Working and Waiting: Reflections on the CCDA Conference

The 2025 Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) Conference brought thousands of practitioners to Grand Rapids under the theme of Shalom, a word meaning peace, or “nothing broken, nothing missing.” Throughout the week, this shared time served as a call to pursue wholeness, justice, and well-being in our neighborhoods. Through workshops, plenary sessions, and local Go & See site-visits, participants explored how faith, practice, and place come together in tangible ways within real communities.

ICCF Community Homes served as a “Go & See” site, welcoming visitors into local developments and inviting them to consider how housing can be a pathway toward shalom in our community. Though we don’t live in a place and time where perfect peace is present, developments like Tapestry Square and Southgate Senior Living reflect a holistic commitment to addressing real needs, responding not only to housing insecurity, but also a need for belonging.

“An unexpected gift of this tour was seeing ICCF’s work through someone else’s eyes. Like welcoming a guest into your home, their perspective reminded me that what we see every day is, in fact, something truly meaningful,” said ICCF CEO Ryan VerWys.

In the closing moments of the conference during his plenary speech, Ryan named the sacred tension of working for peace while also waiting for peace on earth to take hold. He urged attendees to steward the abundance entrusted to them, to share the Good News generously, and to remain rooted in the person of Jesus as we labor toward a world that more closely reflects Heaven.

Thank you to all of our ICCF supporters who share the vision for vibrant communities with connected neighbors, housing justice and abundant opportunities.