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“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-46)”
In the second chapter of Acts we witness the first seeds of a new type of community – a community no longer constrained by human limitations, but empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out community in a brilliantly new and fuller way. This apostolic community introduced a model for what life together could be – what life together, in some ways, was meant to be: believers completely devoted to God, to each other, and to the “other.” Furthermore, by “holding everything in common,” believers not only modeled what community could/should be, but postured themselves for setting into motion this new kind of community into real-time.

Albeit a radical way of approaching life, there were significant advantages of becoming an “in common” community. Holding what was “theirs” in open hands, God not only mobilized critical resources in the provision for many in need (both within and without the believing community), he beckoned many onlookers to join his generous, growing family. This new way of community became a living model of a new common life that bore witness to the newly in-breaking kingdom of God.

Although it’s tempting to discredit this “in common” community as an unrealistic utopian dream, there are some who strive to incarnate this type of community in neighborhoods throughout the world. One forerunner in attempting to live-out this “dream” has been Dr. John Perkins along with the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), a national organization within which MCD holds membership and derives many of its community development principles. Three of these main principles are relocation, redistribution, and reconciliation, the “Three ‘R’s’ of Christian Community Development.”

When considering inCommon’s general subscription to the “Three R’s,” the concept of “in common” comes further into focus. As we advocate for and model relocation within under-resourced neighborhoods, we perpetuate the possibility of holding the ground on which we live “in common.” As we advocate for and model redistribution, we perpetuate the possibility of holding our resources “in common.” Finally, as we advocate for and model reconciliation (namely across socioeconomic, racial, and religious divides), we perpetuate the possibility of holding our relationships, even our lives, “in common.”

inCommon then, seems to represent well the type of community development organization (Mosaic Community Development) historically has been and continues to grow into – one interested not only in economic development but ecclesial development – growing the community of Christ through the simple act of sharing life in a meaningful way with each other and with those in our midst, with a particular concern for those in need. We have faith that God will “transform communities through community.”