What our program participants are saying

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.

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.

We as a group were called to act on our faith as a result of taking JustFaith Ministries’ program on migration. A couple nurses are learning the Spanish language. Others are greeting incoming refugees to Louisville at the airport. One volunteers at a tutoring center that we visited on our immersion experience (Doors to Hope). One continues to volunteer at La Casita. All in our group feel empowered and competent to speak the truths and facts of our immigrant neighbors to others in our community. All have an appreciation of the tireless efforts of an immigration lawyer from Louisville that was our guest speaker at session 5. As for me I will continue to facilitate JustFaith programs at my church.