WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY PEOPLE OF PRAYER

ABOUT
WHO WE ARE
People of Praise is a charismatic Christian community. We admire the early Christians who were led by the Holy Spirit to form a community. Those early believers placed their lives and possessions in common, and "there were no needy among them."

Jesus desires unityfor all people. We live this unity as best we can, despite the divisions within Christianity. We are Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, and other denominational and non-denominational Christians. Despite our differences, we are united by our Christian baptism. Despite our differences, we worship together. While we remain faithful members of our own churches, we find a way to live our daily lives together.

Our community life is characterized by deep and lasting friendships. We share our lives together often in small groups and in larger prayer meetings. We read the Scriptures together. We share meals together. We attend each other's baptisms, weddings and funerals. We support each other financially, materially, and spiritually. We strive to live our daily lives in our families, workplaces, and cities in harmony with God and all people.

Our community life is founded on a lifelong promise of love and service to other members of the community. This covenant commitment, which establishes our relationships as members of the People of Praise community, is made freely and only after a discernment period of several years. Our covenant is not an oath or a vow, but it is an important personal commitment. We teach that members of the People of Praise should always follow their consciences, formed by the light of reason and the experience and teachings of their churches.

Like hundreds of millions of other Christians in the Pentecostal movement, the members of the People of Praise have experienced the blessing of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the charismatic gifts described in the New Testament. This is a source of great joy for us and an important aspect of what God is doing in our world today.

Founded in 1971 in South Bend, Indiana, People of Praise has grown into a community of about 1,700 members. We are now in 22 cities in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean.

In 1981, in response to a call from God, we established the Trinity Schools-private Christian schools in South Bend, Indiana, Falls Church, Virginia and Eagan, Minnesota. These elementary and middle schools have received a total of eight Blue Ribbon awards from the U.S. Department of Education. Trinity students, most of whom are not members of People of Praise, learn to ask questions, engage in lively dialogue, and draw their own reasoned conclusions while pursuing a love of learning.

In 2002, inspired by the Holy Spirit, People of Praise members began moving into some of the poorest neighborhoods in America. Since then, we have lived closely with our neighbors and worked together to help meet the pressing needs of the neighborhood. Our efforts include holding summer camps for hundreds of children, repairing neighborhood homes, organizing prayer meetings, growing healthy food on an urban farm, and establishing a private elementary school, Academy of Praise in Lakeside. Longtime local residents have credited these efforts for lowering the crime rate and making the neighborhoods more beautiful and peaceful places to live.