The Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) Institute

Washington, DC

April 11, 12, 2008

Sponsor/Local Contact Info: Peace Fellowship Church, Rev. Dennis Edwards, 202-494-9977 or go to www.peace-dc.org to send an e-mail to the church

Location: Peace Fellowship Church, 1601 Kenilworth Ave. NE, Washington, DC, 20019 (Please note that Peace Fellowship meets at the VFW building. Directions are on our website – see above.)

Dates/Times:

Friday, April 11, 9 am - 4 pm, “Relocation: Living In the Community” Rudy Carrasco

Saturday, April 12, 9 am – 4 pm, “Listening to the Community” Dr. Mary Nelson

Cost: $75 per class

For more information about the CCDA Institute in general, check out www.ccda.org. To learn more about this opportunity in DC, please contact Rev. Dennis Edwards (see contact info above).

Mission

The mission of the CCDA Institute is to equip our members in the ministry philosophy of Christian Community Development.

History

Almost from the beginning of CCDA, the board has consistently supported the idea of formalizing its core philosophy as an association and educating its membership in the key principles of Christian

Community Development. Through the writings of Dr. John Perkins and other CCDA board members like Dr.Wayne Gordon and Dr. Bob Lupton, CCDA has begun to clearly articulate the key principles that

distinguish CCD from other urban or faith-based approaches to working in at-risk communities.

In the last few years the education committee of CCDA began to develop the strategic direction for a new CCDA Institute, that would disseminate the CCDA philosophy to its members and others engaged in

ministry to the poor and marginalized. The goal is to teach a first-rate curriculum developed and presented by proven practitioners, and to do it in a way that is practical, regional, and affordable.

“Relocation: Living In the Community” – Class Description

“Jesus relocated. He didn’t commute to earth one day a week and shoot back up to heaven. He left His throne and became one of us so that we might see the life of God revealed in Him” — John Perkins 1982, 88

“Jesus isn’t here right now, we need to be Jesus in the neighborhood!” — John Perkins at 2002 CCDA Conference

How did Jesus love? "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) Jesus relocated. He became one of us. He didn't commute back and forth to heaven. Similarly, the most effective messenger of the gospel to the poor will also live among the poor

that God has called the person to. A key phrase to understand relocation is incarnational ministry.

In this Institute class, we will explore both theological and practical aspects of living among the poor, and provide students an opportunity to dialogue about the benefits and challenges of incarnational living.

Key Objectives:

• To gain a clear Biblical basis for incarnational ministry • To explore practical strategies for relocation

• To provide a safe place to dialogue about the benefits and challenges of living in the community

Required Reading:

Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal

Relationships, by Sherwood Lingenfelter and Marvin K. Mayers

Ministering Cross-Culturally examines the significance of the incarnation for effective cross-cultural ministry.

The authors demonstrates that Jesus needed to learn and understand the culture in which he lived before he could

undertake his public ministry. The ideas in this book have proven proven to be successful for thousands of

ministers.

“Listening to the Community” – Class Description

In order to build trust with people who may be suspicious about our motives for being in the ‘hood’ because of negative past experiences, stereotypes, or ignorance, we must begin by getting to know people right where they are at. As we listen to their stories and get to know their hopes and concerns for the present and future, we also begin to identify one another’s deepest felt-needs; those hurts and longings that allows us opportunities to connect with

people on a deeper level, which is always necessary for true reconciliation to take place.

It is essential for community leaders to help the community focus on maximizing their strengths and abilities to make a difference for their community. The philosophy of Christian Community Development believes that the

people with the problem have the best solutions and opportunities to solve those problems.

Christian Community Development affirms the dignity of individuals and encourages the engagement of the community to use their own resources and assets to bring about sustainable change.

Key Objectives:

• To understand the importance of listening to others as an act of respect and empowerment • To learn some new tools for discovering the assets of our communities

• To explore the tension that exists between focusing on meeting needs and developing assets in a given community

Required Reading:

Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and

Mobilizing a Community's Assets, by John P. Kretzmann and John L.

McKnight

This guide summarizes lessons learned by studying successful community-building initiatives in hundreds of

neighborhoods across the U.S. It outlines what local communities can do to start their own journeys down the

path of asset-based development.