How do you know if you're called to community?

Please leave your thoughts and questions in the comments!

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About our LIFE TOGETHER series

In this series, we take an in-depth look at a topic from a variety of perspectives across several videos. Topics will draw from experiences and challenges that the Bruderhof has learned from over the last 100 years, discussing both our experiences and answering your questions.

Interested in a specific topic for the future? Have a question about the current topic? Let us know in the comments or by email.

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What is the Bruderhof?

More info is at:

[ruthlaurie-hopper]

Thank you. I understand and I question myself but I feel I am being pushed towards you by something much greater than me. My life out here is a struggle but OK. The world is in turmoil but it always has been. I don't want comfort but I feel god and jesus are leading me. I feel my whole life experience is pushing me towards a life with bruderhof and that is my calling. I hope that doesn't sound too dramatic in anyway but I've had strong spiritual experiences which I will express with Lenor and Jesse on a more personal level.

[thomasnabors]

This was a great chapter and video. Thanks. I think Eberhard Arnold nails it in the last paragraph on page 80, which continues on page 81, when he explains what our motivation for living in community should be. Seeking a relationship with God only so that we can receive His gifts will not do. Only by making Him our first concern will our hearts align with His will so that our “hearts beat for the cause of justice and peace for all nations, for the brotherhood of all social classes, and for the welfare of all people in all parts of the world….”

[michaelgibbs]

There's been countless communities that tried to copy your community and initially succeeded but in the long run fail. The main reasons for these failures appear to be similar across the board ie; a power structure where some are more valued than others, a poor plan on how to deal with conflict, most of all failure of individuals to sacrifice for their fellow members! I wonder in the very beginning if the Bruderhof had any of these issues? Great video Doreen, you as well Rich! :-)

[sassy]

I don't understand how someone who is not committed to Christ can become part of the Bruderhof community as suggested by Eberhard Arnold. If the call comes from the Holy Spirit, how can such a person fit in?

[cynthiaconrad]

My first impression is that I find the whole idea of what our motivation should be is very scary. I don't know if motivation would be right, because a part of me would expect some benefit to myself. I have always thought it would be nice to be in a place where everyone is trying to follow God. This video has really made me think.

[Ralfrobot]

What about inner spiritual life - that’s being expressed outwardly in community life ? When we have a relationship with God interiorly and are building that up in our inner commitment to God, nourished and then able to find its deep expression from within, toward how we be in community and how we discern ourselves ?

[peterdesmier]

This is one of the topics I meet with daily. I continually ask myself what could I contribute to a community such as yours that I could not contribute to my own faith community?

What could Bruderhof provide for me that my faith community couldn’t?

Definitely I will have to visit a few of your communities and see for myself. At present I’m following your readings and have also joined a zoom group discussion on the book “The Call.”

I’m confident that the Holy Spirit will guide and us in this journey.

[julieholt]

I have the desire to be used as they body of Christ and truly be part of the body, part of a community to give God the glory. Would love to know if this might be a community for my husband and I.

[safehaven]

Interesting and Eberhard was a fascinating person. Before you were all called community, you all were obviously in a "not called" stage. Did you all pray and ask God to call or did you pray to help you get to a mindset where you put others ahead of you or did a feeling wash over you?

[louiehostetler]

What about the Sabbath issue do you keep the seventh day Sabbath?

[MurmilloTV]

Community is good, but some individual freedom necessary.

[marynevel]

This is the most confusing conversation to me. And I do know that God is not the author of confusion. The intellectual component is so far over my head. I greatly admire those of you who have chosen or been called to the Bruderhof.