I've lived in 3 countries, 18 cities, and 45 houses throughout my life. I'm a proud mix of cultural influences from Anglo-America, the Hispanic world, and Thailand. I'm what they call a "Third Culture Kid." I've struggled to answer the questions, "Who am I? Where is home? Where do I belong?" As the child of people in Christian ministry, perhaps I should have found my true "home" in the church. But, while I've owed much to my upbringing in the church, I've also experienced some of my greatest rejection there. In many ways, I feel like a foreigner everywhere.
On the other hand, I feel like I can connect with everyone. I've had true friendships with people who don’t speak the same language. I have friends from every socio-economic class, and nearly every background, and I feel like I "belong" with them all.
I belong to the West, the East, the Global South, and the Global North. I belong to those who love the church, but also to those who have been hurt, alienated, and deeply disappointed by it.
These experiences have given me a deep longing for wholeness in community, and for everyone to discover what it truly means to belong in a way that goes deeper than culture, race, ideology, politics, or religion. These experiences have been the greatest motivator in my quest for truth, justice, and ultimately for God.
I have come to believe in the God who came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. I believe that this homeless God came so that we could know what it truly means to be home--not "home" in a political party, an ideology, a culture, or a race, but truly home as human beings in a world that is really ruled by Love, not by death and violence.
As the scholar-in-residence at The All Things Institute, I'm passionate for bringing the gifts of scholarship to the real world for everyday people, and for integrating spiritual wisdom and diverse cultural lenses in that work. I contribute primarily through written content, public speaking, teaching, and consulting. I am currently completing my PhD in Bible and violence studies at Trinity College Bristol in the UK.
Kristin's story
Belonging between worlds
Hi!
My name is Isa, and I am from the Netherlands. Love brought me to Spain, and now I live here with my Peruvian husband. I am a maker; I love creating beautiful things. Besides working in graphic design to earn money, I am always busy with my hands. It's an intrinsic part of me that I truly love. I believe God instilled this passion in me, and it's time I channel it towards good things and meaningful ideas, like the All Things Institute.
I grew up in an artistic environment; my mom is an artist, and my dad has helped many creatives set up their businesses. Consequently, our friends were also immersed in that world. This upbringing was wonderful; it's my normal, and I feel incredibly blessed by it. It's through creativity that I connect with God and find opportunities for meaningful expression. Creating something is when I feel most like myself, and I'd like to share that with others.
Sometimes, it's challenging for creatives to integrate into today's church culture. This struggle resonates with me and my friends. However, I hope that by collaborating and connecting with the All Things Institute and other projects, we can discover how to be the church together, embracing who we are.
Isa's story
Building community
through creativity