Give them the right job and the right tools.  Governance is the highest level of organizational leadership.  Policy Governance is an approach to the job of governance that emphasizes values, vision, empowerment of both board and staff, and the strategic ability to lead leaders.

Living and serving in the city means encountering injustice in many forms, including pollution, heat waves, unjust transportation systems, hazardous buildings and roads, and missing greenspace.  Recognizing, coping with, and solving urban environmental problems is a way of building community and needs to be part of our relocational ministries.

To discuss with the group how you move from providing services to the urban poor to development that transforms individuals who then transform their neighborhood physically, spiritually, socially and mentally from the inside.  The process empowers them to take action and responsibility for their own lives and then, networked together, they begin to transform their neighborhood.

CYD promotes the involvement of young people in their own development and that of the community--in partnership with adults--to make use of their talents and increase their investment in community life.  CYD is about young people actively involved, as agents of change, in the process of developing their own identity, self worth, interdependence, and sense of belonging, as well as their connection to family, community, the earth, and the sacred.  This seminar presents principles of a biblically based approach to youth development, identifies features and strategies for CYD and provides examples and resources of CYD.

The value of volunteers is typically measured based on cost-savings to the non-profit organization, not the inherent non-measurable cause-related benefits they bring.  This workshop will investigate how to develop a system of assessment that will enable the volunteer director to fully realize the benefits of volunteerism and recruit and motivate accordingly.

Bad people don't make bad marriages, but wounded people who have never learned key skills in overcoming conflict do make bad marriages.  This workshop will explain the difference between events and issues and how couples can learn to solve the underlying issues in their relationship without getting stuck and feeling hopeless.  Participants will learn to identify the destructive communication patterns in relationships and learn ways to improve communication with the emphasis on better problem solving skills.  As couples begin to solve their relational problems, they gain more emotional safety and trust with one another.  The workshop will emphasize how providing couples with the skills to develop

This workshop provides practical steps for moving a suburban congregation from a point of apathy to active engagement with social justice issues.  We will talk about some of the barriers that suburban churches face and how to overcome them.  We will address both individual and corporate ideas about how to live out social justice within your congregation.

Effective leaders understand the importance of living a balanced life, concerned with the development of the whole person.  One of the ways to achieve that is to regularly seek feedback and guidance from trusted source.  Workshop participants learn how to identify priorities, examine their use of time, and develop personal growth plans.  They are encouraged to appreciate the value of supportive accountability relationships in accomplishing this.

A workshop to provoke the Christian political imagination.  The question is not are we political... but how are we political?  God is forming a peculiar people &set apart from the nations; who are the embodiment of a political alternative to empires, and their markets and militaries.

There is a significant difference is serving the poor through a local church and being church with them.  This workshop will reflect on the theological and practical guidelines of how to include the poor and marginalized as a part of the church and worship team.  The leaders founded Church Under the Bridge in Waco, Texas fifteen years ago and continue to serve there.

Sustaining a vibrant ministry in the city requires cultivating a balance of loving God and man (Micah 6:8).  This workshop focuses on the spiritual life of the urban worker, encouraging a prayerful, passionate walk with the Lord, character by holiness, humility, and compassion.

How does a believer who desires to demonstrate the love of Jesus in an at-risk urban neighborhood balance the demands of ministry, faithfulness to one's family, and personal renewal?  How do we find the balance between doing and being when faced with frequent crises and apparently intractable problems?  This seminar shares practical lessons from over 25 years of incarnational CCD, and is designed to encourage spiritual vitality and perseverance in those who minister in urban communities.

We will talk about the foundational principles that have helped us work in partnership for 13 years as we have heard "The Call" of ministry, lived with "The Confusion" in the process and engaged in "The Community" or our neighborhood and larger community.

Alvin Bibbs presents the topic "Developing Urban & Suburban Partnerships" at the CCDA 2007 Conference.

Andy Krumsieg and Leroy Gill Jr. present the Saturday Morning Plenary Session during the CCDA 2007 Conference.

Phil Jackson and Efrem Smith present the Saturday Evening Plenary Session during the CCDA 2007 Conference.

