Reclaiming and Restoring Under-Resourced Communities: CCDA Coming to Hartford

Mar 3, 2013 | UA News

As we look around, we see broken relationships, divided communities, and even poverty and violence in our neighborhoods. We see many needs, and often, many of us are are diligently working – sometimes alone and sometimes with a team – to help alleviate the specific challenges that our communities are facing.

But, are we going about it the right way? 

At Urban Alliance, our vision is to see people become spiritually, physically, economically and socially healthy and whole as God intended.

Similarly, The Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), a national organization that is comprised of Christians who are committed to seeing people and communities “wholistically restored,” seeks shalom – a state where nothing is missing and nothing is broken. Their philosophy can be summed up by key components that include Reconciliation, Leadership Development, Listening to the Community and Empowerment.

We feel that in order to reclaim and restore under-resourced communities, we need to build relationships and listen – really listen – to understand how to best address challenges and work to create empowerment within the community, rather than dependency.

So, how do we get there?

Together, Urban Alliance and CCDA are offering a one-day workshop that will provide frameworks for new and different approaches – used successfully by ministries across the country – that our local urban and neighborhood ministries can use for positive and sustainable outcomes. It is a shared desire of both Urban Alliance and CCDA to “inspire, train and connect Christians who seek to bear witness to the Kingdom of God by reclaiming and restoring under-resourced communities.”

Join Us!

If you are currently involved in a ministry that is working in an under-resourced community or you are interested in learning more about Christian Community Development, we invite you to join us for this exciting one-day workshop!

The workshop, which will be held on April 27, 2013, is FREE for any individuals who are affiliated with a church or organization that is part of the Urban Alliance network, and $15/pp for all others.

The staff at Urban Alliance are familiar with Pastor Frank because he is a regular attendee to many of the trainings Urban Alliance provides on subjects like domestic violence, addressing childhood trauma, and better counseling techniques. “That’s been so valuable to me to be able to bring that back, not only in my counseling but also in my teaching and preaching ministries, “ shared Termine.

Pastor Frank was also one of the original members of the Micah group, a group of pastors that meets at Urban Alliance to discuss and strategize about challenging issues that face the church today. One of those earlier discussions on justice, incarceration, and returning citizens was particularly memorable. “We all lamented the fact that these men and women were coming out of prison into our churches and just kind of being thrown there,” said Termine, “We could do better than this.” That discussion planted the seeds that eventually led to the creation of Second Chance Churches – an opportunity for churches to provide support and mentoring to returning citizens that continues today.

When we asked Pastor Frank what he would say to another church that was unaware of Urban Alliance, he said, “If you are looking to get out in the community and make a difference in the community, Urban Alliance is a super way to do it. We’re a small church … we can’t do everything. Urban Alliance is a pathway to get our people involved in ministries that are already doing it, doing it well, and just need extra volunteers.”

Pastor Frank Termine’s story embodies many things we are trying to accomplish at Urban Alliance: supporting organizations in the communities they serve with training, resources, and opportunities to make a difference. Pastors and non-profit leaders face a wide range of challenges and, therefore, need a wide range of help and resources. Your support can help turn stories of struggle into stories like you find at Calvary Church.

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