Celebrating Resurrection
Dear friends,
I feel like every month I begin my short note to you with some exclamation about what a banner month this has been, but I’m afraid I need to do that again! We celebrated resurrection in April, which is the best reminder that "death and resurrection” is the foundational story of our faith. It’s a conviction on which Invested Faith is built and it’s what keeps us going.
It’s been a month of great press for Invested Faith. The Washington Post heard about Invested Faith and wrote an amazing story about what we’re up to. Baptist News Global published an opinion piece that I wrote about the temptation of embracing a single story and what that means for churches who are struggling to patch the leaking church fellowship hall roof. Read on to learn more about those stories, meet some new Fellows, and be inspired!
This upcoming month of May is all about institutions thinking about becoming part of the Invested Faith effort by adding to the fund we’re building. Watch our social media for lots of news about that. And, as always, I’d love for YOU to help us keep finding and empowering faith-rooted social entrepreneurs by contributing to the fund. Your gift is tax deductible and can be easily made here.
I am grateful for your partnership in welcoming all that God is creating around and within us—resurrection, indeed.
Meet Invested Faith Fellow: Andre G. Brown
Andre G. Brown
Los Angeles, California
A Soul Cleansing Documentary
For years, Andre Brown imagined that he would become a preacher, like his father, mother, and grandfather. He grew up loving the music and drama of the Black church; however, as a gay Christian found himself painfully misunderstood and marginalized there.
Brown, now an actor and filmmaker, was struck with the need to tell his story and the stories of others who had been ostracized by the theology and practice of the church that he so loved.
His new project, A Soul Cleansing Documentary, combines Brown’s love of documentaries with his experience as a gay Black Christian. His full-length documentary will share not only his own story but interviews with other LGBTQ folk who have navigated the intersection of faith, sex, and sexuality after finding themselves on the margins of church.
Read more about Andre here.
Invested Faith in the News
Thanks to the Washington Post and writer Marisa Iati for a wonderful story about the work and possibility of Invested Faith. The story featured not only Pastor Amy but also two of our Fellows, Alisha Gordon and Lizzy Case.
Read How money from dying churches could breathe new life into communities by Marisa Iati.
Invested Faith in Baptist News Global
So with all the love, respect and experiential understanding I can muster, I want to say to all of us people who deeply love our faith institutions just as they always have been, forever and ever amen: With increasing desperation we are telling a single story about the institutions that have guided and housed our faith practice for so long.
Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler, The Temptation of a Single Story
Pastor Amy wrote about the temptation of a single story at Baptist News Global. Read the essay here.
Check out our In the News page to find out more of "what they're saying" about Invested Faith.
Shout Out to Invested Faith Fellow Coté Soerens!
Congratulations to Invested Faith Fellow Coté Soerens, recipient of the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award,which recognizes courageous spiritual entrepreneurs who exemplify innovative spiritual leadership and missionally driven entrepreneurship.
Join the Invested Faith Community
Find out how to get involved:
Help us tell the Invested Faith story. If your church or organization would like to learn more about Invested Faith, please email us. We’ll be happy to help.
Introduce us! Maybe you know someone who fits our criteria for an Invested Faith Fellow: rooted in faith, working for justice and addressing systemic problems in their community while building a sustainable financial model? At Invested Faith, we don't do typical grant applications. Read more about our criteria and how to apply here.
Match a grant. If your organization would like to partner with us to support an Invested Faith Fellow and build the work of Invested Faith, please reach out. We would love to talk!
Give a generous donation to continue to build the work of Invested Faith: Create a legacy and send your witness forward in perpetuity. Give a generous tax-deductible gift to Invested Faith here.
Spread the word! Help us build our audience by using your social media presence and word of mouth to tell others about this important work. Join us on Facebook and LInkedIn and share our posts with your friends. We’re also @InvestedFaith on Twitter.
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