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Pastor Dr. Wayne L. Gordon....
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Wayne L. Gordon is founding Pastor of Lawndale Community
Church and Chairman/President of the
Christian
Community Development Association (CCDA) Wayne
Gordon is a graduate of Wheaton College and Northern
Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Doctor of
Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological
Seminary. In 1975 Wayne moved to North Lawndale
located on Chicago's Westside. At that time, North
Lawndale was the 15th poorest neighborhood in the U.S.
He was a teacher and coach at Farragut High School, also
located in North Lawndale. Wayne and his wife Anne have
raised their three children, two adults: Angela, a
graduate of Taylor University who lives and teaches in
Lawndale; Andrew a recent graduate of Baylor University
and a trader with the Chicago Board of Trade, and Austin
(18), in the Lawndale community. Wayne and Anne, along
with some local high school students, founded the
Lawndale Community Church. Today, LCC has over 1000
worshipping families and Wayne continues as pastor. |
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For over 30 years of ministry "Coach," as he is
affectionately known, has played a key role in numerous
community development initiatives. He is one of the
founders of the Lawndale Christian Health Center, a
healthcare ministry that sees over 120,000 patients per
year.
Wayne was the founding president of the Lawndale
Christian Development Corporation. The Development
Corporation is the arm of Lawndale Community Church that
facilitates economic development, education and housing.
LCDC has seven different housing ministries and under
Wayne's leadership, over 400 units of abandoned housing
have been rehabbed. LCDC places special emphasis on home
ownership for residents of the community.
One of the major goals of “Coach” has been developing a
new generation of leaders for North Lawndale. Over 200
young people have graduated from college with more than
half returning to live and work in North Lawndale.
Wayne Gordon helped to formulate the Christian Community
Development Association (CCDA). CCDA is a network of
individuals and ministries nationwide who engage in
Christian community development efforts. At various
times, CCDA has had 600 organizational members and
10,000 individual members. CCDA meets annually to share
skills and network together. Over 2000 people attend the
national CCDA conferences and the CCDA movement
continues to expand.
Wayne authored the inspiring book "Real Hope in
Chicago." This book details the power of God working in
a community in need. Wayne has co-authored books and
written numerous articles on God's heart for the poor
and Christian community development. Lawndale Community
Church was given a "Point of Light" award by President
George Bush in 1989 and Chicago Magazine named Wayne one
of the Chicagoans of the year in 1995 for his commitment
and creativity.
Wayne Gordon is a real testimony to the grace of God and
the witness of God's call upon a person's life. Wayne
possesses the ability to empower people and believes
that the heart of Gospel is reconciliation. For more
than 30 years of his life he has exemplified breaking
down all racial barriers to pave the way for God's truth
in the lives of all that he encounters.
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