Everyday Lives of Love and Justice
Introduction “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” ~Edmund Burke If you are paying attention, it can be overwhelming. In the headlines and on your street, the brokenness of humanity cries out through division and suffering: extreme poverty and the gap between rich and poor seems to grow exponentially; human …
Read MoreChicago Meet-Up January 27th
Your voice is needed to help shape compassion and justice ministry in the city of Chicago. Please join us Thursday, January 27th, 7pm, at Park Community Church (1001 N Crosby) for a gathering to collaborate on God’s call for lives of love and justice from His people. We will be exploring justice issues and initiatives in the city, the role …
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The Just Life and The Justice Conference
The Just Life is proud to partner with the Justice Conference: February 11 + 12, 2011. Bend, Oregon. About the Justice Conference The Justice Conference is about the nature of justice. Justice as the foundation of human rights. Justice as the expression of equality. Justice as the fabric of freedom. Justice as forgiveness. Justice as reconciliation. Justice as restored relationship between the …
Read MoreUpdate: Social Enterprise Launch: AArrow Ads
I am excited to say that we are moving forward with our vision to create community development opportunities through social entrepreneurialism. After years of working with organizations and youth in the notoriously underserved community of Cabrini Green in Chicago, one need continued to ring alarmingly clear – Jobs. Without employment all of the mentoring and tutoring invested in at-risk youth seemed …
Read MoreLearn from Harlem Children’s Zone
The Harlem Children’s Zone has created a new paradigm for fighting poverty, intended to overcome the limits of traditional approaches. Our model focuses primarily and intensively on the social, health, and educational development of children. To help support that development, we also provide wrap-around programs that improve the children’s family and neighborhood environments. The theory of change underlying the HCZ …
Read MoreTJL Building Blocks
The technical, tactical, and practical of The Just Life ministry encompasses five interconnected “change agent” engagement strategies; each with their own part to play in a holistic vision for transformational justice ministry: These building blocks are Justice Initiatives, Professional Fellowships, Social Entrepreneurs, Community Development, and Advocacy. More information can be discovered by exploring the categories in the main navigation of …
Read MoreTJL: Social Capital Mapping
“Social capital mapping” is simply a formal way of stating the importance listening to and learning from your community, being proactive about discovering and making connections, and building/developing community – door by door, family by family, name by name. This also entails identifying existing ministries in your church and in the same neighborhood as your church, key leaders and organizers, …
Read MoreTJL Initiative Development
Before you begin you should review The Justice Continuum explanation: http://thejustlife.org/home/2009/10/21/the-justice-continuum Think of the following as a sample worksheet. Break out some paper and pens and start with these basic steps… Step 1: Simply begin What justice issue do you feel God has called you to engage? The fist step is to simply begin – to put a flag in …
Read MoreTJL: The Justice Continuum
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ~ Matthew 22:37-39 The Justice Continuum: Compassion, Development, Structural Change “The Justice Continuum” is a guide through the elements of commitment …
Read MoreProfessional Fellowships
A fundamental development goal for The Just Life community is the creation of profession based “fellowships” within local communities in order to work through how to use specific gifts and callings to live a life of love and justice. In an effort to facilitate those discussions, provide a collaborative space, and generate a knowledge bank we have created these categories. …
Read MoreCore Concepts 8: Be All In
We must come to terms with the reality that there is no hierarchy of Christian discipleship, no acceptable “levels” of commitment. From day one, being a disciple of Christ has been an all-in, all-or-nothing proposition. A call to completely give up the life we have planned so as to have the life awaiting us. Of course, there have always been …
Read MoreCore Concepts 7: Start Small, Dream Big
A “just life” is one that refuses to neglect even the smallest act of compassion (to suffer with) while being willing to be incarnate in the development of others (loving your neighbor as yourself) while relentlessly pursuing the most revolutionary structural change (the redemption of fallen systems):
Read MoreCore Concepts 6: Uniquely Called
Being transformed and being a part of a transformational community requires a commitment to spiritual discipline and to being stewards of the unique calling God has placed on each of our lives. Loving God and loving others with all our heart, soul and strength means that every area of our lives must be seen belonging to Christ and His Kingdom.
Read MoreCore Concepts 5: Follow Christ’s Lead
Where do we begin? Our character begins to follow Christ’s lead as we interact with people through love. His lead is incarnate. This means we are to live among and rub shoulders with those who need us. We can’t love at a distance. You cannot commute to a calling. We too must become “incarnational.” This is the essence of living …
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