The Firefly House, a nature-based church
Location
About You
Location
Project Street Address
Braddock Road
Project City
Alexandria
Project Province/State
Virginia
Project Postal/Zip Code
22302
Project Country
United States
Your idea
Will you launch your idea as a business or non-profit?
Non-Profit
Web site (url)
Name Your Project
The Firefly House, a nature-based church
Describe Your Idea
Innovation
What is your idea? What makes it innovative? Why is it important?
I am building a church with the purpose of building community through environmental awareness, education, spirituality, and service. My group began online, and part of our mission will be carried out teaching and building a church family online, so that we can activate anyone to act in their own communities. We are also building physical church groups, so that we can better build community through service, education, spirituality, and environmental awareness. We started a clergy training program that will evolve into an accredited associates degree program.
It is important, because there are few nature-based spirituality programs and churches out there, and even less of them focus on meeting needs within the community. Additionally, most clergy degree programs are geared towards mainstream faiths.
Impact
What will be the impact of your idea?
It is my personal goal to directly and indirectly touch the lives of a million people in my life time, inspire them, and activate them to make a difference in their communities and the world. My idea will give thousands of people a life purpose. We will help people we will never meet find purpose in their own communities. We will foster leaders who will go out and inspire other people to do the same.
This Entry is about (Issues)
People: We are looking for ideas from people who can make them happen.
For two and a half years, we have run a free, online, nature-based school. We have developed a clergy program, founded a church, hosted a medium community outreach event, begun planning a 2010 retreat with international corresponding events, and begun church membership classes.
Kimmie Henderson, Co-founder (Florida)- Will be Firefly clergy at the end of this quarter. She is currently teaching this semester. She has developed communities for different nature-based faiths, which foster sharing, discussion, and exploration of different traditions.
Luan Meades, International Coordinator (UK) - Firefly clergy, founded the Firefly Wolf-Moon in person circle recently, and has been running a UK Meetup for six months. Founding her own online training program for UK students. She is currently teaching online and in person classes for Firefly.
Andrea Andalis, Teaching Coordinator (Philippines)- Running a Filipino Meetup for six months, currently teaching online and in person classes for Firefly. Will be Firefly clergy at the end of this quarter. She is in the process of planning a Firefly Asian interfaith studies online school.
Dan Rivers, Information Coordinator (Maryland)- Will be Firefly clergy at the end of next quarter, currently teaching online this quarter.
LaVada DelConte, Student Representative (Virginia)- Will be Firefly clergy at the end of this quarter.
Sustainability
How much will it cost to launch your idea?
It will cost approximately $5,000 to launch with $20,000 being the total cost for year one. The first task is to establish a church space, which beyond being class, sanctuary, and service space, it will include an interfaith community store (physical and online) to pay for part of the cost of the space. Additionally, we have just begun to offer classes in person for a fee. Our church membership classes require a fee, and membership require yearly dues. Before applying for grants, we need to have 501(c)(3) status, even though churches are already tax-exempt. In the next three years, we will offer degree/certificate programs, become accredited, and offer an associates degree. Those degree options will require tuition, which will be great for fundraising. Addtionally, we have begun planning several fundraising events that will generate revenue.
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