#300in2017

[jonnyrashid]

I want to meet 300 people this year. The heart of the work of the church is relationships. God came to us in the form of a person, and we can share his love just by getting to know each other. That’s the basis of Circle of Hope, too. I’m documenting who I’m meeting on this blog. If you want to meet, I’m totally down for that.

4. Lauren

This is Lauren. She has a great smile. Growing up in the suburbs by the Hatfield meatpacking plant, she didn’t have to come far to attend Temple. She’s a sophomore at Temple and studying environmental studies. What a crucial field to focus on, in an era of climate change denial! She’s not just interested in environmentalism for anthropocentric reasons, but because the preservation of the earth matters for all life. 

[jonnyrashid]

I want to meet 300 people this year. The heart of the work of the church is relationships. God came to us in the form of a person, and we can share his love just by getting to know each other. That’s the basis of Circle of Hope, too. I’m documenting who I’m meeting on this blog. If you want to meet, I’m totally down for that.

71. Robert

Robert keeps starting the first day of the rest of his life. Many things that he thought he'd be working with for the rest of his life haven't proven to be as permanent. He's OK with that. Right now he is teaching and making films. "The way to growth us letting go."

[jonnyrashid]

I want to meet 300 people this year. The heart of the work of the church is relationships. God came to us in the form of a person, and we can share his love just by getting to know each other. That’s the basis of Circle of Hope, too. I’m documenting who I’m meeting on this blog. If you want to meet, I’m totally down for that.

70. Russ

Russ is from Ukraine and he teaches English literature at Temple to international students. He loves what he does! He has a degree in theology and was particularly interested in talking to me about that. He focuses on Jewish and Old Testament studies. Here’s what I learned from him: early Christians were Jews, disciples of Jesus. In general, they had a laid back approach and wanted to accept all people. On the other hand, early rabbinic Jews were more strict. They were trying to maintain a sense of their culture, and often rejected others–but they accepted all Jews. 

These days, Jews in general discourage conversion. We all have access to God, even if we’re not Jewish.  For example, the seven laws of Noah apply to everyone. You don’t need to be Jewish, according to Russ, to interact with God.

[jonnyrashid]

I want to meet 300 people this year. The heart of the work of the church is relationships. God came to us in the form of a person, and we can share his love just by getting to know each other. That’s the basis of Circle of Hope, too. I’m documenting who I’m meeting on this blog. If you want to meet, I’m totally down for that.

69. Stacy

Stacy is a not a traditional student, but she is proud to be in school. She's quite ambitious too. She started a nonprofit called Multi-Color Pearls. Check out her website here: Multi-Color Pearls.

[jonnyrashid]

I want to meet 300 people this year. The heart of the work of the church is relationships. God came to us in the form of a person, and we can share his love just by getting to know each other. That’s the basis of Circle of Hope, too. I’m documenting who I’m meeting on this blog. If you want to meet, I’m totally down for that.

68. Jeromy

Jeromy play on the defensive line for Temple football. He described himself as a bad kid growing up. His mom said he'd be in jail or dead. He got suspended all the time. He did go to church, but never believed that there was a god. One day during his junior year of high school, he started arguing with a girl in the cafeteria. He was obscene. And he got called down to the office. The administration thought the incident was much more, that Jeromy threatened to assault the girl. He  was suspended indefinitely. He went home and prayed and he prayed for hours. The next day they told him he could come back to school. Jeremy thinks God answered his prayer. 

[jonnyrashid]

I want to meet 300 people this year. The heart of the work of the church is relationships. God came to us in the form of a person, and we can share his love just by getting to know each other. That’s the basis of Circle of Hope, too. I’m documenting who I’m meeting on this blog. If you want to meet, I’m totally down for that.

67. Johnna Johnna thought thought her calling was to be a singer. Went to college to please parents. Spring semester junior year, she dripped out. Wanted to pursue music. Living with an artist and a producer. Mom said you had to be signed. She got revelations in pursuit of getting signed. She went back to school. Changed majors and didn't work and agree was getting sick. She prayed for guidance from God. That same day, kicked out, became homeless. But she was always provided for. Add time went by, she got peace and grace from God. Have an internship at a school. Worked at convenient store. God made everything out of nothingness.

[jonnyrashid]

I want to meet 300 people this year. The heart of the work of the church is relationships. God came to us in the form of a person, and we can share his love just by getting to know each other. That’s the basis of Circle of Hope, too. I’m documenting who I’m meeting on this blog. If you want to meet, I’m totally down for that.

66. Jeff

Jeff is suffering with some heart break. So much so, his semester almost flipped upside down. But he was able to pull it together to finish it, with the help of some gracious professors. He is channeling some of his heartbreak into stand up comedy. Good way to do it.

[jonnyrashid]

I want to meet 300 people this year. The heart of the work of the church is relationships. God came to us in the form of a person, and we can share his love just by getting to know each other. That’s the basis of Circle of Hope, too. I’m documenting who I’m meeting on this blog. If you want to meet, I’m totally down for that.

65. Jac

Jac was born several months before his due date and he thinks his whole life is a miracle. His mother was pronounced dead for eight minutes at the hospital he was born in! But she survived! He had many "Vine-sized" visions form his childhood. He has one that occurred in the middle of major back surgery he was having when he was five. He swears that he had a vision of waking up in the middle of surgery in a strange room. The doctors offered him a toy and told him it wasn't his time yet. Interestingly, enough, none of this actually happened--as far as he was concerned this may have all been a vision from God and a close encounter with the next age.