Preparing to Serve for a Lifetime

Preparing to Serve for a Lifetime

Equipping young people for the future and enabling them to be the hands and feet of Jesus is a crucial component of our programs. One way we help prepare young adults is through our internship program, an 11-month program designed to help interns learn and use their...

CLDI Member Story:  Fruitful Growth

CLDI Member Story: Fruitful Growth

Mentorship is an essential component of the fourth principle of Christian Community Development: Leadership Development. Through our holistic, gospel-centered approach to mentorship, we encourage and equip individuals to grow and become empowered. As we invest in...

My Call Into Vulnerability

My Call Into Vulnerability

Words by Jackie Patten In light of Valentine's Day, our office has a “heart attack” game going around where we have to essentially bomb each other's work desks with goodies, candy and words of affirmation. The individual who chose me wrote words of encouragement that...

Engaging the Marginalized

Engaging the Marginalized

Ministry Partner Encouragement: By Nate Poetzl We love partnering with the church. The relationships we’ve built with local bodies have been integral to the work that we do in the South Side community. In November, Faith Chapel Pastor, Nate Poetzl, spoke about the...

Changing My Longings

Changing My Longings

Internship Update: From Alex Streeter Change has become a recurring theme in my life over the last six months. There have been apparent changes, such as my occupation and living situation, as well as deeper inner changes regarding my worldview and life goals. One day,...

Expanding CLDI’s Reach

Expanding CLDI’s Reach

New Executive Director Kaleb Perdew shares his history with the ministry and vision for the future. In 2017, CLDI’s Executive Director Eric Basye crossed paths with Kaleb Perdew, a Billings native and recent graduate from the University of Montana. Kaleb had a heart...

Rail//line Coffee:  Watching Community Grow

Rail//line Coffee: Watching Community Grow

As a part of CLDI’s mission, Rail//Line’s primary goals are to develop young adults and to be a place where community can come and gather in encouragement and neighborly love. Our hope is that it functions as a space where people connect to their greater community —...

Designed for Relationship

Designed for Relationship

I hope and pray this summer finds you well! I cherish the long days, barbecues, yard games, hiking, and evening bike rides! While the sun and warmer weather do my body well, what satisfies my soul most are the meaningful relationships and memories formed during these...

Leadership Development

Leadership Development

A Series on the Eight Principles of Christian Community Development By Eric Basye In the fall of 2020, I began working on my Doctor of Leadership through George Fox University. I toyed with the idea for years, having completed one year of doctoral work through Fuller...