From New York to Texas: Building the Invested Faith Community
Dear friends of Invested Faith,
It has been a banner month at Invested Faith as we’ve gotten to know our Fellows better, hosted an inspiring conversation with Ed Lewis, co-founder of Essence magazine, and met as Advisors to choose the next five Fellows. You’ll be hearing about them very soon!
We continue to be excited about the work of our Fellows. Their stories are a reminder that God's healing of this world continues; it's up to us to find new ways to join in.
You can join us by reading the updates on our work, sharing our news on social media, and, please consider participating with a generous gift! Your donation offers encouragement and support to Invested Faith Fellows like Dr. Alysia Nicole Harris, founder of Meeting House Revival, who is working to restore a historical Black church in Corsicana, Texas. Read her story below!
Let their work spark your imagination for what God can do!
“When churches are dying, what happens if we believe in resurrection and revival?” asks Dr. Alysia Nicole Harris. In founding Meeting House Revival, a non-profit that plans to restore and revitalize a historical Black church in Corsicana, Texas, Harris is putting her beliefs into action.
East Side Chapel, built in 1916, is small, less than 2000 square feet with 24 stained glass windows. “The church sits on what was the center of the African American community at the turn of the century and it’s the oldest still standing building from that time period. It needs to be preserved,” said Harris.
Harris, a Pushcart-nominated performance poet, notes that her work is deeply rooted in her faith.
“My work is at the intersection of church and community-building. In Nehemiah, it says you will be repairers of the breach. You have to build with one hand, and you have to keep a sword in the other hand. You have to fight off what is actually meant to destroy, and you have to build at the same time. That is an apt understanding of working with communities that are under threat.”
“Churches, especially Black churches, were meeting houses. They were places of civic, social, and spiritual engagement. And that’s the part I really want to recover. Reviving that space for social and community investment in one another will stir the Spirit naturally. This community was an incredibly strong, flourishing community. In certain ways, it still is. People need to believe that.”
Read more about Alysia Harris and her work here.
Invested Faith hosted a conversation with Mr. Edward Lewis, co-founder of Essence Magazine and publisher emeritus of Essence Communications, Inc., one of the largest Black-owned communication companies in the US. Mr. Lewis shared his story, answered questions, and offered words of encouragement and wisdom to our group of IF Fellows and Black entrepreneurs from the Black Economic Growth Alliance in Carlisle, PA, headed by IF Fellow Safronia Perry.
“I learned an enormous lesson about the value of relationships in doing business. In business interactions, it is not just who you know, but who you have taking that extra step to vouch for you that can make all the difference between success and failure.”
― Edward Lewis, The Man from Essence: Creating a Magazine for Black Women
Join us as we re-imagine the role of faith in the healing of our world. Become a part of the Invested Faith story. Here are 5 ways you can participate.
Interested in becoming an Invested Faith Fellow? Or maybe you know someone who fits our criteria: rooted in faith, changing unjust systems, and building. sustainable financial model? At Invested Faith, we don't do typical grant applications. Read more about our criteria and how to apply 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.
Support the ongoing development of Invested Faith through a tax-deductible gift. Click here to support our work.
Grant a social entrepreneur. If you’d like your gift to go directly to someone working innovatively to reimagine the faith community, your tax-deductible gift of $5000.00 can make that happen.
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