A curated collection of books and resources to deepen your spiritual journey, expand your understanding of soul care and justice, and inspire thoughtful reflection and transformation in your life and community. Recommended Reads Resourcing Wellness in Community Recommended Reads are designed to enrich the lives of people and communities alike... mind, body, and spirit. Learning asks something of us in layers: discipline of mind, memory of what came before, and the freedom that knowledge makes possible. It also asks for return... repetition, as the proverb reminds us, is the mother of all learning. What we come back to again and again is what finally takes root in us. "Education has a two-fold function in society. On the one hand it should discipline the mind for sustained and persistent speculation. On the other hand it should integrate human life around central, focusing ideals. It is a tragedy that the latter is often neglected in our educational system" (Martin Luther King Jr.). Memory is part of that discipline too, carried forward so we are not left to relearn the same losses. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" (George Santayana). And when mind and memory are held together, they open into something larger still: "Education is the key that unlocks the golden door to freedom" (George Washington Carver). As we engage these works, we hold both text and context with care... honoring the words themselves while remaining attentive to the histories, power dynamics, and lived realities that shape them. Reading, then, becomes not just an act of learning, but an act of healing, remembrance, and liberation. May these resources invite you to slow down, listen deeply, and rediscover the fullness of your own spiritual journey as we walk together in Jesus' way of justice, mercy, and love. Features of the Month Soul Care Spiritual Formation Soul Care & Spiritual Formation Lament Advent Prayer Devo Lament & Advent Soul Readings Reparative Healing Reparative Healing Colonialism Colorism Caste Caste. Nationalism. & Racism. Mainline Church Racial Dilemma Mainline Church Racial Dilemma Historical Racial Compromise Historical Racial Compromise Black African American Religious Studies Black & African American Religious Studies EARLY AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY BIBLIOGRAPHY Video & Primary Texts by Jude3 Project View More THE BIBLE PROJECT Videos Podcast & Guides View More ASIAN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION Videos , Han Theology Article & Books View More

Soul care, spiritual direction, and trauma-informed support nurturing emotional, spiritual, and communal healing through justice, restoration, and hope. Resourcing Wellness in Community Urban Wellness Living Meet Cynthia Spiritual Director | Trauma Informed Care | Member Care Hi, I'm Cynthia. I'm a soul care advocate, trauma healing facilitator, embodied-practice educator, and a companion for those seeking spiritual and emotional wholeness. More than anything, I'm someone who believes healing grows in safe, sacred spaces… and that we flourish when we are truly seen, heard, and held with care. For over three decades, I've had the gift of serving in full-time urban ministry... walking alongside individuals as well as communities, nurturing micro-churches, tending to prayer, and offering member care. My heart has long been drawn to places where faith, suffering, history, and hope meet, especially within the lived wisdom of Black and African American spirituality. Much of my calling centers on liberation as spiritual formation... tending generational and historical wounds, advocating for God's righteousness and justice, and supporting others as they journey toward freedom, dignity, and restoration. One of the deepest lessons I've learned is the power of the in-between space... the often-unexamined space between our instincts and our responses. In that space, I believe God meets us with clarity, courage, tenderness, and the freedom to choose love instead of fear. My work in soul care begins here: helping people notice this sacred in-between, tend it with ongoing attention and reflection, and trust that God's Spirit is already at work... steadily, faithfully, restoring what has been worn thin. From this grounded center, I imagine communities where every person is honored as a reflection of God's compassion, justice, and faithfulness... communities that learn to respond rather than react, and that move together toward wholeness of body, soul, and spirit. My own journey has been shaped by adversity, failure, grief, and the sustaining grace of God that has carried me through it all. These experiences led me to become a certified Trauma Healing Facilitator through the Trauma Healing Institute and Quest Movement, and a trained Spiritual Director through Sustainable Faith (with ongoing supervision that continues to deepen my formation). My recent work with the Cultural Somatic Institute has further illuminated how our bodies carry racialized and systemic trauma... and how God meets us there too, with patience and presence. To stay grounded, I treasure the simple joys: laughing over a good comedy, disappearing into fantasy or action-adventure films, curling up with a book in a cozy space, or escaping into the peace of theater, camping, or mini-retreats. I'm sustained by beloved friendships, shared laughter, and long, honest conversations that remind me of the sacredness of walking life's road together… "while being on this side of dirt," as my sistah-friend Brittany says. Spiritual Direction "The moan is the birthing sound, the first movement toward a creative response to oppression, the entry into the heart of contemplation through the crucible of crisis." ~ Barbara Holmes, Joy Unspeakable ~ Why Urban Wellness Living Why Urban Wellness Living Health Embrace healthy healing ideas, exercises, & practices to rejuvenate & strengthen the whole body. "How can I care for my whole self when I feel overwhelmed?" Community Love God & Love Others with humility, mercy, & justice, catalyzing belonging. “How do I love well when connection feels costly or hard?” Advocacy Extend support for life-giving practices of peacemaking, justice, & truth-telling. “How can I speak or act for justice when I’m still finding my own courage?” Education Cultivating knowledge, wisdom from life’s experiences, & the value of revelation. "I should know this by now... but what if knowing is still becoming?” Hope Cultivating assured expectation to embrace pathways that inspire renewed possibilities & purpose. “How do I keep believing when the way forward feels uncertain?” Restoration Encourage spiritual & emotional practices rooted in renewing rhythms of life & work. “What does renewal look like when I’m weary from holding it all together?” Why is it vital to honor the lived wisdom within Black and African American spirituality and soul care? Learn More Urban Wellness Living Resources Soul Care & Spiritual Formation View More Emotional & Mental Health View More Healthy Living View More Recommended Reads View More Righteousness & Justice View More Financial Wellness View More Wellness Resources “Listen to the long stillness: New life is stirring. New dreams are on the wing. New hopes are being readied: Humankind is fashioning a new heart. Humankind is forging a new mind. God is at work. This is the season of Promise.” ~ Howard Thurman Web Etiquette As you explore this space, you’re invited to arrive with care, for yourself and for one another. Each person comes from a different journey, carrying questions, insights, stories, and at times overwhelm or grief. All of that is welcome here. With this in mind, we aim to cultivate an environment… both online and offline… where conversations are rooted in respect, generosity, and presence. A space where listening matters, where words are offered thoughtfully, and where growth is not rushed. Thank you for the curiosity you bring, for the care you extend in how you respond, and for helping shape a space where people are free to learn, reflect, and grow at their own pace. SAY HELLO Email: urbanwellnessliving@gmail.com Say Hello Connecting with God as a Source for Life and Purpose.

