The definition of collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce or create something. We believe that God has designed us to be collaborative beings; that our creativity, culture-making and community-building would not be done alone but together in relationship with others for the good of others. The Salt Lake Fellows program does not exist to build its own kingdom and community to the exploitation of others but seeks to be a collaborative member of the local church and local community.
With the City, for the City.
Participants of the Salt Lake Fellows will learn and practice collaboration in the city: with co-workers, neighbors, local businesses, and community events. They will experience what it means to be collaborative member of the city, for the good of the city; through workplace internships where they will be forced to grow and build relationships with non-believers to work towards the same goals, to neighborly service for the beauty and betterment of their living environment. We are called to be "collaboration minded" in every sphere of life.
John 17:14-23
"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one--I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one--I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
Collaboration with the Body.
In Salt Lake City, where evangelical Christians are few and far between, collaboration with the local church is an essential piece of faithful living. New Song Presbyterian Church strives to collaborate with other local churches for the Kingdom in SLC. The Salt Lake Fellows will learn the importance of unity in the Body despite denomination, age difference, or appearance. In John 17 Jesus prays for all believers that "they would be one" just as Christ and the Father are one, so that "the world will know that you (the Father) sent me (Jesus) and love them as you love me." Unity in Christ and collaboration for the Kingdom is what will be a witness for the Gospel to a watching world. Therefore, the Salt Lake Fellows strive to seek the unity of the Church, and the prosperity of the City.