“I dream of Community of Christ intentionally writing its legacy through its people”
– Cathy Baker, Brooklin, Ontario
My name is Cathy Baker and I live in Brooklin, Ontario, Canada. A number of years ago I took a course offered by Community of Christ entitled “Improving Adult Education.” In the course material I found the following statement: Restoration theology believes that the development of people of eternal quality is the goal and glory of God (Doctrine and Covenants 22:33). That jumped off the page and into my heart! It put into words why, what I had dedicated my whole life to, made sense.
I have always been passionate about helping people of all ages — children to adults —reach their potential and to even stretch beyond. I love the thought of helping someone develop to eternal quality! I began to realize that God and I were working together on this. I even began to wait for the Holy Spirit to provide the opportunities and the resources for the development process to take place.
I was never disappointed, maybe a little surprised at how things arrived or played out, but never disappointed. Community of Christ has been part of what God has provided for me, giving places for me to practice and grow my skills, and people who needed what God and I were offering. Community of Christ has also provided me with the teachers, the mentors, the friends, and even the family that I needed as my support system. The blessings have always kept flowing. The joy has been immense.
Over the years I have developed some dreams for the future of Community of Christ. I dream of us boldly and openly sharing our needs, our desires, our projects, our activities, our celebrations, and our resources, with each other across mission centres, countries, and even the world, giving each of us countless more ways and avenues to offer the servant ministry that brings us joy. I see no physical or geographic barriers in this dream.
I dream of us becoming true citizens of the world where we regularly meet with our members and friends worldwide and develop a passion for hearing each other’s voices in language, understanding, and in authentic friendship. All ages are included in this dream.
My third dream is the greatest of all. I have been reminded of the importance of a third wish being very meaningful. I dream of Community of Christ intentionally writing its legacy through its people. I dream of us intentionally weaving the Enduring Principles of Community of Christ, our shared values, — Grace and Generosity, Responsible Choices, All Are Called, Continuing Revelation, Pursuit of Peace, Unity In Diversity, Blessings of Community, Sacredness Of Creation, and Worth Of All Persons — into everything that we do, everything we say, every decision that we make, and into every part of how we live our daily lives.
I dream of us actually answering our call to reclaim the vision and passion of the original apostles for living out the whole mission of Christ. My dream is for Community of Christ to live into a legacy of developing people of eternal quality whose life stories reflect how one person can make a great difference to the world, and how many of those same people joined together in community can do what is seemingly impossible, even miraculous!
We have a history of owning a “We Can Do This Together” attitude in Community of Christ. I know that these dreams are possible. I can, in fact, see them sprouting already. Joy and blessings to all.
I have always been passionate about helping people of all ages — children to adults —reach their potential and to even stretch beyond. I love the thought of helping someone develop to eternal quality! I began to realize that God and I were working together on this. I even began to wait for the Holy Spirit to provide the opportunities and the resources for the development process to take place.
I was never disappointed, maybe a little surprised at how things arrived or played out, but never disappointed. Community of Christ has been part of what God has provided for me, giving places for me to practice and grow my skills, and people who needed what God and I were offering. Community of Christ has also provided me with the teachers, the mentors, the friends, and even the family that I needed as my support system. The blessings have always kept flowing. The joy has been immense.
Over the years I have developed some dreams for the future of Community of Christ. I dream of us boldly and openly sharing our needs, our desires, our projects, our activities, our celebrations, and our resources, with each other across mission centres, countries, and even the world, giving each of us countless more ways and avenues to offer the servant ministry that brings us joy. I see no physical or geographic barriers in this dream.
I dream of us becoming true citizens of the world where we regularly meet with our members and friends worldwide and develop a passion for hearing each other’s voices in language, understanding, and in authentic friendship. All ages are included in this dream.
My third dream is the greatest of all. I have been reminded of the importance of a third wish being very meaningful. I dream of Community of Christ intentionally writing its legacy through its people. I dream of us intentionally weaving the Enduring Principles of Community of Christ, our shared values, — Grace and Generosity, Responsible Choices, All Are Called, Continuing Revelation, Pursuit of Peace, Unity In Diversity, Blessings of Community, Sacredness Of Creation, and Worth Of All Persons — into everything that we do, everything we say, every decision that we make, and into every part of how we live our daily lives.
I dream of us actually answering our call to reclaim the vision and passion of the original apostles for living out the whole mission of Christ. My dream is for Community of Christ to live into a legacy of developing people of eternal quality whose life stories reflect how one person can make a great difference to the world, and how many of those same people joined together in community can do what is seemingly impossible, even miraculous!
We have a history of owning a “We Can Do This Together” attitude in Community of Christ. I know that these dreams are possible. I can, in fact, see them sprouting already. Joy and blessings to all.