Dear Friend,

I hope this letter finds you well.

We’re writing to you today, because we need your help.

Our mission is to create a community of loving individuals who intensely desire to serve Jesus and apply the practical applications of his philosophy in an impoverished inner-city neighborhood.

The members of this new inner-city community will live in a frugal house in a low-income area and provide assistance to their neighbors on a person to person basis.  As loving neighbors with a wealth of energy and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will help others and present Jesus’ message in a meaningful, practical manner.

Through radical generosity and selflessness we can be an organization of individuals who observe, interpret and react to the real-time needs of our literal next-door neighbors.

No individuals will be compensated for their work within the organization.  A home will be made available to those who show exceptional commitment to the ideals and goals of the community.

Those living in the community home will be expected to work outside of the organization and pool 100% of their income to meet the needs of the home.  Any excess will be put to immediate use in the target neighborhood.

At this time we are seeking $30,000 in funds.  These funds will be used to purchase a vacant home within the City of Columbus.

We developed this plan based on our reading of Jesus’ teaching and the account of the first century church in the book of Acts.  This leads us to believe that the Christian community should look significantly different than our modern mainstream expression.

Our first ideal is that Christians should live in profound community.

“All the believers were in one heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” Acts 4:32.

Our second ideal is that Christians should live in voluntary poverty.

“When Jesus heard this, he said to (the rich young ruler), ‘You still lack one thing.  Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.’” Luke 18:22.

Our third ideal is that Christians should earn their own keep.

“We work hard with our own hands,” Paul explained to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 4:12).  He made a point not to rely on charitable donations to his ministry, but instead to provide for his own income in addition to his selfless work.

“...we gave you this rule: ‘If a man shall not work, he shall not eat’” 2 Thessalonians 3:10.  Each member of our community will provide for his own needs and the needs of others.

In this model of Christian community, there is no need for paid clergy.  Each member is an active worker for God.  Voluntarily living in poverty, we can each work less to allow more time and energy for being good neighbors.

We know that it’s important to empower the community, not simply assist them.  Programs that we plan to implement include community gardens, free child care, debt counseling, household management education, free auto work, tutoring and public community events.

We believe that although lower-income families may not have money to pay for car repairs or child care, everyone has something to contribute.  Whether it’s helping out around our community house, or performing a service for another neighbor, everyone has something to contribute.

We wish to interact with the portions of society that previous organizations have been unable to help.  Thus, we have opted to not file ourselves as a non-profit corporation.

We recognize that this does present problems with accountability, among other things.  However, it’s important for us to be a group of loving individuals who live among our neighbors as good people, not as an official organization that has come into the neighborhood to pity anyone.

Each member of the communal house will work according to his or her own ability and contribute 100% of the subsequent income to the house.  These funds will be used to operate the home.  Any excess will be put to use in the local neighborhood ministry, given to other local ministries, and/or dispersed overseas to Christian organizations in need.

There are many vacant structures within the City of Columbus.  Many old neighborhoods are falling apart after high-income families have moved to suburban areas, leaving many beautiful older buildings behind.

The $30,000 is intended to purchase a structure and make it inhabitable.  After those funds are depleted, the organization can labor as a community, once again pooling 100% of our income to make additional repairs one step at a time.

Our finances will be 100% transparent.  As of this time, we will publicly record all contributions, as well as any expenses or interest.

No one, including Melissa and I, will derive any income from these donations.  Just as when the house is completed, we labor in private endeavors for our own living expenses.  At no time will any of our personal expenses be taken from donated funds.

This is a new type of ministry.  We are going to be experimenting with a radical new organizational structure, and a radical new approach to charity.

Nonetheless, this is a legitimate urban ministry.  We believe that through intense effort and labor, we can produce a community that is more like the Christian community in the book of Acts.

Melissa and I have spent a lot of time searching for the next step in our lives and we feel a strong leading from the Holy Spirit towards this project.  God has blessed us so far, the plan makes sense, and it is consistent with our values.

We believe that this new organization will reach many people that have slipped through the cracks in our society and bring the Kingdom of God into the neglected areas of our city.

As a Christian community, we need your help bringing the love of Jesus into the lives of the dejected around us.  With your prayer and support, these goals are possible.

We need your help raising $30,000 to get this project underway.  Any help you can give will be appreciated, and you will see a return on your investment in the community.

This endeavor will be a product of those who make themselves a part of it.  Please become a part of it.

In God we trust.