By Andrea Lingle

Three years ago I began the Incarnational Study Series. I wanted to create a system of tools that could be used online and in person to develop Christian Community in an accessible way. Because the Missional Wisdom Foundation is a group of scattered individuals, I wanted to create a way for dispersed individuals to spend short intensive periods learning something "together." While the online learning was an important part of the project, I felt that is was also essential that the study include something for people to use in in-person settings.

This became the Incarnational Group Guide.

As my word processor tells me every time I type it, Incarnational isn't a real word. But it means what I am trying to say. Incarnational means to embody something together. In real life. Breathing. Eating. Holding each other's hands (I know...crazy idea. But there was a time when hand holding was not a dangerous thing...). 

So, how do we become an Incarnational Dispersed Community? Just because I made an Incarnational Group Guide it didn't change the fact that Jim and Annette and Cathy and Bill all live in different places. And now we have a new question: How can we be an Incarnational Community in the face of social distancing? Well, it's hard. It takes a lot of intentional connection. We have to show up month after month on prayer calls. We have to remember to check in on the friend who just lost her job. We have to remember that he is sick and that is scary.

It might not seem Incarnational to send a digital message, but, I want you to try something. Set an hour-long timer on your smartphone. When it goes off, send an encouraging text to someone, then reset the timer. Every hour, send one message to someone. Then send me an email, telling me how it went. What was that experience like? How did you connect?

This is an amazingly difficult time for...well, the world. Everyone has been thrust into an uncertain present and an unknown future. The Missional Wisdom Foundation is no exception. We need the help of our Dispersed Community (that's you, dear Wisdom for the Way reader). We need 500 of you to join us as financial supporters so that we can continue the work of experimenting with Christian Community. So far, fifty-five people have responded to that call, and we are to thankful to each of you, but we need 445 more people to join the work of the Missional Wisdom Foundation. 

It has been a privilege to curate this blog for the last four years. I am honored to walk with such a thoughtful and hopeful group of people. Please help us continue this work by becoming an Incarnational Supporter.