Learning to Love Our Neighbor
Honoring the image of God through community, justice, hospitality, and compassion
We believe in partnering with our neighbors and communities around the world to come alongside and share love across cultures. Join us in relationship with our partners as we learn from each other and practice justice, hospitality, and compassion.
“Love your neighbor as yourself”
The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-40, Leviticus 19:18,34), followed very closely by the call to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). These two commandments form the foundation of Christian faith. Jesus tells us these commands are core values, behaviors, and practices of all who follow him. Who is our neighbor? Anyone around us; not only our literal neighbors, but also our co-workers, our spouse, our children, our friends, our enemies…anyone made in the Image of God.
Neighborliness
Love in Action, Near and Far
At NoVA, neighborliness is how we live out our faith in tangible ways, by loving and serving others both locally and globally. Acts 1:8 reminds us that we’re called to be God’s witnesses “in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” For us, that means caring for our neighbors in NoVA, across the U.S., and around the world.
We practice neighborliness by partnering with trusted organizations who are already doing meaningful work. Rather than leading with our assumptions, we approach every culture with humility—listening, learning, and supporting in ways that truly matter.
To start practicing NEIGHBORLINESS with NoVA Teams, please check out current opportunities and partnerships below
Local Engagements
Serving Our Neighbors in NoVA
Neighborliness starts at home. We partner with trusted organizations who are already doing incredible work to serve those in need. Whether it’s providing meals, supporting foster families, or standing against injustice, there are meaningful ways for you to show up and love your neighbors well.
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Carpenters Shelter - works to support people experiencing and at risk of homelessness to achieve sustainable independence through shelter and housing placement, guidance, education, and advocacy.
NoVA partners monthly with Carpenter’s Shelter on the first Saturday of every month to bring lunch and serve the community.
For more details and to sign up check out the Carpenter’s Shelter small group led by Jen Myers.
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Foster the Family - shows up for vulnerable children and the families welcoming them with intentional and consistent community and support.
There are multiple ways to engage with the Foster the Family which include volunteering for Kids Day Out, delivering resources to foster and kinship families, providing donations, and writing cards for kids. Contact Jill Coppock to learn more and get involved.
If you are a foster, kinship, or adoptive partner and need resources reach out to Jill Coppock, we would love to come alongside and support your family.
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Reset180 - works to prevent human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, disrupt the related networks, and restore those impacted.
Engagement with Reset 180 looks like joining prayer groups, sex buyer outreach, phone texting outreach, and learning about illicit massage businesses in your community.
To learn more and engage contact Jill Coppock.
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Box of Basics - believes that every child deserves to have their basic clothing needs met. Our mission is to provide children in need with a seasonal box of quality new and gently used clothing in their size. Our amazing volunteers hand select and pack every Box of Basics and tailor it for an individual child. When a child receives their Box of Basics we want them to feel like they are opening a gift!
Engage with Box of Basic’s through donations, helping sort and pack boxes at their warehouse, hosting a donation drive, and writing inspirational letters for kids to go in the boxes.
To learn more and volunteer contact Jill Coppock.
Recent Highlights:
Annual Easter Event serving 200+ families
Friendsgiving celebration bringing the community together
Ongoing partnerships with local food banks and shelters
Collaborating Through Mutual Inculturation.
Global Partnerships
Our call to love and serve doesn’t stop at state lines, it stretches to the ends of the earth. Through trusted global partnerships, NoVA is committed to showing up with humility, curiosity, and compassion in communities around the world. These experiences not only offer practical support but also deepen our understanding of peace, justice, and the global Church.
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Faith deepens as you encounter Rwanda’s inspirational story of hope and forgiveness. Walking alongside Africa New Life’s Christ-centered and Rwandan-led ministry gives witness to the life-changing impact of education, discipleship, and community development. Conviction for peace and reconciliation expands through your engagement in cultural learning and connection with the people of Rwanda.
https://www.africanewlife.org/ -
Telos is committed to the hard work of forming peacemakers and transforming conflict. Grounded in the biblical vision of mutual-flourishing, this NoVA team will join Telos in immersive peacemaking education, moving towards a deeper understanding of complex conflict narratives and the ministry of reconciliation.
https://www.telosgroup.org/ -
Our partner Frontera de Cristo is committed to building understanding across borders and works to provide creative solutions to the root causes of migration. In partnership with FDC, our team will be immersed in ministry in a part of the world where walls clearly divide. FDC has galvanized community partners and the church in a unified effort to holistically care for those suffering on the border.
https://fronteradecristo.org/ -
We partner with the Tipi Raisers, an organization working to alleviate conditions of poverty, honor Indigenous wisdom, and reconcile our shared history with the Peoples of the First Nations. We will primarily work to improve and repair housing on the Hopi and Navajo reservations in Northern Arizona.
https://www.thetipiraisers.org/
Upcoming Partner Trip
Berlin, Germany
September 28 - October 5, 2025
Known as the 'Atheist capital of Europe,' Berlin is a diverse melting pot of cultures. Join our partners at Reach Global for urban ministry, witnessing how the church in Europe reaches the unchurched in its post-Christian context. Focus: Business as mission, Urban ministry
Interested in global partners? Let's talk about how you can be part of something bigger.
Want to help plan or volunteer?
We’d love for you to join us as we practice neighborliness together.