By Christine
While I’ve been in between assignments this year, I’ve been working primarily with a core team from CBF’s Global Missions department to design, develop and implement a new program called Strengthening Families On the Move. 
The program’s goal is to strengthen families by cultivating resilience. We’re building skills, enhancing awareness, empowering, connecting, expanding compassion and opening towards a more abundant life across three areas of focus: trauma healing, parenting support and spiritual formation.
Last month we gathered at the St. Francis Prayer Center in North Carolina to learn and train together with facilitators from across the country. We planned for families in English, Spanish, Arabic, Dari, Swahili and French. For families from Central and South America, across Africa, the Middle East and Central and Southeast Asia. For parents and grandparents, young children and older siblings, aunts and uncles. For Christians and Muslims and Buddhists. For those who have just arrived, and for those who have been here for a generation or two now.
I came prepared to teach and lead, but I learned more than I taught. One after another, these facilitators raised questions and concerns, searching for compassionate, dignified ways to support their neighbors, to love them well, to help ease suffering, to share burdens together. To empower, equip and build up. They’re building relationships and listening and leaning in. Affirming the strength and capacity inherent in each new family to flourish.
My biggest takeaway was this: the world can be a hard, often heartbreaking place to be right now. But there are some incredible folks out there loving their neighbors well. Kind and compassionate. Dignified and valued. Welcomed. Loved. Cherished. Known. Accepted. Empowered. This is the Way of Jesus. Let’s follow in it.
Story after story after story wove throughout the week a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God must look like. On earth as it is in heaven. The now and the not yet. Thanks be.
Centered in front of the main entrance to the lodge stood a large, looming statue of St. Francis. The plaque below this statue of St. Francis and the Leper reads, “Through the grace of God, St. Francis reaches out to those who are despised, shunned, victimized, and not deemed worthy of love. May all of us as members of God’s family have the same compassionate love as that of this great saint.”
For in fact, none of us are unworthy of love.