We belong to one another other.

To those who find themselves on the outside of the white evangelical church, I weep with you.
To my brothers and sisters of color - and my children - I stand with you.
To my fellow women, I fight with you.
To my LGBT friends, I value you.
To my friends of different religions, I respect you.
To my immigrant friends - and our children - I welcome you.
To family and friends with disabilities, I celebrate who you are.
To all the misfits who feel "other", I grieve and lament with you.

We belong to each other.

I am with you and will do my part to use my privilege and knowledge to bring the Kingdom more on earth as it is in heaven. When much is given, much is required. Therefore, I will use the much I've been given to the best of my ability for your sake, for all our sake.

I am as committed as ever to stand in the gap of the marginalized, the historically unheard and undervalued brothers and sisters of our world. My voice and my vote will be with you because when you suffer we all suffer.

Brian and I are committed to learn, grow, and be changed by the voices of the oppressed. We are committed to be Kingdom citizens and global citizens second over national patriots. This world is not our home, and yet we will also do what we can so the world reflects the world Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount.

I'm committed to weep with those who weep, to empathize with others' pain, and to not use unhelpful spiritual language to try and convince you that your pain is somehow exaggerated or not real. I will honor your grief, knowing that anger is a very necessary part of the healing process.

I recommit to be a person of faith, hope, and love, knowing that love will triumph and win the day. I'm so very committed to finding little lights in the midst of darkness. I'm committed to announcing God's new mercies every morning because this is the day he has made we can - and will! - have joy. I'm committed not to fall into despair over what seems so very real and dangerous right now. I will choose hope.

Finally, but most importantly, I am committed to raise our three children to first follow Jesus wholehearted because I believe the God of Scripture is ultimately LOVE and despises injustice in all forms - racism, sexism, xenophobia, and more. Then, in the name of Jesus, we are committed to raise our children to be freedom fighters in this world.