CCM March 2024 Perspective Newsletter

MARCH 2024
PERSPECTIVE
FROM THE FRONTLINES
CELEBRATING OUR 42ND YEAR OF RESTORING HOPE
TRANSACTION, TRANSITION,
TRANSFORMATION
ED HOSACK
CEO
In Cabarrus County today over 20,000 households (27%) are cost burdened. This means
they spend 30% of their income on housing (mortgage or rent plus utilities) leaving
70% for the rest of life's essentials. This leaves a family whose income is at or below the
area median income, living along the "line of vulnerability" - at the mercy of the next
unanticipated expense. Even if they have adjusted their expenses to manage paycheck
to paycheck, falling behind can begin a cycle of penalties and fees, leading to a spiral
from which they cannot recover on their own. When
a head of household recognizes the crisis and acts
quickly, a one-time intervention of assistance can
remedy the current crisis. This transaction however
does nothing to prevent the next crisis.
For decades, financial assistance has been a transactional relationship.
It is, after all, the nature of most relationships. You have something
I need, I have something you need and it brings us together. The
transaction takes place and both parties are satisfied. Test the premise.
It's true!
The reality is, whether the exchange is between customer and supplier,
manager and employee, parent and child or provider and receiver, the
need that was satisfied is sure to surface again. It is how relationships
CONTINUED PAGE 2 »
IN THIS EDITION
Change the Way We Listen...............3
2025 New Horizon
Strategic Plan Updates.................... 4
Partner Spotlight...............................5
Thank You.......................................... 6
Upcoming Events...............................7

develop - there is nothing wrong with that unless the need
becomes an unhealthy dependence on the part of one
participant.
CCM's crisis relief and recovery programs engage the
receiver in a process that begins with a transaction, leading
to a transition and resulting in a transformation. A similar
pattern in the ministry of Jesus is reflective of face-toface,
head-to-head and heart-to-heart. Look for this in His
encounters. It's true!
Crisis relief is a transaction that begins as the first point of
contact. It is vital but realistically, it is like leaving a person
standing in the desert holding a cup of cold water. It almost
assures future suffering and a next crisis for someone else to
address. We as a community can do better.
CCM relief services will always exist to meet people where
they are and address the immediate need. Nevertheless,
everything we do must offer an opportunity for a person to
engage in a process that will help them transition to a better
set of circumstances. Transitional housing and the supportive
Educational Services that accompany it are vital to changing
the circumstances that are resulting in crisis.
Transformation is where we solve problems that have
existed for generations. It requires a change of heart to
embrace the hard decisions and a sincerity to change
lifestyle or behavior. At CCM, we recognize that we can
help a person change their circumstances, but only God
transforms a life. That is why our programs point toward
Him.

JEREMY BURLESON
CHIEF RELATIONSHIP OFFICER
CHANGING THE WAY
WE LISTEN...
The best and most effective way of helping our community members facing housing insecurity to avoid
homelessness is to ‘keep them in their homes’. That statement might seem somewhat elementary to
some, but for us here at CCM, that’s where it begins… with our Financial Services (FS) team.
For years, leading up to the start of a global pandemic, the basis of our financial assistance model was
rooted in not just a financial exchange between CCM and our clients, but involved heartfelt attempts
to address the core cause of the insecurities that individuals and families were facing. Covid, however,
changed that approach to very much a ‘transactional’ feel. A simple exchange occurred between those
seeking assistance with a rent or utility bill in arrears and our processing team.
The time has come for CCM to GET BACK TO OUR ROOTS! Our team has been challenged with changing
the way that we listen to our clients. Building upon that transaction, we’re asking questions like ‘what
are your core needs?’ and ‘how can we help further?’ What set
CCM apart from others prior to the pandemic was our ability to
spend time with our clients, to make them feel loved, cared-for
and valued as members of this community. We are committed
27%
OF
to and have invested in a team whose approach to relieving
CABARRUS
financial insecurity here in Cabarrus County will look much
COUNTY
more like it used to look.
CCM’s Financial Services group recently introduced a
NAVIGATIONAL SERVICES offering to those we serve. In 6
short weeks of our ‘back to the roots’ model, more than 50%
of our clients have elected to pursue additional navigational
services through our FS team. These individuals and families
are receiving assistance or referrals in learning more about
affordable childcare, affordable housing, employment guidance,
physical and mental healthcare, transportation and even critical
home repairs … among others.
HOUSEHOLDS
ARE COST-BURDENED
SPENDING
MORE THAN
30%
As we walk our clients through these navigational services,
we’re building a level of trust that wasn’t possible through that simple transaction mentioned earlier.
Without a doubt, the most important aspect of what the team is able to offer to those seeking our help
is when we pause and ask a client if we can PRAY for them. That CCM core value offer of PRAYER, even
through a global pandemic, certainly did not change. After all, HE, our Savior himself, has not and will not
ever change! His love endures forever (Psalm 136).
We invite you to PRAY alongside us, and ENGAGE with CCM. CLICK HERE to learn more about the
impact that CCM has in this community, and how YOU can be a part of sharing God’s love through
partnership and support.
OF THEIR
MONTHLY
INCOME

CLICK TO VIEW
the full Strategic Plan
At three years (60%), CCM continues to see positive progress towards meeting the goals, objectives and
strategies of our 2025 New Horizon Strategic Plan. In collaboration with community partners, we have
completed thirty-four (47%) of the seventy-two strategies that make up the plan. The team is actively
making progress on an additional sixteen (22%) strategies. Similar to the results that we saw at the end
of year two, the greatest progress continues to be with our plans to create housing capacity to address
the housing crisis. The ministry’s purchase of 10.5 acres off Cabarrus Avenue in Concord to create ‘The
Rebuilder’s Campus at Brown Mill Commons’ as well as the acquisition of the Caremoor Retirement
Community in Kannapolis will allow CCM the ability to address the need of those seeking housing security.
AVAILABLE NOW
2022-2023
ANNUAL REPORT!

P ARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Nova Credit Union is so grateful and blessed for our
relationship with Cooperative Christian Ministries, which has
allowed us to reach and help many families in our community.
Our partnership started at a community event where Ed
Hosack identified the critical need for adult financial education.
It aligned perfectly with Nova Credit Union's "People Helping People" philosophy. A task force was
formed between CCM, Nova CU, and Prosperity Unlimited, where a program called "Breaking Free From
Financial Money Traps" was developed and is now offered to CCM clients and our community.
This program provides guidance and education on financial management, budgeting, credit scores,
and planning for the future. Along with the classes, each participant is assigned a personal financial
coach that partners with them to show them additional tools and share the knowledge necessary to
improve their financial situations. The positive impact we have seen this program make in so many of the
participants' financial lives has been something we are so proud to be a part of due to our partnership
with CCM!
The dedication and compassion demonstrated by CCM are commendable, serving as a beacon of hope in
these challenging times. Nova Credit Union is privileged to be a part of this journey and looks forward to
continuing its partnership with CCM to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families in
the community. Here is the NOVA Celebrating Hope Video.
Through CWA’s Hunters Feed Cabarrus
County program during the 2023-24
hunting season, we received a total of
1,636 lbs. of venison!That provided great
lean meat to about 1,500 families in need.
Thank you SO much to the Concord
Wildlife Alliance and to all the hunters
(and farmers) who made this possible.
And thanks so much to the Eudy’s at
Rocky River Processing for processing
and freezing all that meat. You all truly
are wonderful partners, and are so
appreciative of all your efforts.

THANK YOU
PASTOR
LEADER
UPDA E
Thank you to the more than 40 local church Pastors
and Leaders who gathered to hear updates on
CCM’s NEW Horizon Strategic Plan & BOLD New
Initiatives. Church partnerships are vital to the
success of CCM and we are grateful for the strong
partnerships we have with the local Church.
Thank you to the Boy Scout Scouting for
Food Drive for collecting 8,345 lbs. of food
and $1,355 in donations.
COMMUNITY FOOD DONATIONS
• St. James the Greater Catholic
Church - 654 lbs.
• Kimball Memorial Lutheran - 844 lbs.
• Mt. Herman Lutheran - 654 lbs.
Thank you to our local Speedway HOG Chapter
for their $2,451 donation to CCM in support of our
general operating focuses. In addition to the monetary
donation, the Chapter also made a significant
donation to our food program following a very
successful community food drive by its membership.
Atrium Health has generously awarded CCM
a grant in support of our growing food &
housing programs. As local needs continue
to rise, their partnership will help us scale
our outreach and make a greater community
impact.
Transportation barriers are one of the hardest obstacles
for families to overcome, as it’s difficult to create a stable
life when you can’t drive to work, school, or other critical
appointments. QuikTrip is helping our housing clients
overcome this barrier by providing gas cards so they can
afford to make the trips that will drive them toward stability.
Thank you, QuikTrip!

UPCOMING EVENTS
Happy Easter!
He is Risen
WE CAN SHAPE OUR FUTURE
YOU ARE INVITED TO THE ANNUAL VOLUNTEER
Picnic
STEP RIGHT UP!
COME ONE, COME ALL!
Join us in celebrating the Greatest Volunteers on Earth!
LAST DAY TO
REGISTER IS
MARCH 13TH
REGISTER
BUSINESS
BREAKFAST
MARCH 19, 2024
City Club at Gibson Mill
Doors open at 7:15AM
7:30AM Breakfast
8:00AM Program
Thursday, April 18th
12:30 pm
Frank Liske Park
(In the Phillip Morris Shelter near the tennis court entrance)
4001 Stough Rd, Concord, NC 28027
RSVP by Wednesday, April 3rd
Click below to register, sign up at your volunteer location,
or email lwilliams@CooperativeMinistry.com
REGISTER NOW
ANNUAL
VOLUNTEER PICNIC
REGISTER
SPRING MOBILE FOOD PANTRY DATES
April 11 (Thursday) – 10:00-12:00
Bethel Baptist Church
2474 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis, NC 28083
May 16 (Thursday) – 10:00-12:00
Elevation Church Concord
545 Concord Pkwy N, Concord 28027
June 13 (Thursday) – 10:00-12:00
Bethel Church of Midland
12700 Idlebrook Dr., Midland 28107
Sponsored by Bethel Church of Midland

EXPERTS IN
HOUSING RELIEF
HELP with
HOUSING
HelpWithHousing.net
SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE
FOOD
RESOURCES
The NEW ‘Cabarrus County
Food Resource Map’, which
was recently created by the
Hunger Task Force, is available
on our website. Please share
this valuable resource with the
community.
Sign up to round up your monthly City of Concord Utility bill to the nearest dollar
and help keep the air, heat, and lights on for hundreds of families in need.
Visit: https://concordnc.gov/Departments/Customer-Care/
Neighbor-Helping-Neighbor
NEW! CCM Career Opportunities
246 Country Club Drive NE, PO Box 1717
Concord, NC 28026 TEL: 704-786-4709
GIVE ONLINE: www.CooperativeMinistry.com or TEXT: ccmhelps to 44321