About the kind of stories we want to share

What would happen if we understood our stories of faith as examples to imagine living life differently? Not just models to live by but examples of failure. Our stories are powerful not just because they show the best of us but because they also show our humanity.

Stories of faith for people must be more than our victories. They should be the stories we need to tell, for others. Our stories are powerful because they show us at our best and worst.

These are stories of faith for people.

This isn’t about people you’ve heard of giving us more advice for living, as helpful as that may be. These are stories of everyday people living ordinary lives as they try to live a life faithful to Christ. Stories of failure, apathy, and indifference are just as important as the good ones. Maybe, our stories of failure are even more important for others to hear. Stories of faith for people recognizes that life is complicated and faith does not make it less so.

The stories we tell should be as complicated as our lives.

I hope you’re beginning to imagine the kind of stories we hope to share. These are stories of faith … for people living beautifully ordinary, yet imperfect, lives. People who are trying to raise kids or care for family. People who are just trying to make a positive impact in their small part of the world. But this beauty can also come from recognizing what we got wrong. There is beauty in struggle and naming that struggle for others can be life changing.

So, these stories emphasize a faith for people, the good, the bad, and everything in between. This isn’t about getting it right but about living faithfully, sometimes recognizing when we’ve done damage to others despite our good intentions. This is why we focus on stories of hope, healing, and community.

Through healing, we have hope that our community can be and do differently.

Everyday faith is not heroic. It is human. We need stories of faith from people for people. Stories that highlight our humanity yet point us toward divinity.

These are stories of faith for people.