I never expected to be doing a Gofundme page, but Spirit is calling me and so I am asking for you help.

I am a Quaker following a leading (calling) to work for World Peace. For the past twenty-five years or so I have been working with groups to help resolve conflict, and to help people understand and find a path to inner peace. I am also an Alternatives to Violence Project facilitator and trainer who has worked in both the US and overseas. That too is a part of my peacemaking work. I am currently at an impasse as to how to move forward. Micah 6:8 is echoing in my heart, soul and mind: “What does the Lord ask of you? To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” How am I called to live into this teaching now? What is my work in the world? I believe that “Participating in God’s Power” can help me find my way to answers and to be a fully engaged, loving, kind, peace maker in today’s world.

Participating in God’s Power” is a year-long program offered by the Quaker School of the Spirit designed to help individuals deepen their faith and to find next steps in their lives. This is not the first time that I’ve felt led to enroll in this kind of spiritually deepening program. But the pull of this particular program at this particular moment in my life is just too strong to ignore. My support committee from my Quaker Meeting (Gunpowder Friends in Maryland) concurs.

Over the many years that I have lived into my call to Peace Making I have left as much time as I possibly could free to do that work. That meant working part time jobs so that I made just enough money to cover both my living expenses and the expenses entailed in fully engaging in the work of Peace Making. That has left me incredibly rich spiritually, but also, fiscally poor. In the past I have let the fact that I am fiscally poor keep me from even attempting to find a way to attend this kind of program. This time, it feels clear to me that this program is too important for me, as I continue to work to live into my calling, to just let it pass me by and so I am asking for your help with funding so that I can immerse myself in the power of the Spirit.

“Participating in God’s Power” is a year long program. The total cost of the program is $4,820.00 for the full year which includes room and board for five residencies. I have been blessed with a grant of $3,000 to help to cover the cost of attendance. That leaves a deficit of $1,820.00. I will be grateful for anything you can do to help me to meet that remaining cost so that I may be able to attend this program and to stretch and grow in God’s Love. If I were to be blessed by any excess it will be applied to the cost of gas to travel to and from residencies and to the cost of purchasing required books. I send you love and blessings whether you are able to help me or not. I am grateful for your consideration. Thank you.