Our History

Community Ministry of Montgomery County (CMMC) was established in 1972 by ten clergy, under the leadership of Rev. Lon Dring, who wanted to create a mechanism through which their congregations could address the growing social needs in Montgomery County, Maryland.

In 1975, CMMC established its first direct service project, a program to provide small cash grants to people in crisis. Under Rev. Dring’s leadership, CMMC grew to a valued brand name, known for compassion in caring for the community’s growing vulnerable population, and as a vehicle for faith communities from a broad array of denominations to work together in support of their neighbors .

In 1998, Becky Wagner was hired to take over the helm of CMMC upon Rev. Dring’s retirement, and has since grown the organization from an $800,000 agency to a $4.5 million professionally managed non-profit with diverse funding sources.

Throughout the years, CMMC has grown by launching new programs in response to identified needs in the community, and by taking on the management of smaller non-profits in search of a more secure home, whose operations and mission were compatible with CMMC. The organization has been successful in launching, nurturing and spinning off many programs that continue to serve the community such as: Habitat for Humanity, Montgomery County Chapter; Manna Food Center and MUSST- Ministries United, Silver Spring Takoma Park.

Since its founding, CMMC has become known as a well-managed enterprise and valued resource in the County and in the greater Washington, DC region.

In 2008, CMMC officially changed its name to Interfaith Works; a name that better reflects the diversity of its stakeholders and embraces the energy and can-do culture of the overall organization.

Interfaith Works continues to partner with other area non-profits, public agencies and elected officials, corporate, faith and philanthropic groups in Montgomery County, MD to fulfill its mission:

To pursue social justice with an emphasis on identifying and meeting the needs of the poor by leading and engaging Montgomery County’s faith communities in SERVICE, EDUCATION, and ADVOCACY.