Rev. Phil Jackson and Rev. Efrem Smith present their workshop, "Beyond the Walls of Paternalism," at the CCDA 2007 Conference.

The workshop will present the philosophy and implementation of using the tools of Holistic Hardware -- Biblically based life and job skills -- to rebuild broken lives. The ten tools -- Vision, Responsibility, Self-esteem, Faith, Discipline, Association, Planning, Work, Wealth and Love -- will be presented through a video featuring success stories and dramatic vignettes.

World Vision has adopted the common framework of Transformational Development as the preferred model for development throughout the world and the United States.  Transformational Development is defined as a process and action through which children, families, and communities move toward fullness of life with dignity, justice, peace, and hope.  In addition to this workshop, the following workshops will provide further information on TD: “Get Stuff and Give It Away”, “Connecting the Dots&rdqu

Is grant writing "rocket science," or is it something that your organization could learn to do? Explore these opportunities with a consultant who has been a state and federal grant reviewer and who has helped organizations to receive $18 million from 40 grant funding sources.

People are weary of mixing faith and politics. But as people of faith it is a moral calling to work for justice.  Micah 6:8 asks, And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. This workshop focuses on engaging in politics from the platform of an informed Christian worldview, being servant witness in the public square, and creating policies, laws and systems that work for everyone.

This workshop is designed for the church that wants to provide continuity of ministry to the new mission field in their community. These churches know that somewhere over the years, they have gone from a thriving and relevant church to a declining, weak congregation that is now more concerned about survival than mission. They want to get back to the fresh vision, excitement and relevancy they had when they first began as a restart.

A workshop focused on elevating your youth ministry with simple and practical ideas for the urban youth worker. Leaders will discuss the importance of building a holistic environment that will transform the lives of youth, as they frequent their neighborhoods, homes, and schools. This workshop will take your ministry to another level by utilizing resources and team concepts to build upon relationships and engage in all areas of your kids’ lives.

"I need a job." What do you do when someone says those words?  How do we help them find meaningful work and regain their dignity, value, and purpose?  What can we do to ensure they not only obtain but also retain employment that helps them take care of themselves and their families?  This session will explore Jobs for Life's proven, biblically-based strategy used by churches, community non-profits, prison re-entry programs, rescue missions, and many others across the country to equip men and women for work and help them experience life in Christ.  Come learn how this valuable ministry might strength

An introduction for beginners in advocacy: Biblical and value core of why we as Christians advocate, and the mandate to advocate on behalf of the poor. Practical applications and opportunities with local and national issues.

Join Dr. Jember Teferra as she tells stories and shares wisdom from her many years of living among and ministering to the poor in the slums of Addis Ababa.

For those looking to begin addressing the health care needs of those in their communities, workshop presenters will provide an account of how they started a Christian Health Center from an idea to a reality. Information concerning the nature of community and free health clinics, dynamics of the health care system in relation to the uninsured and underinsured, and creative techniques and strategies to start a clinic will also be offered.

Yvonne Dodd-Sawyer and Dan Hodge present the topic "Developmental Youth Ministry" at the CCDA 2007 Conference.

John Perkins presents his Friday Morning Bible Study at the 2007 CCDA Conference.

John Perkins presents his Saturday Morning Bible Study at the 2007 CCDA Conference.

Through this presentation, people will learn the Biblical foundation for preparation and the how's of preparing for Urban Ministry while attending college.

We will explore God's vision for the Beloved Community, addressing both policy reforms and result oriented programs that help move communities from brokenness to wholeness. The workshop will provide a guiding vision and direction for community development efforts that encompass transformation, empowerment, and systematic change.

Are you looking for financial resources, access to expertise in many fields and a team of positive ambassadors?  That's what a strong board of directors can bring to a ministry like yours.  Learn how to build excellence with your board and get tools to help you start now.

Jimmy Dorrell presents the topic "Wholistic Ministry" at the CCDA 2007 Conference.

