The purpose of the Christian Economic Development (CED) network is to create a space where Christ-centered organizations and individuals can share best practices, learn from each other's challenges, and encourage each other in our pursuits of transformational economic development.
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Since it's grassroots founding in 2012, the CED Network has grown to include more than 600 participants from over 180 different Christ-centered economic development organizations.
History of Christian economic development collaboration and the CED Network
1990's - David Bussau hosted annual CMED (Christian Microenterprise Development) events in Asia with hundreds of practitioners gathering to learn, connect, and collaborate together.
2011 - Participants at a CMED breakout session during the Accord Conference expressed a common desire to again gather with a larger yet more focused network of Christ-centered economic development practitioners.
2012 - Several dozen gathered for a Christian microenterprise development focused gathering in Washington D.C. after the SEEP Annual Conference, marking the beginning of the CMED Network.
2016 - CMED Network (Christian Microenterprise Development Network) renamed CED Network (Christian Economic Development Network) to include more forms of economic development beyond just microenterprise.
2018 - CED began hosting bi-annual webinars in addition to the annual CED Summit to increase opportunities for connection and collaboration between participants.
2019 - cednetwork.org website launched, creating a professional space to share resources, events, and information.
2020 - Collaboration and resource-sharing reached new heights during the COVID-19 crisis as Christian economic development practitioners joined 9 webinars and openhandedly shared over 50 resources.
2021 - The CED steering committee gathered for the first CED strategy lab, dreaming big about what the next 10 years might look like for the CED Network. Stay tuned!
2021 Activities
In March of 2021, VisionFund and World Vision generously hosted a full-length training for CED participants on their Empowered Worldview Program, equipping organizations with the curriculum and resources required to implement in their programs.
This curriculum had already proven effective in igniting a mindset shift across a range of audiences by helping the most vulnerable as well as World Vision staff at all levels to move past a scarcity mentality, focus on their God-given identity and creativity, and use all of the resources God has placed in their hands to flourish. We are grateful for the impact this curriculum is now having across dozens of organizations in the CED Network!
In July, CED participants joined a webinar where World Relief shared the results and findings from a savings group longitudinal study they had just completed after observing 8 cycles of savings and lending.
This study provided rich data on the long-term efficacy and impact of savings groups, one of the most common forms of economic development in which CED practitioners are serving.
As the Christian Economic Development Network, we are encouraged by these two incredible example of open handedness. As we look to the future, we are committed to continuing to foster Kingdom collaboration as we remember that we are all members of the same team with the common goal of seeing His Kingdom flourish on the earth.
CED is a global network with participants from these 65 countries around the world
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.