“You enter the extraordinary by doing what you believe.”
— Frederick Buechner

WHAT WE BELIEVE

What does it mean to embody genuine love in an age of fear [and anxiety] and a world that is increasingly bent on deciding who’s in and who’s out?

We believe the future belongs to those who love. Not just any love. Not the flimsy, fair-weather kind, exclusive and tribal. No, the kind of love Martin Luther King, Jr. talked about — the willingness to serve without reciprocation, to suffer without retaliation, to reconcile without domination. Where everyone counts. The vulnerable, for sure. But also people who disagree with us. Those who have hurt us. Enemies too.

[We believe] living an ethic like this requires more than merely assenting to a few values or trying to change some behaviors. We believe it requires a commitment to

So, what does this mean practically?

In the spirit of love, we practice a radical generosity. [Benedictine] Chapter 53 of the Rule begins:

All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matt.25:35).

We recognize there is no love without justice, and there is no justice without love.

  • The wheels of change grind slowly, yet we’ve experienced lasting change in some of the most unlikely places by some of the most surprising people. We have seen it first hand. Despite the tremendous headwinds, there is plenty of evidence for change. Hope is not too far off or elusive. Tens of thousands, even millions, have overcome overwhelming challenges through proven, often uncelebrated ways — community-led initiatives, entrepreneurship, trauma-informed resilience practices to name a few.

  • How can we make a difference in the face of such urgent needs today? We believe small is the new big. Highly leveraged, niche strategies can have outsized, even exponential, impact and influence. “Not all of us can do great things,” said Mother Teresa, who left her home in Albania for India in her teens “But we can all do small things with great love.” Call it the principle of five loaves and two fish. Or the mustard seed.

  • Many people believe the answer to poverty is wealth when, in fact, poverty is overcome through community. Friendship moves change beyond transactional results to transformational change where everyone involved contributes to change. Our invitation is to anyone who wants to e offer genuine love in a world that is increasingly bent on deciding who’s in and who’s out. Fear is a powerful force in the world today, a force that seems to be sharply rising. But history tells us that fear ultimately collapses, even if it takes longer than we hope. Love triumphs in the end, always.

    Our invitation extends beyond our faith tradition. Regardless of background, whether faith inspires or brings caution, anyone who can unite on love is welcome. A beautiful verse tucked away in a lesser known letter written by one of Jesus’ followers captures it well: “She who dwells in love, dwells in God” (1 John 4:16b). In the end, love wins.