My Soul Care Rhythm embodies a profound commitment to care for the soul. In this cherished rhythm, I recognize the intricate orchestra between personal well-being and the greater harmony of community. Rooted in principles of compassion, love, and justice, I believe that nurturing the soul extends beyond individual contentment; it encompasses a collective pursuit of justice and righteousness for the sake of all humanity. The Faith I Share I share a faith rooted in the ancient story of Scripture and centered in the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus*. Across centuries, Christians have expressed this faith through many confessions and affirmations, such as the Nicene Creed. I receive the wisdom of that tradition while grounding my faith more deeply in the larger biblical story in which that tradition is rooted: Creator God* who calls creation good, Jesus Christ who reveals the heart of God, and the Holy Spirit* who gives life and empowers God's people to participate in the work of love, justice, mercy, compassion, and restoration. For me, faith is more than what we say about God. Scripture continually joins belief with embodiment: the way we love, how we treat our neighbors and enemies, how we use power, how we handle wealth, whom we welcome, and whether our lives participate in God's healing of the world. Jesus announced and embodied God's way of life, a way that confronts the hierarchy and control so often exercised in the name of coercive power. It is a way marked by service rather than control, welcome rather than exclusion, generosity rather than accumulation, and justice, mercy, and love rather than domination. Across generations, followers of Jesus have carried this story through countless communities, cultures, languages, and traditions. It is not a private confession. It is a story held across time and place, telling of a God who has been at work reconciling all things through Christ (Col. 1:19–20). Yet the history of Christianity also bears witness to the ways this faith has been entangled with empire, wealth, fear, and exclusion. Scripture itself warns us about the destructive power of the love of money, naming it as a root of many kinds of harm and evil (1 Tim. 6:10). These are not merely wounds of the past. They remain with us whenever the name of God is used to protect power, privilege, or wealth rather than to serve the flourishing of God's creation. For this reason, I want my faith continually measured against the story and way of Jesus, not against the systems humans have built around his name. This faith calls me back with courage to face the divisions empire, exclusion, and the love of power have carved into the body of Christ, and to move in solidarity toward the loyal love of Jesus that heals what has been broken. It invites us to hold fast to the living hope we find in Jesus, a hope that reaches beyond every boundary human systems have drawn, beyond every theology shaped to serve the powerful rather than the flourishing of all, and beyond every line drawn to decide who belongs and who does not. Belonging was never empire's to give, nor any human system's to withhold. It has always belonged to God. Just as God's creation flourishes in radiant diversity, with every culture, language, and people bearing the image of God (Gen. 1:27), so Scripture tells a story of all things being reconciled and brought toward wholeness in Christ. It is a vision of every nation, tribe, people, and tongue standing together before God (Rev. 7:9), not erased into sameness, but gathered in the fullness of their God-given dignity. This is the story I have found home within. The biblical faith I seek to live, a faith centered in Jesus and expressed through love of God, love of neighbor, justice, mercy, reconciliation, and the flourishing of creation. Wherever you find yourself in your own story, I hope you find home there too. I believe in one God*, Creator of heaven and earth, the Source of life, of all that is, seen and unseen, who calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. I believe in Jesus the Christ*, God's only beloved Son, true God from true God, one in being with the Father, our companion and Redeemer. Conceived by the Holy Spirit's power, born of the Virgin Mary, whose courageous yes welcomed God's life into the world. Emmanuel, God with us and among us, in solidarity with the weary and the forgotten. For us and for our salvation. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, beneath the violence of empire and authoritarian power was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into the depths of death and sorrow, yet on the third day, he rose again... a sign that love cannot be overcome or interrupted. He ascended into the mystery of heaven, where He lives in communion with God and intercedes for us still, restoring justice and mercy among the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit*, the giver of life, worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, God's breath still moving through creation, forming one holy catholic* and sacred family of faith. In the Spirit, we are joined with all who have gone before us... the communion of saints, the gift of forgiveness, the promise of resurrection, and the life of the world that has no end. Amen. God God, the One who holds all things together, is both strength and tenderness, mystery and communion. The Source of all life, God creates and sustains heaven and earth through boundless love (Genesis 1:1-2; Colossians 1:16-17). "God" is a title, not a name; in Hebrew it is Elohim, a category of being, the way "human" names a category rather than a person. Scripture also gives God a personal name, Yahweh, revealed in relationship rather than declared from a distance. Names carry the weight of a relationship, and Yahweh's self-revelation to Israel in their story of bondage and deliverance, and through Israel to the nations, unfolds most clearly in the exodus: the God who hears the cry of the oppressed and moves toward their liberation (Exodus 3:7-8). Yahweh means "I am" or "I will be," a name bound to covenant faithfulness rather than to distant power. Scripture reveals this God as Father and Mother, a Presence who comforts as a mother comforts her child (Isaiah 66:13) and who shepherds with steadfast care (Psalm 23:1-4). Divine Love shapes us in wisdom and compassion, calling us to live in harmony with creation and with one another (Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:9). Made in the Image of God To be made in the image of God is to carry both a reflection of Divine Love and an assignment. In the ancient world, a ruler who could not be personally present in every territory would place an image of himself there, so his people would recognize his rule and presence even in his absence. Genesis takes that familiar picture and turns it toward every human being: God places humanity in creation as living representatives of God's own reign, entrusted to embody God's character and extend God's care over the world (Genesis 1:26-28). This is not a passive resemblance. It is a vocation, a shared rule entrusted to us, to tend and guard the world, cultivating its flourishing while protecting it from harm, an act of worship rather than domination. Every human being bears God's image as part of the humanity God has created and called good. Yet we are also invited to grow into the vocation that image-bearing carries: to create, cultivate, discern, care, and participate in God's life-giving work. As we learn to live according to God's wisdom, these capacities become expressions of the image we already bear, bringing life and flourishing to the world around us (Proverbs 8:1–36; Psalm 8:4–8). This image-bearing humanity is wonderfully particular: peoples and cultures, languages and histories, bodies and communities all participate in the fullness of the humanity God has created. No single expression of humanity can exhaust the breadth of God's creative goodness (Genesis 1:27). In Scripture, Wisdom (Sophia) calls with a woman's voice, guiding and sustaining life (Proverbs 8:1-3, 22-31), and Jesus himself speaks in maternal imagery, longing to gather his people "as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings" (Luke 13:34). When that vocation broke and humanity's image-bearing grew distorted, God bound himself to humanity in the incarnation, becoming the human we were made to be, so that through Christ we are restored to the humans we were made to be (Philippians 2:5-8; Hosea 11:3-4; Psalm 103:13). Jesus the Christ Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, was born in Bethlehem under the shadow of Herod's throne, a ruler so threatened by news of his birth that he sought to destroy him (Matthew 2:16), a pattern of empire fearing what it cannot control that has repeated itself across every generation. As a child, he fled violence and lived as a refugee in Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15), later raised in Nazareth, a village so overlooked that even his own countrymen asked, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46). It was among the humble and dismissed, not the powerful or privileged, that God chose to raise him. As a first-century Jewish man under Roman occupation, he entered the world without civil standing, yet embodied God's liberating presence among the people (Philippians 2:5-8). His title, Christ, is not a surname but an office: Christos, the Greek rendering of the Hebrew mashiach, the Anointed One, marked out for a specific work. In Israel's story, anointing set apart those called to speak God's truth, intercede on behalf of the people, and shepherd them with justice. Jesus embodies all of it at once, not roles held in sequence, but one life that speaks truth, intercedes with mercy, and reigns through service. Through his life, teachings, death, and resurrection, Jesus revealed the heart of God's justice and mercy. His words on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and his proclamation in Nazareth (Luke 4:14-21; Isaiah 61:1-3) invite us to love God wholly, love our neighbors as ourselves, and participate in the renewal of all creation (Deuteronomy 6:4-12; Matthew 22:34-40; Acts 2:42). Where the first humans were entrusted with the vocation of bearing God's image and failed to carry it, Jesus takes up that same calling and fulfills it, becoming the human we were made to be so that, through him, we become the humans we were made to be. In his suffering, Jesus stood with the persecuted and the weary, with the faithful Church of Smyrna and the enduring Church of Philadelphia (Revelation 2:8-11; 3:7-13), showing that even in weakness, Divine strength prevails (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). The risen Christ walks beside us still, the Good Shepherd leading us into truth, healing, and liberation (John 10:14-16; Luke 24:30-32). Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is God's living, animating presence, the breath and wind of God moving through creation. In Hebrew, ruach, and in Greek, pneuma, carry a rich range of meaning that we tend to separate into four ideas: wind, breath, mind, and spirit. From creation's beginning, God's ruach moves over the waters, bringing life and order, while God's breath sustains every living thing (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30). The Spirit also gives wisdom, understanding, creativity, courage, and strength, empowering people to participate in God's work of cultivating life and flourishing (Exodus 31:1-5; Isaiah 11:2). The Hebrew ruach is grammatically feminine, and Scripture gives us feminine imagery for God's life-giving Wisdom and Spirit. Yet the Spirit cannot be contained by any single image or category. In Jesus, the Spirit brings liberation, healing, and renewal; at Pentecost, the Spirit breathes new life into a diverse people across languages and cultures (Luke 4:18-19; Acts 2:1-4). The Spirit continues to move among us and throughout creation, bringing wisdom, creating communion, restoring what has been broken, and breathing life where there has been death (Ezekiel 37:9-10; Romans 8:11). The Holy Catholic Church The Holy Catholic Church, meaning the universal body of Christ, embraces all who believe in Jesus across time, culture, and tradition (Ephesians 4:4-6; Galatians 3:28). The word "catholic" is not found in the Hebrew or Aramaic Scriptures; it comes from the Greek katholikos, meaning "universal" or "of the whole." In the traditional creed, it does not refer to the Roman Catholic denomination, but to the worldwide fellowship of all who follow Christ. The New Testament's own word for church, ekklesia, means those called out and gathered, echoing the Hebrew qahal, the assembly of God's people summoned to hear God's voice and keep covenant together (Deuteronomy 4:10; Acts 7:38). To be church, then, is to be a people called out of isolation and into shared life, shared witness, and shared responsibility for one another. This sacred family of faith holds the beauty of diversity within unity, reflecting the Creator who delights in difference and calls many members into one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). The Church exists not as an institution of power, but as a community of mercy and justice, called to embody God's reconciling love in the world (2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Micah 6:8). Trinity God has never been alone. Before the world began, the Father was already loving the Son through the Spirit, an eternal community of self-giving love rather than a solitary power (John 17:24). This is not three gods sharing a name, nor one God wearing three masks, but one Divine life held in relationship, Father, Son, and Spirit, distinct and undivided, giving and receiving love without beginning or end. The word "Trinity" itself does not appear in Scripture; it is the Church's later theological shorthand for what the biblical story shows relationally, long before it names it doctrinally, in the Spirit hovering over creation's waters, the Father's voice at Jesus' baptism, and the Spirit descending on the Son (Genesis 1:2; Matthew 3:16-17). The Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation is the same Spirit who descended at Jesus' baptism, revealing that the Father's love for the Son, and the Spirit's work of blessing and empowering, is not a one-time event but the very rhythm of who God is. To say "God is love" is to say something about God's inmost identity, not just God's actions (1 John 4:8-11). This community of love now reaches outward, drawing us into its fellowship, into the koinonia of grace, love, and communion Paul names in his blessing over the Church (2 Corinthians 13:14). To trust this God is to be welcomed into a relationship that has been overflowing since before the foundation of the world (Galatians 4:4-6).

Discover meaningful ways to participate in civic engagement that reflect biblical principles of justice, compassion, and love for community while exploring organizations and initiatives that align with God’s call to care for neighbor and contribute to healing and wholeness in the world. Civic Engagement WHY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT? Many principles and teachings in the Bible remind us that caring for our neighbors, seeking justice, and being responsible stewards of the world are not just noble ideas... they are invitations to live out love in tangible ways. Jesus' command to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt 22:39) calls us to actively participate in the well-being of our communities and society. Similarly, Micah 6:8 encourages us to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God," inviting us to let justice, compassion, and humility guide our actions. Civic engagement, then, becomes more than duty; it becomes a way to reflect God's heart, to contribute to healing, and to help build a world that mirrors the wholeness Christ desires for us all. We know there are countless opportunities for civic engagement in our world, and many of you are already walking this path faithfully. Below are just a few of the ways our family has connected, among many others, that we wanted to share. May these examples encourage you, remind you of the power of your participation, and invite all of us to align our actions with God's desire for healing, wholeness, and unity in Christ. Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence Empowering Black women, birthing persons, and their families to feel safe, respected, and informed through their entire pregnancy journey. The idea for the Black Maternal Health Center Of Excellence (BMHCE) was born in 2017 by the Charles Drew University (CDU) Department of Urban Public Health (DUPH), in partnership with the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM). These organizations partner with BMHCE to prevent infant and maternal mortality in LA County and the broader U.S. Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice focuses on developing, implementing and teaching sustainable and regenerative earth practices. AddiEun Foundation The mission of the AddiEun Foundation is to fund, in the form of small micro-grants, the creation of primarily black and indigenous women led reprieve spaces and infrastructure building and strengthening for black and indigenous people, families, and communities confronting and enduring the persistent historical intergenerational and institutional effects of White Body Supremacy. These spaces will be the cultural and philosophical foundation for healing and economic development for the next nine generations. NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People The NAACP or National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was established in 1909 and is America's oldest and largest civil rights organization. It was formed in New York City by white and Black activists, partially in response to the ongoing violence against Black Americans around the country. Imagine Abolition Watch to hear former executive director Patrisse Cullors’ vision of abolition, and how Black Lives Matter was birthed from a passion to set us all free. Video Color of Change OUR MISSION: Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Watts of Power Foundation The Village Initiative The Foundation’s mission is to strengthen families and communities through a focus on education and community revitalization. Our five-pronged approach empowers Black male pre-service teachers through: education, housing, financial literacy, job training and advocacy. Teacher Village featured ABC 7 Eyewitness News Children's Defense Fund The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor children, children of color and those with disabilities. Care Portal CarePortal is a technology platform that connects churches, community members, and local agencies to meet the real-time needs of vulnerable children and families. Through vetted requests submitted by child-serving professionals, communities are mobilized to provide practical support... such as beds, food, or transportation... helping stabilize families and prevent unnecessary foster care placements. By linking compassion with coordinated action, CarePortal strengthens relationships and empowers communities to care for children together. Breaking Barriers, Building Belonging Anti-Ableism Resources Across Faith & Advocacy California Black Power Network The California Black Power Network is a united ecosystem of Black grassroots organizations working together to change the lived conditions of Black Californians by dismantling systemic and anti-Black racism. Black & Asian Solidarity FACE See how FACE is bringing together the Black and AAPI community to bring racial healing and unity to fight for a more equitable world. After Hours We are a community compelled by the hope of Christ to participate in transformation and healing among people in L.A. involved in all aspects of the cycle of sexual exploitation. We do this by building community, aligning resources, and fostering healthy relationships. Catholic Legal Immigration Network "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." In light of ongoing debates about immigration, this call from Matthew 25:35 remains as relevant as ever. Immigration is a key issue in the U.S. and globally, involving not only legal and policy complexities but also significant social and ethical concerns. For over 30 years, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) has defended immigrant families' legal rights and upheld their dignity, grounded in the Catholic tradition of welcoming the stranger. CLINIC trains and supports a network of 400+ Catholic and community-based immigration law providers across 49 states, helping nearly 500,000 immigrants annually. It also supports immigrant defenders in court and provides expertise in religious immigration law for religious workers coming to the U.S. Supporting Immigrants: A Call to Action Race Equity & Justice Ministries by North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church Video Poor People's Campaign In 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many others called for a “revolution of values” in America. They sought to build a broad, fusion movement that could unite poor and impacted communities across the country. Their name was a direct cry from the underside of history: The Poor People’s Campaign. Today, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has picked up this unfinished work. From Alaska to Arkansas, the Bronx to the border, people are coming together to confront the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. We understand that as a nation we are at a critical juncture... that we need a movement that will shift the moral narrative, impact policies and elections at every level of government, and build lasting power for poor and impacted people. The Equal Justice Initiative The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. EJI challenges poverty and racial injustice, advocates for equal treatment in the criminal justice system, and creates hope for marginalized communities. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. We challenge the death penalty and excessive punishment and we provide re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people. Tsuru for Solidarity As an ethnic group who has received an apology and reparations from the federal government for wrongs committed against us, Japanese Americans have a moral imperative to support Black people seeking a past due similar path for a structural remedy. We also have moral authority to stand in solidarity with other communities: especially a community targeted by historic racism seeking accountability and a process for redress and reparations. Chasing Justice Chasing Justice will equip and inspire you in new ways. The invitation to live justly can often feel overwhelming with all the darkness in the world, but we believe that God cares about the injustice and pain in the world and has designed us to make a difference. Being led by people of color, we are forming a community of people that will journey together. This journey will provoke a social imagination that centers the voices of those most impacted by injustice. Chasing Justice will guide you to live justly and see God’s goodness for the world. Let’s rebuild a just world. Video Harambee Ministries Rooted in Christ, transforming community, located in the heart of Northwest Pasadena, Harambee Ministries is a Christ-centered, justice-driven organization committed to developing a thriving community through discipleship, education, and leadership development. With a legacy of empowering youth and families, Harambee works to cultivate hope, academic excellence, and spiritual formation, ensuring every individual is seen, supported, and equipped to lead. From after-school programs to mentorship and neighborhood engagement, Harambee lives out the Gospel through holistic love, action, and presence. Los Angeles Regional Re-entry Partnership The mission of LARRP is to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive, culturally competent, and effective community reentry system, by providing a strong community voice in public policy and funding decisions; by serving as a convener of reentry service providers, advocates, and other stakeholders; and by building capacity across the county to meet the needs of the reentry community. Private School Village PSV is a unique community of support, created for Black families by Black families. A highly collaborative organization, PSV brings together families and students from across private schools to share resources, centralize offerings, and truly build community. We believe that a healthy education includes a community where students, parents, and schools are in partnership to ensure all students thrive fully. Together we are working to increase racial literacy, racial socialization, representation and support related research. Mental Health Resources for Children and Youth in Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMHLA) Download Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Toll Free Assistance (DMHLA) Download Mental Health Resources Download Expert Insights on Youth Suicide Awareness & Prevention in K-12 Schools Download How School & District Leaders Can Recognize & Prevent Student Harm to Self & Others Download Creating a Modern Youth Suicide Awareness & Prevention Program for Your District Download www.navigate360.com Los Angeles City Resource List (The Housing Authority has developed a resource list with possible sources and assistance. The Housing Authority does not endorse these services) Download Los Angeles County Consumer Business Affairs View More

Discover curated blog articles rooted in spiritual formation, justice, and healing wisdom to support your journey toward wholeness, hope, and grounded living. Blogs & Articles A living library of reflections, stories, and resources rooted in the pursuit of justice, righteousness, and embodied soul care. These offerings are not just updates or insights...they are companions for those resisting disconnection, disembodiment, elitism, nationalism, and racism. Here, personal truths are held with tenderness, and history is honored as a guide rather than a weapon. Each resource is curated to nurture clarity, courage, and communal healing in a fragmented world. African Burial Ground National Park Service A Sacred Space in Manhattan. African Burial Ground is the oldest and largest known excavated burial ground in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It protects the historic role slavery played in building New York. Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes is a theologian, psychologist, and professor dedicated to healing the legacies of racial and gender oppression through faith, justice, and holistic care. In her Substack newsletter, No Trifling Matter, she offers personal reflections and insights on topics like motherhood, resistance, and spiritual growth. Sheila Wise Rowe Sheila Wise Rowe is the co-founder of The Cyrene Movement, an online Christian community dedicated to helping people of color heal from racial trauma, realize their potential, and embrace community. The movement draws inspiration from Simon of Cyrene, a man of color from North Africa who helped Jesus carry the cross, symbolizing the act of lifting each other's burdens. Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown Lerita Coleman Brown , a heart and kidney transplant recipient, spiritual director, and professor emerita of psychology...intertwines her personal journey with profound insights into the integration of spiritual and psychological healing. Her exploration of the intersection between spiritual direction and psychotherapy reveals how blending psychological insight with spiritual accompaniment can cultivate a more holistic model of care, one that honors both the inner life and mental well-being. Lisa Sharon Harper Lisa Sharon Harper reflects on the events of our day, through the lenses of theology, culture, politics, and the arts. Think of this space as “LSH Acoustic”: raw, thoughtful first takes without the bells and whistles. Sometimes her reflections appear as short Twitter moments. Other times they grow into essays, columns, or even chapters of books. Here, she invites us to pause and touch base, offering a place where her voice can stretch beyond Instagram or Facebook. Lisa values dialogue. She loves hearing how her words land and what they spark in you. So, join the conversation: write back in the comments, share with friends, and lean into the reflection. We are living in extraordinary times. Dr. Jemar Tisby Jemar Tisby is a historian, author, and public theologian whose work centers on truth-telling, racial justice, and faithful Christian witness. Through careful historical analysis and pastoral clarity, he helps communities confront the realities of racism while cultivating practices of repentance, repair, and hope. Jemar’s voice bridges scholarship and lived experience, inviting the Church to engage history honestly, embody courageous love, and participate more fully in God’s work of reconciliation and liberation. The Center for Formation Justice & Peace The Center for Formation Justice & Peace is an interdenominational community cultivating Christlike character to pursue peace through kingdom justice. Through articles, podcasts, and spiritual practices, the Center explores how to become a "people of repair," addressing societal brokenness with compassion and action. On Being On Being . A profound conversation from The On Being Project exploring what it means to be human, live wisely, and act with courage in a fractured world. On Being features transformative voices like Resmaa Menakem, who brings deep insight into healing racialized trauma and embodying justice. Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez Kristin Kobes Du Mez , a historian that delves into the intricate ties between American evangelicalism, politics, and gender roles. Her acclaimed book, Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, examines how evangelical culture has embraced a rugged, militant masculinity, influencing political allegiances and shaping national discourse. Through her writings and interviews, Du Mez highlights the cultural forces that have redefined religious beliefs and practices in contemporary America. Corey Evan Leak Corey Evan Leak is a writer, speaker, certified diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner, and creator of Justice & Belonging. Through his blog, essays, and conversations, he challenges norms that uphold injustice and invites deeper reflection on race, faith, and community. His work doesn’t just analyze problems, it sparks transformative conversations that push readers to consider how beliefs and practices shape belonging, dignity, and shared life together. For those seeking a grounded witness at the intersections of spirituality and justice, his writing is both a provocation and a call to engage more honestly with the questions of our time Lectio 365 Lectio 365 is created to help you develop a deeper, daily connection with God. Inspired by the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, daily devotionals guide for you to pray the Bible through Scripture, reflection, and prayer each morning, midday and evening. Since launching in 2019, Lectio 365 desire is to help people make prayer a regular, life-giving habit... wherever we are and whatever our day holds. How Hip Hop Changed the World How Hip Hop Changed the World . Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World" is a four-part documentary series that explores the evolution of hip-hop from its roots in the Bronx to its global impact today. Presented by Chuck D of Public Enemy, the series examines how hip-hop has served as a powerful medium for political expression and social commentary over the past 50 years. Dr. Curtis Thompson Curtis Thompson MD . Explore thought-provoking reflections on healing, connection, and the intersection of neuroscience and spiritual formation by Dr. Curt Thompson. These articles offer rich insight for anyone longing to live with greater purpose, presence, and wholeness. The Work of the People The Work of the People is a spiritual media ministry offering contemplative films and visual liturgies that invite deep reflection, healing, and justice. Their resources help individuals and communities encounter God through honest storytelling and creative liturgy. Dr. Sophia Park Dr. Sophia Park is a prophetic voice in global feminist theology, Dr. Park weaves together biblical spirituality, intercultural wisdom, and liberating practices rooted in the margins. As a scholar, spiritual director, and sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, her work invites us into deeper belonging, healing, and global sisterhood. Father Maurice J Nutt Father Maurice J. Nutt is a Redemptorist priest, revival preacher, and author dedicated to uplifting African American Catholic voices through prophetic preaching, social justice, and spiritual renewal. His ministry emphasizes faith, cultural identity, and the transformative power of the Gospel. Father Maurice shares reflections like “Preaching in a Time of Crisis” and “Pursuing a Life That Matters,” offering guidance on living a faith-filled life. Through his preaching, writing, and retreats, Father Maurice continues to inspire others to embrace a life of purpose and faith. Center for Action & Contemplation Center for Action and Contemplation Daily Meditations are everyday wisdom for a transformed lives. They are rooted in the Christian contemplative traditions, offering reflections from Richard Rohr, CAC faculty, and guest teachers to help you deepen your spiritual practice and embody compassion in the world. Kahlil Greene Kahlil Greene , also known as the “Gen-Z Historian”, is a 2x Emmy-nominated, Forbes 30 U 30 Honored, Peabody Award-winning, and New York Times, WSJ, and Variety Magazine recognized digital educator with over 800,000 followers and 50mm views across his TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles. He has authored op-eds about Gen Z and social impact in the Washington Post, LA Times, and Harvard Business Review. Kahlil also graduated from Yale with a degree in History and served as the college’s first-ever Black student body president. Kahlil is now a full-time, self-employed speaker, influencer, and educator and is known for his TikTok series, Hidden History–which dives into stories of American injustice–and for his commentary about politics and culture.Take a Look at Substack Top Black History Creator with Jemar Tisby & Kahil Greene Center of Spiritual Imagination The Community of the Incarnation is a new monastic community which embodies and teaches engaged contemplative spirituality in response to what Father Bede Griffiths called “the universal call to contemplation.” We affirm that intimacy with God does not belong to a special group of religious professionals but is available to all. Our practice democratizes the gifts of monastic spirituality and translates them into a form that can be lived in everyday life. Writings Asian American Christian Collaborative By Asian American Christians, for Asian American Christians, about Asian American Christians. Read compelling stories, rich theology, and thoughtful reflections from our community in our weekly newsletter. Sign up and be the first to get new content, updates, and resources pertaining to Asian American Christians. Articles Christian for Social Action Christians for Social Action is a community of Christian leaders, scholars, and practitioners committed to integrating faith and justice. Through theological reflection, spiritual formation, and practical engagement, CSA equips individuals and communities to pursue personal and systemic transformation rooted in the whole gospel... seeking peace, justice, and flourishing for all. Articles Truth's Table Truth's Table is an award-winning podcast built by Black women and for Black women, hosted by public theologian Ekemini Uwan and counseling psychologist Dr. Christina Edmondson. Together they explore faith, race, culture, politics, and gender through a grounded, theologically robust, and unapologetically Black Christian lens. From cathartic tears to hearty laughter, Truth's Table is where liberation and truth meet in community. Articles

Experience a Soul Care Mini Retreat with guided spiritual direction, reflective practices, and restorative care tailored for teams, ministries, or communities. Soul Care Mini-Retreat Hourly Rate: $80 + Travel & Participant Materials (Personalized Online or In-Person) A Note on Shared Care & Pricing Let’s explore what a soul care mini-retreat could look like for your team or community, your hopes, expectations, and the unique needs of your group. I look forward to partnering with you to create a meaningful experience. Schedule a Call

Spiritual Direction sessions offer guided reflection, spiritual companionship, and soul care practices that support discernment, healing, and deeper connection with God. Complimentary Call Let’s take a moment to connect. Listening, learning, and exploring together how Soul Care and Spiritual Direction can nurture freedom, healing, and hope. Let's Connect Spiritual Direction An invitation into a sacred rhythm where your story, sorrows, and longings are held, your hidden strength is honored, and your transformation is companioned with care. Spiritual Direction Soul Care Mini-Retreat A space for groups to gather, rest, and receive spiritual care. Participants are invited to reflect, be supported, and explore practices that nurture both themselves and one another. Soul Care Mini-Retreat Why Spiritual Direction? A Journey of Transformation Why spiritual direction? Because it transformed my life when I needed it most. In one of my lowest moments, I finally lifted my "surrender flag," literally threw up my hands, and opened myself to the spiritual directors and mentors who have shaped my life. They walked with me as I faced pain that I had buried for far too long: grief, stress, trauma, shame, anxiety, fear. All of it had been held behind a kind of protective armor I believed would keep me safe. There was something about the way they held space that helped me face what had once felt impossible to face. Piece by piece, I began reclaiming parts of myself I had lost along the way. If you have ever carried something you couldn't quite name, you already know something of this story. It's not just mine. It belongs to anyone who has learned to survive by keeping their truest self hidden. Two defining invitations drew me deeply into this sacred path. The First Invitation: The Courage to Name the Wound. It began through a dream, unsettling and deeply embarrassing. Something buried in my soul surfaced without warning, forcing me to confront my own sexual brokenness. I tried everything to make it go away: prayer, healing services, repentance, striving. Still, the thoughts lingered. Shame whispered that I was beyond help. When I finally shared this with a trusted spiritual companion, her response surprised me. Instead of condemnation, she offered compassion and said simply, "Cynthia, you've been wounded." Those words settled into my body like truth I had been afraid to claim. I wasn't defective. I wasn't beyond repair. I was wounded. And Jesus, the Wounded Healer, was not turning away from me. He was inviting me into restoration. That moment marked the beginning of my interior work toward sustainable freedom, a freedom that has since become the foundation of the work I now offer to others. The Second Invitation: Wrestling with Justice. This one emerged through my own family's story. My auntie was a fierce civil rights advocate for African American nurses who worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to break barriers in the medical field. She fought for equity, dignity, and spaces where Black nurses could thrive. Yet in her final years, I witnessed her exhaustion, her disappointment, and the heavy cost of battles fought without the rest she deserved. I struggled with God. More honestly, there was a burning indignation in me that I could not quiet. My anger reflected the emotional weight carried by everyone who has ever been unjustly cast into wilderness places, unseen and discarded. I could not reconcile what I was witnessing with the version of faith I had inherited, a faith entangled with individualistic, caste-like ideals, promising ease for the faithful while overlooking the wounds of the marginalized and oppressed. What I encountered in that season was not the life of Jesus I had come to know, but a theological derailment dressed in religious language, one that masked injustice and silenced the cries of the wounded. Yet in that wilderness, something shifted. I was drawn back to the justice of God, not a justice built on prosperity logic or merit, but the embodied presence of a God who sees, who stays close, who does not abandon the wounded. I had felt dismissed and unseen. Still, my anger did not disqualify me. It became a doorway into lament, into righteous grief, into deeper truth and advocacy. And even there, God kept inviting me further: not only to grieve injustice done to me and to others, but to confront the emotional and spiritual structures that formed within my own self, the unexamined desires, the inherited ways of seeing and surviving, that could subtly mirror the very systems of empire and religious entitlement I longed to dismantle. The Strength of Spiritual Direction