As you may know, our hearts of full of gratitude for the safe arrival of Alex Bogdan and full of joy for the Bogdan family as they navigate their first few months as a family of four. This month's letter to the community comes from Development and Operations Manager Jerry Ellis as Kelsey will be out on maternity leave until late June. During this time Lindsey Hepler will be the Acting Director.

Greetings all,

As you know we are in the process of winding down our Love Matters fundraising, and I am so proud of all the efforts from our donors, alumni, fellows, and staff. I am reminded this year in particular, as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the death of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that we should focus our efforts on "least of these" and exercise moral courage as we practice social justice. Through the fundraising efforts of Love Matters, Life Together has been able to sustain the training and development of fellows, and this why we continue to engage in fundraising-- so that future fellows can come to our program to receive training and to engage in the social activist work that is so needed today.

We are reminded by the prophets of the past and future that if “love matters,” then we must be inspired and driven by the highest form of love-- Agape Love. This type of love is unconditional. It is in the spirit and realm giving from the heart and making sure that there are no “least of these.” This type of commitment and ethos of theological development, spiritual development, and leadership development is what we are trying to sustain over time to deepen our work with fellows each year. Fundraising is a vital component to ensure that both the human and financial resources are in place to see LT fellows grow and prosper for many years to come.

The theme for Love Matters this year is "Eyes Lifted to the Hills" -- a reminder to us that we should not ignore the oppressed and nor the injustices of the world. We must maintain a mindset and a heart of compassion and integrity that engages and is inclusive in practicing social justice and love for humanity. We will have a new format for Love Matters this year, with four house parties hosted by members of the greater Life Together community throughout the month of May. We hope this change in format from previous years will be a source of new energy and innovation, and we would love for you to join us!

We could not do the work we do without your gracious donations, compassion, love, and support, and we have been blessed to have such a diverse and proactive community. As you navigate your way through various house parties, please make sure to extend a warm welcome and an invitation to discover some of the outstanding things alumni, donors, and fellows are actively engaged in academically, spiritually and communally. Our staff at LT are committed to the spiritual formation and leadership development necessary to keep our society focused on moral leadership and courage as we challenge the persistent injustices that exist today.

Thank you for your continued and unwavering support of our Life Together fellows! We look forward to seeing you at the Love Matters house parties in May 2018 throughout Boston.

Blessings,
Jerry