Getting Started

To begin, please read the About page

How to use this site: What began as a simple ministry blog continues to grow into an excellent resource for anyone looking to discover more about how to engage in practical responses to God’s heart for justice. There’s a lot of information to be found here, so we’ve put together a quick guide:

• For Research: Beginning with the Resources page you’ll find a book list and links to organizations.  However, the real wealth of information comes through the “feeds.”  Articles and resources from all over the web are constantly streaming into the “Justice Issues Feed” where you can narrow your search by category.  We are also beginning to organize resources by “Professions.”   You can subscribe via email and rss to all of the content on this site.
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• For Study: In the “Discipleship” section you will find “Biblical Reflection,” “Scripture Lists,” and what we consider to be “Core Concepts” that are designed to aid you in your study of just what God requires of us as agents of change. The “Agents of Change” section will also expose you to existing strategies that we call the “Building Blocks” of justice ministry.
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• For doing: We hope to see the “Meet-ups” section begin to take shape as the most practical resource for helping your church move forward as a community committed to God’s call for lives of love and justice.  Currently this provides a window into the progression specifically in Chicago.  We have begun to share some development guides in the “Resources” sub-section that are designed to help you set up The Just Life at your church.
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• For Sharing: Moving forward we want “Stories of Change” that are shared by the TJL community to become the defining element of this site.  This is meant to be a collaborative space. We want you to write for us and share your story.  Increasingly, our facebook fan page will also be a space to share and network.

Why “The Just Life?”

As a ministry The Just Life fills a space that often exits between awareness and action.  Once the book has been read, the conference attended, and the convicting speaker leaves…now what? How do we begin? What does it look like? What does the Lord require?  The Just Life can serve as a “rally point” for the rising energy and help focus interest.

The Just Life exists to serve the Church, believing that the local church is to be God’s agent for change.  Careful attention needs to be given to the lives we are called to and the complex sociological realities of modern justice ministry.  Few communities have the experience, the staff, or the time to sort it all out themselves.

The Just Life exists to serve you. We want to see daily practical responses to God’s heart for justice made accessible to everyone.  We are convinced that your gifts and talents matter, they are not mistakes, they can be used to make a difference, and in fact they were meant to.  Each of you are uniquely placed, uniquely prepared, uniquely equipped, and uniquely empowered.  What’s more, you are not alone – we are all in this together!

Methodologically, The Just Life represents a grass-roots shift in thinking about discipleship, service, and justice issues – moving a way from programs and volunteer coordination for para-church organizations towards open source movement and a more relational gospel.

The Just Life is committed to being an unwavering voice in keeping Christ and the Cross central to all we do.  Without question.  Without compromise.  Justice through discipleship.

Where and how do I go to get involved in The Just Life?

Currently The Just Life is found at Park Community Church in downtown Chicago.  Feel free to come and see what it looks like on every third Thursday of the month.  The Just Life as a ministry is constructed in a way that fits into any church in order to help that body of believers to work out their response to God’s call for lives of love and justice. We want to help you start up The Just Life at your church, contact us for more information.

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