To be beloved, is to be loved unconditionally by God. It is both knowing and receiving God. It is openness to the Spirit’s work, which leads to incredible stories worth telling.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7

Beloved is a series from The Offices of Communications and Digital Evangelism focused on sharing the stories of God’s beloved. These are stories of love, belonging, and seeing God in the world. It’s testimony of the heart in a broken world.

Each release features a story captured behind the lens from a person in the diocese as well as a time of reflection with the same person through a conversation with Beloved host, The Rev. Ashley Carr. These reflections are real time via YouTube and Facebook live and will take place a week after the release of each Beloved story.

Beloved | Julie’s Story

Julie’s story is one of walking alongside families disproportionately impacted by the systemic problems of our society. She serves as the Executive Director of Appleton Episcopal Ministries, a ministry dedicated to sharing God’s love by partnering as parishes in the Middle Georgia Convocation of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta to promote the health, safety, education, and well-being of children and families.

Listen below to Julie’s reflection with Beloved host The Rev. Ashley Carr.

Beloved | Marycelis’ Story

Marycelis’ story of being known as Beloved is one of leaving her home in Puerto Rico to come to the mainland. And in that time she would face many things including domestic abuse and homelessness. But during that time, Marycelis had faith God would see her through and make a rainbow out of her storm. God did. This is her Beloved story.

Watch Marycelis’ reflection with Beloved host The Rev. Ashley Carr here.

Beloved | Holle’s Story

Holle was raised in another denomination that left her with lots of questions about where a person with mental health sits with God. When it can be a daily struggle to feel God’s love. Her story is one of finding the hope of God through therapy and coming to know that even in the dark, God is with us.

Watch Holle’s reflection with Beloved host The Rev. Ashley Carr here.

Beloved | Chuck’s Story

Chuck’s story of being known as beloved starts with a small church in North Georgia that eventually drove him away from the church for decades. It is a story that shows what happens when we want to make a big table for all of God’s beloved. Chuck, and wife Stacy, are founders of Salvation South. A publication committed to sharing beloved stories of the South. Chuck worships at Holy Trinity Parish in Decatur.

Watch Chuck’s reflection with Beloved host The Rev. Ashley Carr here.

Beloved Pride | Hubert’s Story

This is Hubert Tate’s story. Hubert was raised in the church and knew at a young person that he was gay. His story is one of being invited to an Episcopal Church and how that experience has shown him what it means to be a beloved child of God. Hubert worships at The Cathedral of St. Philip.

Watch Hubert’s reflection with Beloved host The Rev. Ashley Carr here.

Beloved | Shereetha’s Story

The first story of Beloved is Shereetha’s Jackon’s story. Shereetha J. brings stories from the margins to the forefront through deliberative dialogue; which has taken form in her work serving those living on the streets of Atlanta as the Director of Community Engagement for Church of the Common Ground.

Watch Shereetha’s reflection with Beloved host The Rev. Ashley Carr here.