Letter from Noel Castellanos, CCDA's New CEO

Dear Members and Friends of CCDA:

This past year I have had the privilege of working alongside Gordon Murphy, who has served as the CEO of CCDA for the past five years. If you know Murph, you know that he is fanatical about 'getting the job done.' That spirit has elevated the effectiveness of CCDA to new levels, and we have all benefited, as we are now a much more professional and responsive association to the needs of our members.

 As most of you know by now, at our St. Louis conference, the leadership baton of CCDA was handed over to me, as the new CEO of CCDA. I wish all of you could have been there on Wednesday evening, as the board, John Perkins and Wayne Gordon, and many conference attendees gathered at the front of the stage to lay hands and pray for me in my new role. I will never forget this night!

 This new challenge is both exciting and frightening for me, as I sense the deep responsibility it is to help lead this fantastic association into the future--and I realize I can only do it with God's guidance and wisdom. I am particularly grateful that Gordon Murphy has agreed to stay connected to CCDA as a Senior Consultant in the areas of fundraising and special project development. I will gain much from Gordon's continued mentoring in the years to come. It is also an amazing blessing to have the privilege of being able to work with our President, Dr. Wayne 'Coach' Gordon and with our spiritual Moses, Dr. John Perkins on a regular basis (I will do my best to keep these two under control).

 I can't tell you how excited I am for all that lies ahead for CCDA, because if we do our job well, it means that our many members and partners and friends, like yourselves will be bringing Glory to God as you demonstrate the love and reality of God's Kingdom in needy places all over the world. I'll close by echoing the words of the apostle Paul writing to the believers in Philippi:

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. -Philippians 1:3-6 (NLV)

With Much Gratitude for You,
Noel Castellanos CEO, CCDA