Here, in the tension between lament and hope, I began to embrace the layered work of healing, an inside-out transformation that could not be rushed. As I surrendered to this vulnerable path, an old truth resurfaced with new weight: to love my neighbor as I love myself. That meant I had to ask hard, honest questions. How am I actually caring for myself with love? What happened that required so much self-preservation, and how has that shaped, even limited, the way I love others? I could no longer repress, suppress, or hyper-spiritualize my pain and struggles. They rose up fully, not demanding perfection, but inviting honesty. Vulnerability. Truth. Compassion. Grace. As I let myself move through the process, naming grief, learning to sit with what some clinicians and wellness practitioners call ' clean pain ', and letting truth rise, something began to shift. A liberation I had longed for, often without language for it, started to take root. Slowly, freedom began unraveling patterns that had quietly kept me captive: ways of thinking and reacting shaped by fear, control, and longings I hadn't yet learned to name. I became aware of how these forces had shaped my imagination and guided my decisions beneath the surface. And as I entrusted myself to the Healer, I found a steadier anchor. I was being redeemed not only from pain, but from a kind of inner captivity that had once helped me survive. I learned to honor my body as bearing God's image. To receive rest as a sacred gift rather than something to be earned. To discover an unexpected kind of strength through lament. I was being freed into a new way of living: new habits, renewed thought patterns, and an imagination reshaped by Love rather than fear. And if any part of this resonates with you, I want you to know that this same freedom is available to you too. Networks of Freedom One of the most life-changing truths I have learned is this: soul work is never meant to be done alone. Healing is communal. Formation is relational. None of us arrive at truth by ourselves. The voices of those who encouraged, challenged, and walked with me revealed something sacred: how interconnected our healing truly is. The wisdom and endurance of my ancestors became a guiding thread, reminding me that my interior life has never been a private or personal project. The Spirit forms us on the inside so that God's love can be made visible on the outside, in how we show up for one another. Therese Taylor-Stinson names this truth beautifully in Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman: "The more connected I am to those committed to freedom in my own life, the further I am able to travel in my own trek to freedom. Networks of freedom have supported my own growth, and I have built networks of my own to sustain and affirm the viability of community." Her words continue to invite me, again and again, into soul care communities that cultivate freedom, and into the sacred work of building spaces where others can experience that same liberation. Now more than ever, I see community as a lifeline: an ongoing invitation to grow, to build bridges, and to sustain this shared path of belonging, worth, renewal, and purpose that God longs for us to walk together. A Sacred Thread (A brief note about my heritage) Courtesy Disclaime r At Urban Wellness Living, the hope is to offer a space where people can tend to their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being in ways that feel honest, human, and rooted in God’s presence. Many of us arrive carrying grief, questions, fatigue, longing, or simply the desire for a deeper, more integrated way of living. Here, you are invited to come as you are. Nothing to fix. Nothing to prove. Spiritual direction offers room to slow down and pay attention… to the places within you that are asking for care, to the movements of God that may be subtle or surprising, and to the stories shaping how you live and love. This is not a path of striving or perfection, but a caring walk marked by curiosity, courage, compassion, and trust. It is also important to name clearly that Urban Wellness Living, including the Spiritual Direction and Soul Care Advising services I offer, is not a substitute for licensed counseling, psychotherapy, or medical diagnosis. When support from a trained mental-health professional is needed, seeking a qualified, licensed provider is both wise and life-giving. I am always willing to help you discern what kind of support best honors your needs in this season. In our work together, held with confidentiality and care, the focus will be on noticing what nurtures your growth, your resilience, and your experience of God’s nearness. This may include exploring holistic spiritual practices, reflecting on patterns in your life rather than judgment, or connecting you with additional community or professional resources when helpful. At its heart, spiritual direction is a shared listening… to your story, to your body and spirit, and to the God who meets you right where you are.

Discover monastery retreat centers offering sacred space for rest, prayer, contemplation, and spiritual renewal. Explore peaceful sanctuaries for soul care and reflection. Monastery Retreat Centers Prince of Peace Abbey Saint Andrew's Abbey Serra Retreat Mary & Joseph Retreat Center Passionist Retreat Center New Camaldoli Hermitage Suggest a Retreat Center Suggest a Retreat Center Sanctuaries of Renewal

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Watch meaningful videos and films that explore race, justice, faith, and restoration as well as resources designed to nurture awareness, reflection, and communal healing. Videos & Movies to Watch The Knowledge of Race All Categories Play Video Play Video America’s Unholy Ghosts | The Joel Goza Interview Play Video Play Video Kristin Du Mez Nov 2023 Play Video Play Video Race - the Power of an Illusion Play Video Play Video Isabel Wilkerson - Classifying People By Caste | The Daily Social Distancing Show Play Video Play Video The Origin of Race in the USA Play Video Play Video A Gardener's Tale | A story about systemic racism Play Video Play Video Robert P. Jones — The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy - with Wajahat Ali Play Video Play Video How to Talk to Kids About Race Justice & Reconciliation All Categories Play Video Play Video Reclaiming Faith: A Journey to Restoration Play Video Play Video Racial Reconciliation - Latasha Morrison Play Video Play Video Resisting Racism | The New Family of Jesus | Pastor Rich Villodas Play Video Play Video Choosing Love in the time of Racism | Idelette Mcvicker Play Video Play Video September 27, 1966: MLK—A riot is the language of the unheard Play Video Play Video 'We the People' - the three most misunderstood words in US history | Mark Charles | TEDxTysons Play Video Play Video This Justice Is Not Revenge Play Video Play Video EJI: The Legacy of Racial Injustice Children's Books All Categories Play Video Play Video CML Presents: We March by Shane W. Evans Play Video Play Video I Am Martin Luther King Jr by Brad Meltzer| Books Read Aloud| StoryTimeWithMsMelange Play Video Play Video 'As Fast As Words Could Fly' read by Dulé Hill Play Video Play Video 'Trombone Shorty' read by Angela Bassett Play Video Play Video Children’s Read Aloud 🖍️ | Broken Crayons Still Color by Toni Collier Play Video Play Video Art Book Read Aloud: Gordon Parks Play Video Play Video My Name Is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz by Monica Brown read-aloud Play Video Play Video Something Happened In Our Town (Read Along Book) Movies to Watch All Categories Play Video Play Video JUST MERCY Official Trailer Play Video Play Video Betty & Coretta: An Extended Preview | Lifetime Play Video Play Video Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom | A Documentary from @ourdailybread Ministries' VOICES Collection Play Video Play Video You're No Indian - 90 second trailer Play Video Play Video ORIGIN - Official Trailer - In Theaters January 19 Play Video Play Video HARRIET | Official Trailer | Now Playing Play Video Play Video God & Country Play Video Play Video Mapping the Green Book | National Geographic Learn More

Soul Care Spiritual Formation guides you into a meaningful journey with God that nurtures your whole self in times of struggle and growth. It invites deeper connection, healing, and wisdom as you learn to live with love, purpose, compassion, and trust in God’s presence and transforming work in everyday life. Soul Care & Spiritual Formation Resourcing Wellness in Community Soul Care is the ongoing journey of nurturing the whole being in the presence of Creator God. It draws us past the surface of daily life into a connection where we are genuinely seen and loved, not for what we do, but for who we are. God's nearness is not something to earn. It is something we are invited to receive, together, as a people who have long known how to find God in the middle of struggle. This is where soul care becomes communal as much as personal. In joy and in struggle, we are invited to respond not with striving, but with listening... to God's voice, to our own, and to one another. That listening opens us to a transformation that restores, liberates, and returns us to our truest humanity, both as individuals and as community. Soul Care makes room for that voice to be heard and that truth to take root, at a pace that honors our full humanity and the full humanity of those beside us. Spiritual Formation is the lifelong shaping of our inner life and shared life through the transforming presence of God's Spirit. It flows naturally from this sacred journey, gradually forming how we move through the world in alignment with God's character... justice, faithfulness, love, grace, and compassion. It welcomes individuals and communities alike into life-giving rhythms that reflect Divine purpose and embodied presence. This formation is not a destination to arrive at, but a responsive path we walk together, an unfolding expression of hope and trust in God's movement already at work beneath the surface of everyday life. As we attend to this holy undercurrent... our motives, desires, and longings... we grow in awareness of how God's love is being formed within us, steadily and unmistakably shared through us. Soul Care & Spiritual Formation Centers The Center for Formation Justice & Peace Black Lives & Contemplation Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation