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You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again. Isaiah 58:12 The Message
InSpero believes in the power of creative community to help bring beauty, hope, and healing to our city and churches. Join us October 18-20 as Dr. Steven Garber and Andi Ashworth engage us in the conversation and show us ways Birmingham can become "The City Beautiful."
InSpero features two of our board members who are nationally known voices on the integration of faith, vocation, and the arts for the flourishing of our city October 18-20. They are Dr. Steven Garber, author of Visions of Vocation and founder and principal of the Washington Institute of Faith, Vocation and Culture and Andi Ashworth, co-founder and executive director emeritus of Art House America and author of Real Love for Real Life: The Art and Work of Caring.
In his book, Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good, Steve Garber asks, "Can you know the world and still love it?" He challenges us that as we see and know the world around us, we are implicated. What part do we play in this world that is not as it should be? He invites us to a broad view of vocation which incorporates the whole of our lives with our relationships and responsibilities over a lifetime.
Andi Ashworth and her husband, Charlie Peacock, have spent their lives loving and caring for the stream of musicians, artists, dreamers and drifters who have come to their home (a renovated church in Nashville) which became the first of the Art House America locations. In her book, Real Love for Real Life, she asks herself (and all who have been sucked into too-busy lives) the good and hard questions of "What kind of life do we want, and what choices can we make to move toward it? Has our busyness become so intense that we are no longer able to care for people out of love and freedom?" She speaks to the reality that hospitality and caregiving needs space and margin to love well without losing ourselves.
Steve and Andi, good friends, weave their voices and visions together to speak to the artists, dreamers, leaders, restorers, curious, weary, the ones questioning their "career" choice, the ones needing hope, the ones who see Birmingham, love it, and want to know if they can have a part in making it The City Beautiful.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18
Andi will speak on the joys and realities of living a life of hospitality. Lunch begins at 11:30. Program begins at 11:50. Catered by Ashley Mac's. Ashley MacMakin will also share on generations of hospitality which have resulted in the Ashley Mac's restaurants in the Birmingham area. Andi's book will be available for purchase. Link here for tickets.
Steve and Andi will join with five local pastors from different denominations and five artists (ranging from a film maker to architect to musician) in a facilitated conversation of dreaming together on how beauty can bring healing and hope to our city and our churches.
Steve and Andi will speak on how cities around the country are being "flourished" by the shared vision and work of visionaries, leaders, artists, and those committed to the common good. This event is for all who love our city and want to know their "place" in it. It will be held at The Nest in Avondale with catering by Post Office Pies. Limited seating. Link here for tickets.
5:30 -8:30 p.m. The Salem Farm
By invitation only
Board and Advisory Council members and friends and supporters of InSpero will gather at the beautiful farm home of Richie and Melissa Salem for an Italian feast by Chef Benard Tamburello of Vecchia. Steve and Andi will speak around the campfire after dinner.
InSpero is honored to gather at 16th Street Baptist Church for a citywide catered prayer breakfast on Thursday, October 20 from 6:45 a.m - 8 a.m. Program will begin at 7 a.m. and Steve Garber will begin speaking at 7:10 a.m. This event is supported by 16th Street Baptist, Covenant Presbyterian, Mountain Brook Community, and Oak Mountain Presbyterian churches. Link here for tickets.
Please go to our website calendar for list of all our upcoming events.
InSpero's financial and volunteer needs grow as we reach more of Birmingham's creative community to bring beauty, hope, and healing to our city and churches. Please go to our website to make a donation and contact Rachel Hunt at rachelmillerhunt@hotmail.com to find your place at InSpero to invest your time, talents, and passions.
November 20, 2023
Mary Madeline Schumpert reflects on Inspero's Creatives Connect at Exvoto in Mountain Brook.
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February 2, 2023
Billy Ivey reflects on Inspero's 2023 Vision Retreat at Storybrooke Lodge.
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