I have served as a board member in support of Good Faith Media for many years. GFM is an organization that makes an impact in times when clarity, reflection, civil discourse and truth-telling are often in short supply.
The values of Good Faith Media reflect my own. The organization provides thoughtful engagement with those from backgrounds different from mine and succinct, well-considered analysis of vanguard socio-cultural issues of the day. It also promotes the common good and champions human rights for every person—regardless of any identifier.
All means all and equal means equal.
Most of our friends are familiar with Good Faith Media through its daily articles, books, the Nurturing Faith Journal, podcasts, the Raceless Gospel Initiative, and documentaries. The big projects.
However, one of my favorite experiences working with this group was a simple gesture. It was a small gift by Cliff Vaughn who has worked with GFM as documentarian, writer, and podcast director for more than two decades.
Earlier this year, he was in town working on a project and stayed in our home. We had nothing to do one Saturday morning other than watch professional wrestling.
I asked Cliff if he would like to visit a crisis center in rural Arkansas my wife and I have worked with for several years. The Roland Crisis Center (RCC) is a non-sectarian non-profit. It receives support from several different faith groups as well as individuals.
RCC’s mission is simple: Help people in need. RCC feeds hungry people and helps with clothing, fans and heaters when able.
I asked the Roland Crisis Center director, Connie New, if it would be of benefit for us to produce a short promotional video at no charge to the center. A resource to help her tell their story and help in fundraising for the center.
She said it would be a godsend. It was something she wanted to do but lacked the financial support to make it a reality.
Cliff jumped at the chance to help. He did not have his professional video camera.
Using his iPhone and a small microphone, Cliff spent four hours interviewing the clients and neighbors the center serves. He also spoke with the volunteers and chronicled their motivation for volunteering at the Roland Crisis Center.
Cliff recorded their stories, edited and produced two superb short video promos (here and here). Here are just a few of their comments, which highlight the importance of both RCC and GFM:
“The people help us and without it, we probably wouldn’t eat.”
“They have blessed us. It gives the community the chance to see each other and get to know who is in the community.”
“It’s just a place where they have friends with warm hearts waiting on them.”
“They are very friendly people here. It’s like a family.”
This vignette demonstrates the essence of what is good about Good Faith Media. A willingness to tell a story well.
Sometimes, it’s a big project and other times, it’s a little gift. But all the work is done to promote the common good.
If you don’t live in central Arkansas, then you won’t likely witness the impact. But it is felt by the 80 families who receive food from the Roland Crisis Center. Cliff’s videos will help Connie raise money, recruit volunteers, and shine a light on poverty in our county.
When you support Good Faith Media, you support not just what you see on social media and our website. You also make possible serendipitous, good works that help people you will never know.
And that is a thing of beauty, a joy forever. It’s a shining good deed in a weary world.
If you want to support a little gift, click here to make a financial contribution of any amount.