Jesus showed us that loving our neighbors
begins with knowing our neighbors.
But how do we know our neighbors?
We listen with our city. When we listen we commit to hearing from others. We admit that we don’t have all the answers. We open our ears to discover how we might best serve the people in our city.
We learn with our city. As a result of taking the time to listen, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of the people, the places, the gifts, the needs, the pains, and the hopes of Durham.
We live with our city. To live with our city is to be present. This means not only knowing the joys and sorrows that people face, but also sharing in them. In the same way that God became flesh in Jesus to dwell with us, we “become flesh,” and dwell with our neighbors. By living with our city we commit to partnering with our neighbors to bring peace and justice to our community.
This year we will launch a series of initiatives that will help us get to know our neighbors. We will turn our hearts, minds, and actions toward listening, learning and living with our city. Together we will join Christ’s mission to bring peace, hope, healing and justice.
