Fuel Networks CCDA 2024 Recap

Fuel Networks Amplify at CCDA National Conference

By Will Cumby (Houston 2010) and Gerald Bell (Kansas City 2003)

Like a Costco or Sam’s Club warehouse retail store, the CCDA 2024 National Conference was a convention center full of bulk-sized urban ministry training, leadership development, inspiring books, thought-provoking keynote speakers, and fantastic new resourceful relationships.

Witnessing the gathering of some 2000 community development professionals was energizing and inspirational. As always, CCDA offers a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, share best practices, and explore innovative approaches to addressing our communities’ challenges.

From seasoned community organizers to emerging leaders, the diversity of the 2000 attendees was a testament to the broad impact of the conference. It was clear that all were united by a shared passion for creating positive change in neighborhoods, regions, and around the world.

This year’s theme was “Home”. It was a key reminder that as our world navigates some unsafe realities, the comfort of home is where safety, provision, and belonging await.

The CCDA experience continues to be a transformative gathering that reaffirms commitment to ministry missions and empowering those we serve. Everyone leaves with a renewed excitement to bring the insights and connections gained back to their local context of service and to continue building stronger, more equitable communities.

Seven of the ten Fuel Network leaders were in the house at the Oregon Convention Center in downtown Portland:

·        Thomas Brackeen (DC)

·        Kevin Lapierre (NY)

·        Jonny Fine (Cleveland)

·        Brandon Grant (Columbus)

·        Jonathan Banks (Chicago)

·        Sean Nelson (Houston)

·        Jeff Chupp (Phoenix)

From tending to the Fuel Networks booth, facilitating a networking session, and leading an emerging leader’s workshop on Multigenerational Leadership, this team contributed to the extraordinary resource variety CCDA offered. Of particular note was the Fuel Network-led workshop “Empowering Youth Through Multigenerational Leadership: Embracing Trauma-Informed Perspectives,” which unpacked the four pillars of support–Protection, Provision, Presence, and Promise. Those four principles for engaging youth are practices every youth leader should offer the students and young people they serve.

One workshop attendee who completed our survey noted: “My key takeaways were the importance of [doing] ministry together, of really leaning into collaboration and community assets.” – R. Reid

The networking session that our leaders facilitated attracted some passionate urban practitioners who engaged in a rich conversation about how the future of urban ministry and the modern-day church hinges on leaders bold enough to empower this next generation.

Another priceless moment was our Columbus Fuel Network leader Brandon Grant’s conversation with a gentleman who wanted to explore methods for galvanizing ethnically homogenous communities divided by social structures. Brandon sat with him for an extended amount of time, creating solutions and expanding his understanding of how to truly impact his community.

At CCDA 2024, no one could deny the joy of reconnecting with leaders from across the nation who have been on the frontlines for years and others who are just touching the surface of how God intends to use them. Certainly, every leader onsite is called to leave their thumbprint wherever they serve, which might be at home, on a school campus, or at the checkout line at Costco. The personal growth experienced by each attendee is a compelling reason to look forward to next year’s CCDA Conference in Grand Rapids, MI.

 

 

# # #