Realize. Release. Repent. Renounce. Revoke. Replace. RESTORE. This workshop will introduce community developers to the transformational ministry of inner healing - ministering to the mind, the will and the emotions. While we often focus on feeding and nurturing the spirit, this workshop will emphasize the importance of becoming "whole in the soul." (1 Thes. 5:23)

This workshop will lay out a strategy that shows the church how to establish a comprehensive mentoring initiative that will focus on mentoring youth in schools, juvenile courts and incarceration facilities, foster care and children and youth athletic programs. The mentoring relationships will serve as the bridge to share the Gospel with youth and their families.

How to utilize and empower Donors and Volunteers to disciple young people. This workshop presents ideas on how to recruit, train and equip volunteers and donors to empower young people using their individual gifts and talents.

Andy Bales, utilizing over 20 years of experience working alongside the homeless, will share how Union Rescue Mission has worked to overcome NIMBYism and provide opportunities for homeless men, women and children.  His work, as it relates to hospitals, law enforcement and other agencies “dumping” homeless people in the Skid Row area, has been featured in national and local news.  Andy Bales will share strategies on how to be a blessing to our homeless friends and how to use local media in meeting the opposition.

First, this presentation will challenge your ministry with all kids, not only kids in pain.  Second, ministering to kids in pain is real and risky but it places you where God is at work (Psalm 107:23-24).  Third, this will be a type of 21st century ministry boot camp!

A gap exists between traditional seminary education and innovative movements among churches. For theology to be rooted in reflection on practice, theologians must learn from those churches on the leading edge of transformative ministry. The presentation examines insights from interviews with leaders of CCDA and other exemplary church-based work.

In communities blighted by absent fathers, incarceration, underperforming school districts, drugs, and other social ills, how can youth ministries and CCD agencies come alongside individual youths to equip and empower them for leadership?  Is developing indigenous leaders even worth the heartache and effort?  Examine the myths, methods, and messages of effective mentorship.

Immigrants from the Middle East are a common-- and frequently misunderstood-- presence in many urban neighborhoods.  This workshop examines the background and culture of Arab Americans.  You will receive tools for reaching out to Arab families and for breaking through cultural barriers which form a wall around this ethnic and language minority group.

LFA believes that one’s Christology will determine a relevant and concrete application of ministry.  To that end, this seminar will demonstrate Jesus’ relationship to the city and how this can become operative in a local organization.

This workshop will introduce you to the necessities and realities of entrepreneurship training for urban youth. Participants will learn the steps to lead an interactive, hands-on, and fun entrepreneurship course with ideas and resources on developing an entrepreneurship program.

Workshop is desinged to combat teen pregnancies and prevent STD's.  The program connects with churches, youth centers and public schools to give youth skills to form positive relationships and delay sexual activity until marriage.  Participants will learn to connect and teach these biblical principles in their public schools.

An unstructured dialogue with an urban veteran who has fascinating stories to tell, wisdom to share and fresh perspectives on current trends in urban ministry.  Bring your questions and opinions and enjoy some lively conversation.

Sharing from personal experience in leadership succession and the literature from the field from a founding leader to a next generation community leader.  Sharing the possibilities, pitfalls and necessity of having a succession plan and planning ahead...for individual and the organization.  Can be an opportunity for organizational growth in the process.

This workshop will explore the nature and scope of  problem gambling, its negative effects on families, churches and communities and approaches to its cure.  Attendees will learn how to detect problem gambling and will discover resources to help minister to those caught in this addiction, as well as their families.

The theology of housing, a brief history of US housing policy and eleven ways to create affordability including housing, Community Land Trusts, Cooperative Housing and more will be discussed. Participants gain tools in how to evaluate the various models and which models might be appropriate for their local context.

The great commission has given the church a great purpose statement.  Unfortunately, top evangelical thinkers today have often fallen short when interpreting and applying this important text.  Properly understood and applied this passage will lead us to cross the class and racial barriers and transform the church.

Going deeper into advocacy, providing tools and examples of effective local and national campaigns for change, using the Sojourners VOTE OUT POVERTY Campaign as an example, and the Covenant for a New America as background material.  Solicit ideas and action plans from participants to share with each other.

