Our Local Outreach Partners are our hands and feet serving Jesus in our community! Praise God for the work He is doing in peoples’ lives through Hope Community Development Association (Hope CDA). This grace-filled ministry works to transform lives home-by-home and family-by-family by equipping those we serve to obtain affordable housing, gainful employment, and skillful living.
Ron Ziegler, executive director of Hope CDA said, “Our core belief is that people are able to overcome their employment barriers as they submit their lives to Jesus Christ. We want to demonstrate Christ's love by equipping individuals to transform their lives through gainful employment and skillful living."
Cory's Story
Cory reached the end of his rope when at age 21, he joined a two-month residential substance abuse treatment program in Cedar Rapids. He did very well and grabbed onto the concept of a “higher power” to get through his addiction. He got a job and an apartment and joined a Celebrate Recovery program at Hillside Wesleyan Church. By the summer of 2017, Cory understood that this “higher power” was really God working in his life, not some impersonal higher power.
Cory first encountered Hope CDA while visiting a friend on B Avenue. Hope CDA was refurbishing the house next door. Cory became interested in the construction jobs training program and when an opening became available, he joined.
Cory says the program helped him learn more about being the man God wants him to be. His coach, Chad Schulte, has really helped him grow in his relationship with Christ. His relationship with his son has also grown as he has learned to follow Christ. Cory indicates he has learned a lot about construction and how to be a better team member.
God is starting to interest Cory in possibly going back to school to become a drug counselor. He will need to work while pursuing this education and he believes this program is helping him build a solid resume so he can get a decent job to provide for their needs during this journey. We praise God for the hope and healing Cory has discovered!
Hope CDA’s construction jobs training program focuses on skills needed to not only be successful in the construction industry but in all of life. The goal of this holistic training is to help men become financially self-sufficient and to mold them into leaders in their workplace, their neighborhoods, and their families.
Update on Program House
Last year Hope CDA began praying about having a program house where a participant could rent a room and have some accountability. We also prayed for God to bring a person to live in the house as an overseer. God is answering our prayers! We are in the process of turning the house we are nearly finished with at 1627 B Ave NE into a program house. And, God has brought someone to us to be the overseer, Brad Aldrich. We need to apply to the City to use the house for this purpose so please pray this will not run into any snags. If all goes well, we could begin to house participants this summer.
Brad’s mother, Mary, is coordinating the furnishing of the house. She has done a wonderful job and has received commitments for almost all donated items needed!
Vision for the Future
We believe God wants us to expand what we are doing. We have a vision to create a few additional small businesses, which could have jobs training programs like our construction jobs training program. Our desire is to be working with 15-20 people at a time compared to the 4- 6 people we currently work with.
There are plenty of jobs in our area, but not enough qualified workers. Many who are not working may want to work but have barriers that are keeping them from finding and keeping a job. That is why our focus is on job training. However, unlike most other training programs, we provide actual work experience. This provides a unique opportunity to build relationships and that is where ministry happens!
For More Info
To learn more about Hope CDA and how you could join in God’s work (Mentors, Manpower, and money), contact Ron Ziegler at (319) 560-1196 or HopeCDA.ron@gmail.com