What our program participants are saying

As inhabitants of our beautiful planet, we have lost that important and sacred connection to the earth as it houses and sustains us. I love how these sessions help to reawaken that connection and bring a greater awareness to the issues around the land we rely on for food, the air that we breathe, and the water that sustains all life. Not only do they create a greater awareness of the effects of climate change, they also encourage spiritual growth and challenge our complacency. By bringing to light the deeply connected justice issues around climate change such as migration, poverty, food insecurity and health concerns of those living on the margins, participants are challenged to explore their own responses and advocate for more sustainable ways of living both locally and globally. This is a great series and I would encourage everyone to participate!

JoAnn Braegelman • St. Cloud, MN

Participar en el programa sobre la apertura espiritual fue una experiencia profundamente transformadora. Me recordó que la verdadera compasión comienza con un corazón abierto tanto a la fe como al servicio. A través de Éncuentro de Esperanza, vi cómo podemos convertirnos en instrumentos del amor de Dios, ofreciendo esperanza, sanación y guía a los necesitados. No se trataba solo de aprender, sino de vivir nuestra fe en acción y descubrir las poderosas formas en que podemos ayudar a otros a crecer espiritualmente, al igual que nosotros mismos crecemos. Estar rodeado de un grupo que me apoyaba hizo que la experiencia fuera aún más significativa.

Monica M. • Participante

Transformative is the single word that comes to mind. This program challenges us to deal with (and not just examine) the reality of racial injustice on individuals, families, and communities as well as entire segments of our country. We are blessed by having multi-generational African Americans in our group that put flesh to the words of our texts that detail the impact of historical prejudices. In other words, this is not an academic exercise, this is the reality of life lived under and through the historical abuse of laws, processes, power, and privilege. You must deal with this reality.

John Laliberte • Greenville, SC