Those involved in community transformation ministries are increasingly realizing the interdependence between urban and suburban realities.  As a result, more attempt to cross the urban-suburban divide in order to form ministry partnerships.  This workshop seeks to point out Do's and Don'ts in this all-important endeavor to form urban-suburban partnerships.

Efforts by ministry practitioners to share their faith with those they serve often fall prey to either a passive reliance on works to speak for themselves, or a contextually inappropriate, shallow presentation of the gospel.  Holistic evangelism shares the whole gospel with people in the context of restoring whole communities.

Effective Case Management and Mentoring: Case management is art and discipline - assisting a family move into healthier and more productive practices and behaviors consistent with attaining their dreams.  Mentoring is persistent presence with loving, honest, timely feedback.  Learn and practice how in this session.

What is the Church?  Most American Christians seem inclined to describe the Church in terms of what it does or doesn't do, particularly in terms of growth or social impact.  The question then becomes, "how is the Church distinct from any other human organization?"  We Christians are quick to act, but do we know why, and to what end?  If we are unclear about our identity and mission, we risk being at best charitable or even "radical" without bearing witness to anything different than what the world can already produce.  Each presenter represents very different congregations yet they sh

This workshop will address how to navigate the medial system of today.  We will discuss how to ask questions, research diagnoses, evaluate medications and pursue further consultations.  In addition we discuss the issue of advocacy groups for those who are not educated and cannot speak for themselves.  What options are available for funding and alternatives to healthcare in the poorest areas?

It was 40 years ago in Riverside Church that Dr. Martin Luther King asserted that there is a "very obvious and almost facile connection between the war and the civil rights struggle."  This workshop examines the interrelationship between militarism, nationalism, and the racism and poverty we confront in our local communities.  What is the Church's prophetic role in speaking truth and embodying peace in this day and time?

This workshop provides the a-b-c's of mercy ministry--becoming involved, establishing relationships and offering hope--through the stories of people who have received mercy and help.  Learn a user-friendly approach to ministry with at-risk people.

To help those working with drug addicts take them from maintenance to mission.

The grants process can be a daunting task for a novice manager.  Grants can provide a substantial amount of money for a nonprofit organization; however, many faith-based organizations (fbo) have trouble meeting the high performance expectations of potential funders.  The challenge for faith-based organizations is the lack of understanding of how to manage a successful Grants program.  As an accountable, nonprofit organization, the faith-based community must develop an understanding that it is responsible for mission fulfillment, leadership on behalf of the public interest, stewardship and quality. 

Scripture mandates that "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.  The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born..." [Lev.

Experiential learning for middle-class Christians about the issues of poverty are very effective through an intensive plunge for students and adults.  The leaders have been training over 600 participants a year for twenty years to understand God's heart for the poor using Kolb's model of education.  The workshop will focus on how to design similar models of learning in your own context.

This workshop will address the devastating impact of the educational achievement gap on the 13 million poor children living in the United States today.  We will explore potential solutions through community organizations and non-profits that are working on education, particularly Teach For America, and discuss how we can collaborate to restore under-resourced communities by ensuring every child gets an excellent education.

Globalization has created an economic system which makes our traditional methods of acquiring food a way to exploit small US farmers and impoverish struggling Third-World farmers.  Examining the complicated web of relationships that makes this possible, this workshop seeks to unveil the forces behind globalization and suggest creative and practical alternatives for congregations and urban ministries to practice.

What happens when the fourth "R" - reality - meets the three "R"s of relocation, reconciliation and redistribution?  Both chaos and community!  This session helps participants explore why living in community is essential to discipleship and how to gauge the health of a group of folks seeking to live out CCDA's principles together.

Edward Gilbreath, author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity takes a look at the state of racial and cultural diversity in the American church.  How much progress have we really made?  Is it enough?  How do we move beyond superficial diversity to deeper unity?  And what does it mean for our worship, theology, politics, and everyday living?  An honest and challenging discussion about the condition of racial reconciliation in the church.

Excellence is a quality of God.  This quality should be prevalent in every ministry.  You can work smarter and enhance the performance of your ministry as it gives voice to your vision.  Developing a ministry business plan is easier that you think.  In this workshop, you will learn how to develop a dynamic ministry business plan or fine tune your current plan.

