NLP Graduation

I (Stephanie) am working at City Union Mission now. I am about to start my 2nd month there and I love it. I am still getting accustomed to everything but I am really enjoying getting to know all the people in the program.  I am the case manager for the New Life Program. It is a long term residential and recovery program that uses life skill classes, counseling, discipleship and case management to help people to wholeness in Christ and stability in life. It takes about a year for individuals to complete the program and it is a huge accomplishment. Last week we had a graduation for 4 of our participants. It was awesome to celebrate with them on their success. All 4 of the graduates are now in the Advanced level of the program and are currently in job search.  Please pray for them as they are looking for employment and then will be looking for their own housing.  I am really looking forward to the next graduation that should take place in the spring as the next graduates will be the first class that I will get to walk through this journey with. Please pray for me as I support these individuals in their goals and in their relationship with Jesus.

I am CCDA

A few weeks ago Stephanie and I had the opportunity to go to Indianapolis for the annual Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) conference. There were 3000 other practitioners and partners there from around the country, and world. This year's theme was "Education in under resourced communities". It's sad, but the truth is close to half of the kids who begin high school will not graduate and some who do graduate are not able to read at a high school level. We heard about one student who graduated from high school as the valedictorian but was not able to read! The education system is broken and the church must step up and get involved. In fact, right here in Kansas City the schools are not accredited so we have to ask what we can do to help. At the conference we were challenged to be innovative in our ministries to tackle this issue for the sake of our youth and the glory of our God.

This past April Stephanie and I were able to go to Chicago for a week long intensive on the 8 key components that make up CCDA's philosophy. After finishing the required reading and writing a paper our group was acknowledged at the conference and given certificates.

I feel right at home when I am at a CCDA function because I don't have to explain why i do what i do, or why i moved one of the poorest areas of the city. Its all love. We are a group of people who love God and want to see the poor and marginalized come to a place of wholeness in Christ. This is only done through wholistic ministry. On the final night we prayed for one another, we hugged, and we wept. Reminded me of the community seen in the Bible. Here were a group of passionate Christians who have moved into the poorest areas of the country to show the least that God loves them. We all left that conference understanding that we are CCDA.

If you are interested in learning more about this movement go to www.ccda.org