Weekly Magazine | Created for Connection, Called to Invest

Your weekly magazine is here—real stories, real faith, real encouragement. Just for you!

Dear Friends,

We were never meant to do life alone.

From the very beginning, God designed us for connection—with Him and with one another. And yet, in a world of busyness, boundaries, and brokenness, investing in relationships can feel complicated, even overwhelming. We may long for meaningful connection, but wonder where to begin… or how to keep going when it gets hard.

In this week’s issue, we’re diving into the truth that we were created for connection—and that we’re called to invest in the lives God has placed around us. Whether you’re feeling isolated, stretched thin, or unsure of how to love well, may these stories remind you that God is already at work in your relationships. You’re not alone—and your care, your courage, and even your small gestures of presence can make an eternal difference.

Encouraging You in God’s Truth,

You Were Made for Community | Jennie Allen
Feel like you’re navigating life alone? God designed us for something deeper. Learn why true connection matters—and how to begin building relationships that reflect His heart.

Too Busy to Care? | Shelly Esser
Is your schedule so full that people get lost in the margins? Discover how to make room for meaningful connection—even in the middle of a busy life.

Knowing Your Neighbor | Renee Smith
Do you know the names of the people living just steps from your door? Be inspired by one woman’s story of turning ordinary introductions into lasting community.

🩷 For Your Heart
📖 Bible Verse of the Week
🙏 Prayer of the Week

You Were Made for Community

Why real connection matters—and how to start building it today.

By: Jennie Allen

Just before my husband Zac and I adopted our son Cooper, we went through “adoption training.” We had never adopted a child, so we eagerly drank in every lecture, compelled to get this right.

All these years later, one lesson wound itself around my heart so tightly that I’ll remember it forever: “If you want your child to thrive, then make him or her feel seen and loved.” When that’s missing, everything around us seems to crumble into pointlessness and despair.

We were built to be seen and loved.

God Himself exists in community, the Trinity relating as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three persons, one God. Perfect community. If God Himself lives in community, I would say we need it too. Yet we tend to regard it as a suggestion. When things get tough, we push it aside.