The spiritual mission of Faith In Practice is distinctively Christian in its perspective, striving to fulfill the Great Commandment given in both the Old and New Testaments…to love God and love our Neighbors. This two-fold commandment challenges us to live out our faith in tangible ways.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall
love the Lord your God with all your soul, and with all your might.
And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart…”
Deuteronomy 6:4-6
“Teacher, What is the greatest commandment in the law? And
He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and
first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor
as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22: 34-40
One of the ways we respond to God’s love for the world is to love him through the mission of caring for his people. The supreme example of this love can be seen in the ministry of Jesus. This has particular relevance for Faith In Practice because Jesus spent approximately a third of his time healing the sick.
Therefore, the mission of Faith In Practice is simply a continuation of God’s mission to reach and serve a hurting world. In doing so, both those being served and those serving others experience the love and transforming power of God.
As Faith In Practice volunteers, we are privileged to represent our communities, our professions and our spiritual beliefs both in Guatemala and at home. Each Faith In Practice volunteer is personally accountable for his/her actions and pledges to support the mission and goals of Faith In Practice and these Guiding Principles.
Sharing our Faith Through Deeds
We share and demonstrate our faith in God through selfless deeds of service and caring for the needy.
Acceptance, Respect and Empathy
We value and hold important each individual with whom we work and express this through our acceptance, respect and empathy for them.
Appreciation of Cultural Differences
We strive to foster friendships and mutual understanding among those with whom we work, finding joy and fascination in our cultural differences, approaching each unfamiliar situation with an open and accepting frame of mind.
Support and Nurture Volunteers
We support and nurture our volunteers recognizing it is only through their commitment to Faith In Practice that we are able to accomplish our mission.
Sharing our Gifts and Talents
We believe in the principle; “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
Courtesy
We strive to extend every professional courtesy to fellow professionals in the countries we are serving, respecting their opinions, methods of treatment and social mores.
Personal Integrity
We will conduct ourselves in a manner that is exemplary and beyond reproach at all times.
Professional Ethics
We will be professional, in every aspect, in the treatment of our patients.
Building Community
We value the friendships that are created and developed throughout our journey as Faith In Practice volunteers.
By our actions, to demonstrate the love of God and to provide an opportunity for the spiritual growth of our volunteers in various settings.
To connect the practice of medicine and dentistry and our service to our brothers and sisters in Central America to our individual faith journey.
To present Christian core values in a way that is non-threatening and informative to those volunteers whose beliefs are different from ours.
FAITH IN PRACTICE is an ecumenical Christian ministry. It is committed to the core beliefs of the Christian faith, while respecting diversity of expression.
In accordance with the history of the church, we affirm the following core beliefs:
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in the true Man, Jesus,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by his Spirit.
We trust him.
He calls us to be his church:
to celebrate his presence,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Faith and Practice goes hand in hand. The Christian church worldwide, as the body of believers on earth, is the very hands and feet of Christ. Therefore, the ministry of Faith in Practice is an extension of the ministry of Christ working to restore wholeness to a broken world. Although one cannot do all things, all can do something. In this spirit, we affirm the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi as a guide to all we do:
Lord, make us instruments
of your peace.
Where there is hatred
let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not
so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood
as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving
that we receive;
It is in pardoning
that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are
born to eternal life.
This prayer has come alive to many of our volunteers as they work among the dedicated Franciscan order and others who tirelessly commit their lives to care for the poor and marginalized of Guatemala. It is our hope that all who participate in Faith in Practice experience what it means to be an instrument of peace.