Awakening | Heal Renew Inspire Center for Action & Contemplation Mosaic Formation Fuller Center for Spiritual Formation Emmaus Formation Centre Peacock Soul Care Transforming Center The Journey to Your True Self | Calhoun Renovare Spiritual Directors Spiritual Director of Color Network Abide with Vanessa Sadler Spiritual Direction with Cynthia Peters Soul Reparations Spiritual Direction with Daniele Evans Emmaus Formation Centre Soul Care with Erica Mosaic Formation Hush Arbor with Michael Peacock Soul Care Spiritual Directors Sustainable Faith Chaplains Spiritual Directors & Leaders Spiritual Direction International Selecting the appropriate Spiritual Director is a deeply personal process, requiring careful consideration of various factors. Please discern diligently to identify the qualities and expertise that align with your specific needs and preferences. Spiritual Directors Spiritual Practice Guides Prayer of Examen Centering Prayer Lectio Divina Fixed Hour of Prayer Gratitude Rooted in Resilience Prayer of Intention Loaves and Fishes I Need You Sacred Pause Lament as Sacred Formation Welcome Practice Forgiveness Retreat Light Spiritual Practice Guides Spiritual Practices Pete Scazzero 8 Practices of Emotionally Healthy Preaching & Teaching. Listen Embodied Soul Care Groundwork Videos & Reads. View More Text & Context Readings on Soul Care & Spiritual Formation. View More A Sanctified Art In our work, remembering is a spiritual practice. We remember that God created all creation with a goodness refrain. We remember that the poetry of love proclaims that darkness is sacred and black is beautiful (Song of Songs 1:5-6). We remember that Jesus was not white. However, we remember that the white Church has perpetuated violence and oppression against black, brown, and indigenous peoples. We remember that the white Church has profited from slavery. We remember that in the 1820s, white American churches mass-produced and mass-marketed images of white Jesus in order to form a unified national identity of white superiority.* We remember that racism is still alive in our faith communities. As we remember all of these things, we commit to the ongoing work of disrupting racism wherever it persists—trusting that through this journey, God re-members us and makes us whole (*Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. (New York, NY: Nations Books, 2016). 153). View More Kelly Latimore Icons Kelly began painting icons in 2010 while a member of the Common Friars, a community focused on connection with others, the land, and God through service, meals, and farming at “The Good Earth Farm.” Inspired by traditional iconography and encouraged by a priest friend, Kelly developed a unique approach, blending inherited practices with reflections on community life and mission. His first original icon, Christ: Consider the Lilies, was shaped by the question of how to live in right relationship with creation, embodying art as a communal and contemplative expression. For Kelly, iconography is a spiritual practice, a meditation on color, light, and meaning, that seeks to cultivate dialogue, challenge biases, and reveal Christ’s presence in daily life. His work invites viewers to pause, ponder, and grow in connection with God, neighbor, and creation. View More Bette Lynn Dickinson Bette Lynn Dickinson is a prophetic artist, author, and speaker dedicated to creating sacred spaces where individuals can encounter the transformative love of Jesus. Through her evocative paintings and writings, she crafts visual parables that invite reflection on the spiritual journey. As the founder of Awakening the Soul, a nonprofit ministry, Bette offers resources and experiences designed to nourish the souls of ministry leaders and seekers alike. With a B.A. in Art from Western Michigan University and a Master of Divinity from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, she seamlessly blends theological depth with artistic expression. Her debut book, Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder, showcases her unique integration of art and spirituality. View More An Artist's Note The featured artwork on this page is created by or in collaboration with artists who are deeply committed to honoring the history, heritage, and lived realities of Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples. Through proceeds and partnerships, their work supports ministries and communities in ways that embody soul care, spiritual formation, justice, and a shared commitment to solidarity, healing, and advocacy. May this work stir us toward the vital practice of soul care and justice, not only as personal reflection but as part of our shared spiritual formation within God. You may already have artwork or know artists whose creativity invites this movement. Engage with them as fellow companions on this liberating path. Learn More Sanctuaries of Renewal Sanctuaries of Renewal Retreat Spaces for Rest and Reflection Tahquitz Pines Retreat View More Oak Glenn Christian Conference Center View More The Oak Center View More Monastery Retreat Centers View More Forest Home Retreat Centers View More Retreathood View More Exploring Inexpensive Housing and Pet-Sitting Platforms for Retreats As you consider creating sacred spaces for retreat...whether for solitude, soul care, or communal renewal...there may be unconventional yet accessible ways to make it possible. Platforms like GlampingHub , VRBO , or even 'pet-sitting exchanges' such as Rover or TrustedHousesitters could provide creative, budget-friendly options. These resources might open doors to peaceful stays in nature, quiet urban sanctuaries, or unexpected places of rest. But what if retreat isn’t found in a dedicated space at all? What if quiet must be carved out in the middle of noise, in a one-room home filled with children, in a war-torn city, or in the relentless rhythm of daily survival? Sacred space, then, becomes not just about location, but about intention...finding stillness in the small pauses, claiming a moment of breath between demands, or turning an ordinary corner into a refuge of prayer. Even a walk through a nearby park or path...beneath open skies, alongside trees, desert plains, rubble-strewn roads, or winding alleys...can become a sacred pilgrimage. These everyday places, whether peaceful or marked by struggle, might not be far from home, yet they can hold room for holy encounters, deep breaths, and unspoken prayers. May you be led to places that offer not just shelter, but deep renewal. And when the world around you is anything but quiet, may rest find you in the cracks and corners of your days...in a lingering sunrise, a whispered prayer, the steady rhythm of your breath. May provision meet you where you are, and may peace unfold in ways you never expected. MY CONTEMPLATION. . . by Barbara Holmes, Crisis Contemplation: Healing the Wounded Village "My contemplative practices include writing, music and dancing, prayer, stillness, social justice activism, and teaching. These practices are the choices of one individual. What happens when the practices are communal and practiced together? What happens when contemplation is not a personal practice, but a collective, biogenetic, and spiritual response to crisis? Contemplation is the highest expression of [human] intellectual and spiritual life. . . It is a spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. . . It is a vivid realization of the fact that life and being in us proceed from an invisible, transcendent and infinitely abundant source. Contemplation is, above all, awareness of the reality of that Source [God]. Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968) reassured us that when we reach the limits of our knowledge categories and intuitions, there is a wellspring, deep and inexhaustible. In the darkness, we can gather in Spirit and be filled by this Source [God]. Contemplation is not just an effective response to crisis. It can also arise during the most intense aspects of the event. When bodies are being tortured, when minds are pushed to the breaking point, the human spirit falls through the cracks of the crisis into the center of contemplation. Howard Thurman (1899 - 1981) referred to this inner space as an island, a place that cannot be breached without personal consent: "When all hope for release in the world seems unrealistic and groundless, the heart turns to a way of escape beyond the present order." "Contemplation is not a privilege of the few but a vital necessity for our interconnected lives. We are called to stillness, to pause, and to listen deeply." Scriptural Anchors: Romans 12:1-2 | Psalm 46:10 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 | Isaiah 40:31 | Matthew 18:20 A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR IS SOMEONE WHO... Is guided by the Holy Spirit , in the same spirit as those who, from the earliest gatherings, sought to listen together for God’s direction (Acts 13:2–3). The director helps you attend to how the Spirit is moving and speaking in your life. Is a Trained Listener , offering a compassionate presence as you become aware of your experiences and questions. Together, you discern what is unfolding in your daily life and how you are invited to respond (Jn 14:26; 1 Kings 19:11–13). Does Not Seek to Fix or Diagnose , but creates space for God’s healing and direction to emerge, amid internal and external life struggles. Spiritual direction does not separate us from our challenges; it helps us notice God’s presence and invitation within them (Lk 24). Asks Meaningful, Compassionate Questions , opening pathways of noticing and discernment that mirror the invitational questions of Jesus: “What are you looking for?” (Jn 1:38) or Where do you want to be made well? (Jn 5:6). Embodies Hospitality and Confidentiality , offering a sacred and trustworthy space for you to bring your whole self, your hopes, doubts, and desires, before God (Rom 12:9–13; Heb 13:2). Guides You in Spiritual Practices , such as prayer, sabbath, community, service, awareness etc. that nurture your relationship with God and strengthen your attentiveness to the Spirit’s work (Lk 24). Invites You into Deeper Union with God , helping you attune your heart to God’s presence in both stillness and activity, and to participate in the Spirit’s work of transformation within you and through you (2 Cor 3:17–18). Encourages Spiritual Growth Rooted in Love , helping you live with greater alignment to the teaching that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). As Howard Thurman wrote, “A person becomes who they are by the way they order their life around their ultimate concern.” Celebrates the Transforming Work of Grace , walking with you as you notice how God’s love restores and renews your life, just as the early Church rejoiced together in the ongoing movement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:42–47). Continues a Long Lineage of Spiritual Companionship (trained and continues to be practiced in the art of Spiritual Direction), following the pattern of faithful guides throughout history who have helped others discern God’s guidance and live into their purpose (Prov 11:14; Is 30:21). “A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR is one who helps another recognize and follow the inspirations of grace in their life, in order to arrive at the end to which God is leading them.” ~Thomas Merton

