From the CEO
Welcome to From the CEO, the place to find posts from John Ashmen, President and CEO of Citygate Network. This page will curate archived writings, as well as future posts.
Be Thou My Vision
January 31, 2023
I had a call last week from a CEO who was asking about staff retention. She wanted to know what trends we were seeing and how other member organizations in Citygate Network were doing with getting staff to stick around.
Sail On
December 29, 2022
It was nearly noon before the sun squinted between the inky sky and the panes of leaden ice that formed the Bering Sea.
A Stronger Cord. Better Numbers.
December 29, 2022
Solomon said, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken”
Who Fixed the Roof?
November 28, 2022
This is your busiest time of the year. Your facilities have heavy usage, and there will likely be some breakage and repair work as you continue to serve the multitude that looks to you for critical care.
The Tag of Intolerance
November 28, 2022
The November 19th shootings at Club Q in our hometown of Colorado Springs topped national news for several cycles.
Is Kairos Coming?
June 28, 2022
The ancient Greeks had two words for time, both portrayed by gods. The word chronos and the word kairos. Which word defines the times we are in?
Fighting on Our Knees
February 25, 2022
If you know your history, you probably drew some eerie parallels between Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and Adolf Hitler’s annexation of the Sudetenland.
Happiness Is...
February 25, 2022
Are you prepared for an empty inbox? That might sound good right now, but where will you find meaning and purpose…and happiness?
The Devastating Results of Misguided Compassion
January 25, 2022
The lives of far too many people are being destroyed by policymakers with something I call “misguided compassion.”
What’s the Plan?
January 25, 2022
Most of you have been out on the dance floor with strategic plans before. Sometimes you do the twist, sometimes you tap dance, and sometimes you waltz your way off the floor, right through the curtains.
Surviving in brackish water
July 27, 2021
I took off last week and went to South Jersey. Judi and I were visiting our oldest offspring and his family...
Coming to terms
July 27, 2021
A few weeks ago, I was asked in a podcast interview about the “social justice work Citygate Network members are doing.”
There should be another “S”
May 21, 2020
As part of our 2018 rebranding, I wrote about the four ways followers of Jesus try to move people from human suffering to human flourishing...
Feast and famine
May 21, 2020
The CEOs of national and international ministries headquartered in Colorado Springs try to connect quarterly for fellowship and to compare notes...
Faces, not figures
February 26, 2020
Nothing tells tales like numbers: NASDAQ closes down 12 points...gross national product sees increase of more than $16 million...average gas price in Canada tops $1.30 per liter...worldwide Coronavirus recovery cases now at 30,359...monthly screen time up 11 percent...
Stand Back: The Building Is Coming Down
September 24, 2019
It’s happening! The solid foundational belief that Housing First is the only way to effectively address the problem of homelessness is cracking, and in some cases, crumbling.
It's a Small(er Than it Should Be) World After All
September 24, 2019
This article is coming to you from Southern Germany where I am involved in a congress for the European Association of Urban Missions (EAUM)...
In Search Of...
July 19, 2019
I can’t remember a time when so many of our member organizations were approaching or were in the midst of an executive search...
The Time Has Never Been Better For Collaboration
July 19, 2019
You really must read this July 17 op-ed in the Los Angeles Times by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg...
Some Members Are Already Fielding Questions Related To The Equality Act
April 30, 2019
When we started talking about SOGI issues back in 2014, less than 11 percent of our members said their boards had reviewed policies, procedures, and foundational paperwork...
How Will You Handle Requests Regarding Undocumented Immigrants?
April 30, 2019
The unprecedented number of asylum-seekers from Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries has totally overwhelmed the U.S. immigration system...
The Board Just Clarified Membership Eligibility
March 5, 2019
Citygate Network’s rebranding and refocusing continues to move forward and gain momentum. In line with that, our board recently took a look at what we called the Five Models for Membership...
We Might Have an Amazing West Coast Opportunity
March 5, 2019
Nowhere is the problem of unsheltered homeless people as bad as what you’ll find in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and even Alaska...
It’s About Leading People to the River
December 20, 2018
Becoming Citygate Network allows us to be very intentional about balancing our communications and content between the rescuing that missions and kindred ministries do and the life-transformation work that we need to fully embrace going forward.
Helping You Help Abused Women
December 20, 2018
Earlier this year, we began a partnership with an organization near Portland, Oregon, called Abuse Recovery Ministry & Services (ARMS).