The Initiative

10/15/2026

A reminder that tonight's (Thursday 10/15) Zoom gathering is a prayer time. Here's the slide of some of the intentions for the open prayer segment. Please join us. Leave a comment if you need the Zoom link

10/07/2026

Tomorrow night's Zoom community: Israel Chaffin and Joy Steorts talk about a new ecumenical retreat center in Memphis and how God is building bridges between Christian traditions there. Here's an excerpt. (and leave a comment below if you need the Zoom link)

Excerpt of Israel Chaffin's conversational interview with Joy Steorts, the Executive Director of City Retreat Memphis—an ecumenical retreat center being birthed in the heart of Memphis.

10/06/2026

Grateful to be bearing witness to the good work of The Initiative at the Christian Churches Together Forum this week

09/30/2026

This Thursday (10/1) our Zoom gathering will be a Bible study. We'll be digging into Acts 8 - a passage that is read very differently by what are probably the two largest Christian traditions on the planet: Pentecostal and Roman Catholic. Come join us as we try to unravel the threads together!

You can find a copy of the passage in our website (linked in the comments) and leave a comment below if you need the Zoom link

09/22/2026

You may have forgotten this but in 2023, the Surgeon General wrote a report declaring that the United States was in the midst of a "loneliness epidemic". Even though the report disappeared from the public consciousness pretty quickly, the phrase has stuck around.
For our weekly Zoom gathering this Thursday night, we're going to be talking about loneliness in the light of our own deepening discovery of a spirituality of friendship as a core characteristic of The Initiative.
And maybe it's a little ironic we're doing this on Zoom?? Join us for the conversation - 8pm Eastern this Thursday (9/24). Leave a comment for the link

09/16/2026

Tomorrow (Thursday 9/17) night's Zoom gathering is a prayer time. Some of the intentions for the open prayer segment. Please join us. Leave a comment if you need the Zoom link

09/08/2026

Here's an excerpt from this coming Thursday's Zoom gathering. We'll play the full conversation (about an hour) which was recorded last Friday and then have 30 minutes to discuss it afterward. Please join us! Leave a comment if you need the Zoom link.

Dr. Elizabeth Woodard (Catholic) and Rev. Craig Higgins (Protestant) join The Initiative Executive Director Scott Brill for a friendly conversation about the different ways they - and their Christian traditions - understand the meal that Jesus instituted as a sign of unity between his followers.

09/02/2026

This Thursday (9/3) our Zoom gathering will be a Bible study. We'll be digging into Acts 5 & 6 and talking about the emerging community of Jesus' followers worked through their differences. It's something of a risk to talk about Scripture with folks from various Christian traditions, but also a rich way to deepen friendship with Jesus and one another.

You can download a copy of the passage ahead of time off our website. Link in the comments. And leave a comment if you need the Zoom link

08/25/2026

Thursday's Conversation! Leave a comment if you need the Zoom link

08/24/2026

Our friends in the Focolare have sent along this invitation:

In cooperation with Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, and with people of faith around the world, the Chicago Focolare's local community invites you to join us for a celebration of the Holy Mass, to lift our voices together in prayer for an end to the war and suffering; for the protection of innocent life; for all those who have lost loved ones, homes or communities; and for a just and lasting peace.

This special Eucharistic celebration will take place at the Focolare House, 7018 34th Street, Berwyn, IL at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, August 24. (That's central time)

There will be a light supper and fellowship afterwards.
Please R.V.S.P. to the Chicago Focolare at [email protected].

If you cannot attend in person, we invite you to join via zoom. Leave a comment to request the link