The first line in the email said, "Hope 2020 has been good to you..."
2020 - An Unexpected Year in Review
Today I received an email and it opened with “Hi Anna, Hope 2020 has been good to you.” It took me back for a second as my mind raced fast track like a time lapse of a movie. My mind quickly wandered through the months, seasons, holidays, highs and lows of 2020 in a matter of seconds! Just this quick thought process made me tired, really. Has 2020 been good for anyone? Most would give an emphatic, “No!” How about you?
Just a short (or maybe long) year ago God gave us a new vision for the upcoming year. You may remember it was “2020 Vision - To help people see what God is doing.” Easier said than done in the year of not just a pandemic but countless other hurdles and hardships. So while we can’t say that 2020 has been good to us we can, with assurance, say that God has been good to us. He has sustained us and never left our sides for one minute. It has been our desire at Beacon People to help people see God on the dark and uncertain days when life, including life purpose, seemed to be crumbling around us.
Here is a recap of 2020 at Beacon People. None of which I could have predicted!
We started an initiative for Essential People who were working hard in the face of a pandemic. From teachers, to doctors and nurses, first responders and more we have been able to encourage literally hundreds of people with coffee, pastries, fresh flowers, posters, artwork and more. Every tangible gift has held a card with encouraging words, a prayer and scripture. So many of you have been a beacon of light to those who are exhausted, afraid, and down through giving of your gifts.
pathFinder groups started, paused and regrouped as people seemed to need to find new purpose like never before!
We’ve continued to have many one-on-one meetings with folks connecting them with resources, ideas, opportunities and people to help their dreams become reality. It is amazing to watch the passion and energy come out of someone when they are connected with God’s call on his or her life!
In the face of racial tension and the divide that seems to have been built across many other lines of differences, we have had the opportunity to start “writing groups”. These consist of 10-12 people around a table who are connecting through sharing experiences and stories. This event is called Menders and we are excited to keep these groups going in 2021 to create friendship and unity.
We launched our first “WHY in the World” -an online conversation with someone from another country who is finding God’s purposes in life and work. Others can watch and ask questions and hopefully be inspired to run after all that God is calling them to do.
Just last week we did a “Sandwich Drive”. We asked Beacon People in Birmingham to make twenty sandwiches each for us to deliver to a shelter/warming station on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Our goal was 200 sandwiches but apparently this seemed to resonate with many landing us at delivering over 1,000 sandwiches to the shelter. We hope to initiate this again in 2021 where we see need as we are excited to partner with a new operation called #feedBHM.
Beacon People is posed to make a local, national, and global impact in ways that we could have only dreamed about before. Through intentional local gatherings (masked and socially distanced) through Menders and small groups, local serving opportunities, teaching resources that spread nationally, then globally through Why in the World?, we would love to invite you to be a part of the spark that has been lit afresh in 2020 to gather and connect people from all walks, so we can learn, grow and spur one another on in our unique giftings and calling.
As we have walked through 2020 one thing has been made clear, gathering as we have done before has to be reimagined. In some ways connecting with those near and far has been made somewhat easier through technology, but fighting for authentic community has been the challenge. This is where Beacon People is committed to press in starting now and going into 2021. The unknowns of the future are many, but one thing we know: we all need community and we all desire to see God moving in our lives, in our calling, in the world right around us and in the world thousands of miles away.
Would you consider making a year-end donation to help us as we plan to dedicate ourselves afresh to building a community that impacts each person on their journey of finding God’s purposes for life? With these gifts we will be able to continue to spur on creative ideas, solutions, and ultimately make a way for a community that is wide, but also intimate and authentic. Making these connections and encouraging God’s people will bring radiance to the world that is in desperate need of light. His hope radiates through Beacon People like you!
We are here for you if you need any encouragement with your own dream, idea, mission, vision or calling. Don’t hesitate to reach out. And if you have the capacity to give towards continuing these initiatives for 2021 you can use the button below.
We are grateful,
Anna (For all Beacon People)
