For Christians, the season of Advent – four weeks leading up to Christians every year – is a season of preparation and expectancy, a season of waiting and hoping, a season of faith in the coming of Christ in the past, in the future, and in our own lives. Advent is not, however, a season to search for some reason within us to be jolly and merry. It is a season when together we participate in the historic faith that has been given to us, passed on from generation to generation.
The Pro Deo Foundation was born out of this Advent commitment and the hope we profess in the coming of Christ to “make all things new.” As our work begins in the Santa Barbara area, we have the sense the Lord guiding us to commence our work in Carpinteria area for the flourishing of marginalized youth.
It is an advent of a new thing that we are seeking to build. In this season, we are grateful to be meeting with key local leaders in the religious, civic and nonprofit sectors of our community, each of whom have expressed great resonance with this concept development.
Goal – to launch a pilot program in the fall of 2019 called Pathways Carpinteria for young people to be mentored by business and skills mentors to start small businesses that sell quality handmade products for the community and visitors to enjoy.
The design is underway. The pieces are beginning to come together. It is the dawn of Advent.