Explore faith-based resources for justice, racial healing, and reconciliation. Discover books, films, and formation tools that nurture righteousness and community healing. Build a World of Justice & Righteousness The Color of Compromise The Color of Compromise Video Study Extended Trailer The Color of Compromise takes readers on a historical journey: from America’s early colonial days through slavery and the Civil War, covering the tragedy of Jim Crow laws and the victories of the Civil Rights era, to today’s Black Lives Matter movement. Author Jemar Tisby reveals the obvious, and the far more subtle, ways the American church has compromised what the Bible teaches about human dignity and equality. He exposes the concrete and chilling ways people of faith have actively worked against racial justice, as well as the deafening silence of the white evangelical majority. He shows that while there has been progress in fighting racism, historically most of the American church has failed to speak out against this evil. This ongoing complicity is a stain upon the church, and sadly, it continues today. The Color of Compromise provides an accurate diagnosis for a racially divided American church and suggests creative ways to foster a more equitable and inclusive environment among God’s people. RACE: The Power of an Illusion The Power of an Illusion questions the very idea of race as innate biology, suggesting that a belief in inborn racial difference is no more sound than believing that the sun revolves around the earth. Episode 1: The Difference Between Us examines the contemporary science, including genetics, that challenges our commonsense assumptions that human beings can be bundled into three or four fundamentally different groups according to their physical traits. Episode 2: The Story We Tell uncovers the roots of the race concept in North America, the 19th century science that legitimated it, and how it came to be held so fiercely in the western imagination. The episode is an eye-opening tale of how race served to rationalize, even justify, American social inequalities as "natural." Episode 3: The House We Live In asks, If race is not biology, what is it? This episode uncovers how race resides not in nature but in politics, economics and culture. It reveals how our social institutions "make" race by disproportionately channeling resources, power, status and wealth to white people. Freedom Road by Lisa Sharon Harper Slavery, the Church, and Christianity by Lisa Sharon Harper Tells the Truth Lisa Sharon Harper, former chief church engagement officer of Sojourners in Washington DC and prolific writer, speaker, and grass-tops organizer, founded Freedom Road in 2017 and set out to assemble an equally prolific and diverse team of leading experts, advocates and trainers dedicated to shrinking The Narrative Gap, as coined by Lisa Sharon Harper, in our nation. Through the power of story, the Freedom Road consulting group identifies your community’s core issues and strengthen its capacity to build a just world together. Our team works with faith communities, non-profits, academic institutions and the business sector. At the intersections of faith, race, gender, economic development and environmental justice, we custom design strategic forums, trainings, and transformational experiences that build your community’s capacity for collective engagement toward a more just world. Be the Bridge Founder and President Latasha Morrison: We exist to empower people and culture toward racial healing, equity and reconciliation. Our vision is that people and organizations are aware and respond to the racial brokenness and systemic injustice in our world. That we are no longer conditioned by a racialized society but are grounded in truth. That all are equipped to flourish. We build our bridges with three Piles, a foundation to carry the weight of this work. We inspire people to have a distinctive and transformative response to racial division and to be present and intentional toward racial reconciliation. We equip bridge-builders toward fostering and developing the vision, skills, and heart for racial healing. We partner with existing organizations who have a heart for racial justice, restoration, and reconciliation. Through the Eyes of Color Unspoken The vision of the Ministry encompasses apologetics that address current issues and the intellectual struggles of Christians of African descent in the United States and abroad. We are committed to equipping the local Church that the mandate of Jude 1:3 might be fulfilled, contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. The Unspoken documentary is an in-depth look into the Christian heritage of Africa and people of African descent, intended to dispel the notion of Christianity being an exclusively white man’s religion. Sankofa: A Journey Toward Racial Righteousness Sankofa Impact Sankofa is a word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. It means San (to return), ko (to go) fa (to fetch, seek, and take). The bird with its head turned backwards taking an egg off its back embodies Sankofa’s meaning. Sankofa attests that we must look backwards (into our history), before we can faithfully move forward together, in the present and future. The Sankofa experience does just this, by exploring historic sites of the Civil Rights Movement, connecting the freedom struggle of the past, to our present realities. Sankofa is an invitation to understand race as a critical component of our Christian discipleship. It is an interactive, spiritual formation, pilgrimage that equips Christians to pursue racial righteousness inside and outside the church. This relational journey traces the history of race in the U.S., and tangibly equips believers to begin living into the church’s mission to be ambassadors of reconciliation. White Awake Comrades Education COMRADES EDUCATION (formerly White Awake) offers online courses and learning communities built around antiracist, decolonial, and justice centered education. Their courses blend history, political analysis, and intellectual rigor with reflective practices that support emotional, spiritual, and psychological integration of what participants are learning, including grounding practices, small group discussion, and space for personal story. United Methodist North Carolina Conference Anti-Racism Resources The North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church is committed to anti-racism through discipleship, leadership development, congregational transformation, and advocacy for systemic change. By equipping individuals and communities with resources, training, and action steps, NCCUMC fosters courageous conversations, healing, and justice-centered ministry. CORE: Community Organization for Racial Equity Communities Organizing for Racial Equity (formerly CORR) has been providing Christ-centered anti-racism training for organizations and churches in the West Michigan community and beyond for over 20 years. We seek to pursue our God-sized vision of individuals, churches, and institutions discipled through a robust theology of justice, equipped for life-long biblical antiracism and pursuing shalom together as the beloved community. Racial Justice and Unity Center Faithful Antiracism by Christian Edmondson & Chad Brennan The Racial Justice and Unity Center (RJUC), facilitated by Renew Partnerships, is a Christian ministry dedicated to helping churches, leaders, and communities reflect the justice and unity of God’s kingdom. Grounded in Scripture and guided by the call of Jesus to love, peacemaking, and reconciliation, RJUC equips believers to recognize and address the realities of racial division through biblically based training, coaching, and assessment tools. Their work is informed by one of the largest research projects on racial dynamics in U.S. Christianity, ensuring both theological depth and practical application. With a focus on discipleship rather than divisive partisanship, RJUC invites the body of Christ into Spirit-led action that fosters healing, equity, and lasting unity. Undivided BEGINS WITH U Activating communities for racial healing and justice. What if engagement over diversity became a catalyst for increasing revenue and belonging in your workplace? Studies report racial segregation in U.S. workplaces is greater today than in the 1970s. Studies also demonstrate that diverse and psychologically safe work environments produce better outcomes. WorkingUNDIVIDED is a breakthrough program developed by the team at UNDIVIDED, Inc. White Awareness WHITE AWARENESS is a volunteer run resource helping people understand why conversations about racism and racial identity are so difficult, and what it looks like to develop a healthy White racial identity in a multiracial world. The site draws on Janet E. Helms's model of White racial identity development, which maps six stages people move through: contact, disintegration, reintegration, pseudo-independence, immersion, and autonomy. At each stage, the site offers reflection prompts, readings, and action steps suited to where someone actually is in their process. The tone throughout is patient rather than shaming. Their language is clear on this: the goal isn't to make anyone feel accused or guilty, but to help people move from unconscious privilege toward active, sustained antiracist practice. What Can We Do? View More > Groundwork Reads