This week, the Boston Globe has been running a series on a church and a set of leaders who are very dear to the hearts of the Boston Faith & Justice Network: Quincy Street Missional Church. Aaron and Amy Graham, pastor and youth leader at Quincy Street Missional Church were also co-founders of the Boston Faith & Justice Network. The four-part article is an amazing unfolding of a ministry in Boston – unique in its inter-racial and inter-generational character.

What the article also captures well are gifts of courage and grounded-ness that God has given Aaron and Amy.

We are grateful for Ma Siss, Tom and Ralph and the Grahams for the model and inspiration of their ministry and pray for the growth of the Grahams’ work in DC with Sojourners and the church in Dorchester to continue its mission: to develop leaders within the Quincy Street community who passionately follow Christ and live out God’s mercy and justice for the poor.

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Last spring, the BFJN leadership team took a hard look at ourselves and questioned the justice of our personal consumption in light of half of God’s children living on less than $2 a day. We developed three goals to link changes in our own lives with community and policy changes that alleviate poverty:

1. Live more simply to enable giving to those who are poor

2. Advocate locally to increase fair trade in Greater Boston

3. In partnership with the Micah Challenge, advocate for aid, trade and debt reform policies that alleviate extreme international poverty

This Christmas, the Boston Faith & Justice Network celebrates how Christians in Boston have come together to live more simply, give more, and care for those who are poor alongside other members of the global body of Christ. In particular, we give thanks for:

• The first set of Lazarus at the Gate bible study groups who met this summer and gave over $15,000 to international poverty relief
• The three churches who hosted Lazarus studies this fall and the individuals who are preparing to lead Lazarus studies in their churches, campuses and fellowships in 2008
• Those who joined 43 million people worldwide in standing up against poverty at our Micah Challenge services in June and October
• Guest speakers from World Vision and the Micah Network who shared powerful lessons about the need for global responsibility and policy change for those who are poor
• The launch of a sister organization, New York Faith & Justice

In all things, we give thanks for Christ, God with us, and pray that we be empowered to live out God’s purposes with him this Christmas.

I just heard about the Advent Conspiracy, through Becca and Josh Good who are advancing said conspiracy by organizing friends to send health kits to refugee communities through the Mennonite Central Committee.

The Advent Conspiracy mission statement says it all. it is “an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by worshiping Jesus through compassion, not consumption.”

Consuming less. Giving stuff away. Trusting God for our livelihood. Sounds like a wonderful way to anticipate the hope revealed at Christmas. How will you perpetuate the Advent Conspiracy?

– Rachel