Missions is not only something the Church is called to do but also called to be.  The Church is Christ's Witness called to testify in the power of the Holy Spirit.  As we look to the book of Acts we see three primary aspects of the Church as witness: verbal proclamation of the gospel (word ministry), radical service of love (good works) and intense fellowship (worshipping community).  In this workshop we will look at instances in which these aspects are sought to be lived out as an integrated whole in the life of several local Churches throughout Latin America, drawing out principles that can enrich our efforts to partner in missions in ways that truly empower host ministries.  Come and see what

While many programs attempt to avoid a deficit approach, only a few are able to successfully overcome cultural barriers that lead to a deficit in results.  This workshop provides a framework for understanding the urban poor and non-poor and developing strategies that truly empower rather than demoralizes the urban participant.

The workshop will present the philosophy and practice of faith-based real estate development, a process whereby church-owned property in emerging urban areas is developed in order to create resources to support ministry.  Joseph Holland, a minister, real estate attorney and developer, will describe two projects he had done in Harlem which exemplify this approach.

It is a culture familiar with the hard realities of our broken world; the generation raised with rap knows about the pain.  How will they hear Christ's message of truth and hope if we don't speak their language?  And how can we speak their language if we don't understand and embrace their culture?  You will leave this workshop equipped with a deeper understanding and tools that will help you engage your youth ministry to connect the message of the Gospel in and through the spirituality of Hip-Hop.

LFA is convinced that the answer for cities transformation rests in the theological construct of a God who sees the city in its multi-faceted dimensions.  In this session we will discuss the ramifications of what it means to be in relationship with a God who is primarily interested in enlarging our eye-sight on behalf of the cities we serve.

How could a rural community be impacted if individuals from all faiths worked side-by-side to identify the most pressing needs of its citizens and create effective solutions?  This workshop examines a new model for developing and sustaining cross-denominational, laity-driven community partnerships, currently in practice in impoverished SE Missouri.

Identifying ways in which groups can help individuals, institutions and community build assets through home ownership, small business development, financial education and individual development accounts (IDA's).  Provides resources for moving into action on these efforts, based on experience.

Fortress mentalities trap congregations.  In Acts, the Early Church followed God's Spirit over the walls and into communities where God could use them as salt, light and leaven.  Antioch (the urban center where Christians were first called such) modeled how Christ-followers could lead the way while following The Way.

Community Development is an "inside" story.  When it is done appropriately, the people will say, "We did it ourselves!"  Community Development means engaging the voices, resources and actions of the residents.  To be truly "with" the community and to be effective servants, the organization or congregation must engage their members and the residents of the neighborhood in accomplishing the vision.  That is the focus of this workshop.

Reconciliation is a core value of CCDA.  But a number of shallow visions and bad ideas resist a more radical vision of God's creation of a new people across the boundaries and loyalties of our communities and world - economics, nation, power, disability, have/have-nots, race, ethnicity, individualism.  How do we radiate and embody a more authentic vision of reconciliation throughout our CCDA ministries?

No longer is homosexuality a closeted sub-population of people that does not directly affect the inner-workings of the Christian community.  This workshop is focused on educating the Christian community in how to productively build bridges within the gay population through new techniques in how to tangibly handle such a disconnected and controversial topic.

A look at the unique challenges and benefits of teaching and serving children in the urban context, with a specific focus on discipline, parent connections and youth development.  This is a discussion for the new or novice teacher or youth worker as well as those new to the urban environment or struggling in a career and/or ministry with children in the inner city.

My workshop will consist of my personal testimony and struggle with drugs and alcohol, as well as making it clear that it is crucial for the body of Christ to understand that it's "faces, not cases."  Everyone is unique and different and sometimes it is necessary to adjust the norm to meet the needs of the individual.  I also want to stress how important it is to do no further harm to the victim of the addiction.  We as pastors and lay persons must be consistent in our response to the care receiver at all times.  I want to challenge as well encourage the participants of the workshop to cherish this unique call of God to speak life to those who our society continues to call expendable.  We must remember we were called to make disciples.  It's not a