Originally published by Jesus People Chicago.
Long-time Jesus People members Darrell, Laura, Tammy, Mike, and Phoenix traveled to Camp Loucon in Anetta, Kentucky to attend the International Nurturing Communities Network’s Ya’ll Come gathering.
NCN is a group of Christ-centered intentional communities from places like Mexico, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Tennessee, Minnesota, Colorado, Virginia, and California.
The theme this year was The Shape of Love: God's Intention for Shared Life in Community.
it was a huge blessing to be there, meet new people, and talk to others who have experienced the unique situations that come with communal living.
Some of the topics that were discussed were how to support aging, neurodivergent, disabled, and mentally ill comm members, as well as how to attract younger members.
Koinonia Farm in Americus, Georgia put out a call for help with their pecan harvest.
Former JP members Dave & Debbie Baumgartner are being itinerant communitarians, going from community to community to help with construction, cooking, and general amazing support.
Darrell shared about the incredible miracle grants we have received for our shelter programs, as well as the gift of our new medically integrated men’s shelter. The attendees gave a resounding ovation for our praise report.
Tammy asked for prayer about the need for younger members and the massive grant we submitted for that would make it possible for us to have a residential discipleship program. We will have an answer in December. We invited people to come to Chicago and see what’s happening at Jesus People!
We learned that the Bruderhof community was founded in Germany (now mostly in NY and PA) and is 106 years old, Reba Place Fellowship of Evanston, Illinois is 69, and we are the third oldest at 54.
It was a beautiful weekend with so much deep connection and conversation. There were many open invitations to visit and All of us that attended from JP felt drawn to visit these other communities and build relationships.
We spent some good time with former members Tim and Emily (Potter) Wittuhn, Emily’s lovely sister, Abby, and their parents, Pam and Paul (who has been visiting JP for years and is Mike’s painting and wargaming buddy. We’ll be seeing him in October for a gaming event at Wilson Abbey).
What was also fun was meeting people who know our friends!! Tammy was good friends with Tim Otto’s sister for 6 years in Philadelphia, and we met Nico, who lived with former JP members Erin (Swogger) DeRamus and Cherith (Kraber) Kool, and a woman named Tracy lived in community with other former members, PJ and Yvonne Cullimore.
We are excited to continue the conversations we started and build on the connections we made!
Here are some photos by Andrew Howard and others.
