Magdalene St. Louis is a broad-based effort to bring the Magdalene/Thistle Farms model of transformative community for women who have survived lives of prostitution, violence and drug abuse to St. Louis. Our inspiration is the Magdalene/Thistle Farms program in Nashville, Tenn., founded by the Rev. Becca Stevens.
This is a broad-based partnership in the St. Louis community and there is room for everyone in the circle. The Magdalene model is one of offering a love that is even deeper than the violence and pain that have dominated these women’s lives. We need all segments of our community engaged in this work — city and county, legal systems, police departments, businesspeople, students, men and women, people of all faith traditions and no faith tradition.
This effort began in August, 2011, when Becca and two graduates from Magdalene visited St. Louis to meet with several groups of us. In October, 2011, the first trip of 8 of us to Nashville for a daylong Magdalene/Thistle Farms immersion took place — and more are planned for the coming weeks and months. We are connecting with similar efforts in Dallas and New Orleans as well so we can all learn from and support one another.
All you need to do to join the circle and be a part of making this happen is friend us. To find out more about Magdalene, go to www.thistlefarms.org. If you want a great book to read to help you understand the foundational principles of this effort, read “Find Your Way Home” — available on the Thistle Farms website or downloadable on Kindle.
Becca continually reminds us that love is the most powerful force for change in the universe. Join the circle and be a part of this love changing the world one person at a time.
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