"God saves His most detailed instructions to the Israelites for the commissioning of the traveling tabernacle. Smack in the middle of a grueling journey through the desert, God asks His people to pour their artistic treasure and talents into the making of a movable home in which He can dwell . . . In the midst of a massive movement of His people, He commissions them to be artists along the way: capturing the grandeur of God and retelling their stories in symbol and imagery.
Originally we were puzzled with the number of artists God seemed to be bringing into our midst. Skilled and talented poets, musicians, photographers and painters have all found their home within the family of InnerCHANGE. Why such a high rate of artistically motivated people in a missional order serving among the poor? Perhaps because the journey from ideal through ordeal is best interpreted through the eyes, ears and fingertips of collective artistry.
Perhaps God seems to form His people by forming the whole person: the right brain in concert with the left, the artists and engineers working together. InnerCHANGE's manifest, like the Israelites', isn't just to get from point A to point B, but to create something beautiful along the way. In the process, we become something beautiful as well."
(a passage from Sub-merge, Chapter 9)
Below you'll find a sampling of some of the resources and publications InnerCHANGE members have created, authored or contributed to.
InnerCHANGE Postcards
What do you do when you’ve been on a journey that spans three decades, four continents and countless days of life among the poorest of the poor? You remember. You reflect. You write. This process of action and reflection is at the heart of how InnerCHANGE operates as a missional order among the poor.
You’re looking at a collection of some of the key moments along the InnerCHANGE journey. Over the years, this collection of “postcards” has become a body of “core writings” we use to explain to others, and remind ourselves, who we are as InnerCHANGE. We invite you to take a look.
Sub-merge: Living Deep in A Shallow World (Regal, 2007)
Follow author John Hayes, director of InnerCHANGE, as he lives out his faith on some of the toughest streets and poorest ghettos in the world. Learn what real compassion looks like in the trenches. Discover why people of faith cannot ignore the poor and how the St. Francis model of compassion can help alleviate suffering today.
Living Mission: The Vision and Voices of New Friars (IVP, 2010)
There is a new trend afoot, one that goes against the prevailing Western model, influenced by the values and principles of international commerce. Presented here are five "signs of life," showcased by this network of movements best referred to as "new friars."
God So Loves the City: Seeking a Theology For Urban Mission
From the explosive contexts of Nairobi, Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Madras burst fresh insights on the mission of the church for the city.
Jude Tiersma and Charles Van Engen worked closely with an international team of experienced urban practitioners to explore the most urgent issues facing those who minister in today's cities. From each particular urban setting, a team member contributed a story from ministry in the city. Each story uniquely illustrates a different challenge of urban ministry in the face of injustice, marginalization, and urban structures.
