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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 adult children:
Angela, a graduate of Taylor University who lives in
Chicago and is a Chicago Public Schools teacher; Andrew
a graduate of Baylor University and a trader with the
Chicago Board of Trade, married to Stacy, and Austin
graduate of Azusa pacific University, living in Chicago,
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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In over 37 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 150,000 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 1000 organizational members and 10,000
individual members. CCDA meets annually to share skills
and network together. Over 3000 people attend the
national CCDA conferences and the CCDA movement
continues to expand.
Coach is an adjunct
professor at several seminaries and graduate schools.
He heads up a Lawndale campus of Northern Baptist
Theological Seminary and along with Dr. John Perkins
directs a Doctorial program in Christian Community
Development.
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. His most recent book he helps to
gain an understanding on how to love people in “Who is
My Neighbor?” 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 was Wheaton College’s Alumnus of the Year in 2010
and received the William Wilberforce Award from Prison
Fellowship in 2011.
John Perkins and Coach have
just released a new book on Leadership titled:
Leadership Revolution.
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 35 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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Our founding Pastor
receives the 2011 Wilberforce Award |
On January 15, 2011, our
founding Pastor and Northern
Graduate, Rev. Dr. Wayne
"Coach" Leroy Gordon,
received the
prestigious 2011
William Wilberforce Award.
 "On
January 15, Dr. Wayne
'Coach' Gordon was presented the 2011 William
Wilberforce Award at the
annual
Wilberforce Weekend
Conference in Lansdowne,
VA.
Since 1988, the board of
Prison Fellowship Ministries
has presented the award to a
man or woman who serves as
an example and model of the
witness of real Christianity
making a difference in the
face of tough societal
problems and injustices."
Dr. Gordon is a graduate of
Northern Seminary, the
founding pastor of
Lawndale Community Church
in Lawndale, IL, and on the
board of the
Christian Community
Development Association.
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CHECK OUT OUR FOUNDING PASTOR'S LATEST
BOOK: WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? |
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Who Is My Neighbor?:
Lessons Learned From a Man Left for
Dead
An “expert
in the law” once asked Jesus what he
must do to inherit eternal life—and
his question initiated a very
interesting conversation. The Law
says to “love your neighbor as
yourself,” Jesus pointed out, so the
next logical question is, “Who is my
neighbor?” Rather than offering the
lawyer an exhaustive list of
neighbors and non-neighbors, Jesus
told a story . . . a story we know
as the Parable of the Good
Samaritan. Out of that famous
parable, Dr. Wayne Gordon draws more
than 40 characteristics of the man
who was beaten, robbed and left for
dead on the road to Jericho—the
character Jesus created to show
Christians how to recognize their
neighbors. Dr. Gordon brings that
character vividly to life in Who Is
My Neighbor?, and helps readers use
Jesus’ parable as a reference point
for their interactions in their
community and the world. And as
readers catch Jesus’ vision of
neighborliness, they will also find
practical suggestions for meeting
needs and changing the lives of
those around them . . . that is,
their neighbors! |
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Now: $11.04
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Check
out "Coach's other Books" |
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A Sneak Preview of.....Who Is My Neighbor? |
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Check out a "Sneak Preview" of our
Pastor preaching at Park Community Church of Chicago on
Who is My Neighbor? I'm sure
you'll enjoy it so much you'll be moved to purchase the
book!!!
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Who is My Neighbor? from Park Community Church on Vimeo.
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