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), 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 the current opportunities and partnerships below.

Local Engagements

Serving Our Neighbors in NoVA

Neighborliness starts at home. We partner with trusted organizations that are already doing incredible work to serve those in need. Whether it’s providing meals, giving clothing to those in need, supporting trafficking survivors, or standing against injustice, there are meaningful ways for you to show up and love your neighbors well.

Learn More

- Carpenter’s 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 fourth Saturday of every month to bring lunch and serve the community.
  - For more details, email us HERE.
- 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.
  - For more details, email us HERE.
- Boxes 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 Boxes of Basics box and tailors it for an individual child. When a child receives their Boxes of Basics we want them to feel like they are opening a gift!
  - Engage with Boxes of Basics 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.
  - For more details email us HERE.

Recent Highlights:

Two young children, a boy and a girl, standing in what appears to be a classroom or party setting, with the boy holding a colorful "Star Wars" themed Easter basket filled with plastic eggs and toys, while the girl looks slightly apprehensive.

Annual Easterpalooza 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.

Faith deepens as you encounter Rwanda’s inspirational story of hope and forgiveness in the wake of genocide that affected the whole country. 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/
Champions in Action works to connect disadvantaged youth to life-changing mentors through the gospel of Jesus Christ and soccer. Their vision is to empower a generation of at-risk youth – through the Gospel, mentorship, and soccer – to transform themselves, their families, their communities, and their nation. To learn more check out https://www.championsinaction.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/
The Tipi Raisers is an organization working to alleviate conditions of poverty, honor Indigenous wisdom, and reconcile our shared history with the Peoples of the First Nations. Our hope is to come alongside The Tipi Raisers as they shift their business practices to empower indigenous entrepreneurs by helping develop local sustainable businesses and move away from reliance on charity.
https://www.thetipiraisers.org/

2026 Global Partner Teams

Africa New Life

Faith deepens as you encounter Rwanda’s inspirational story of hope and forgiveness in the wake of genocide that affected the whole country. 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. 2025 Team Recap VIDEO HERE.
Estimated Cost: $3,800
Location: Rwanda
Leaders: Pastor Jenni Wong Clayville
and Pastor Ashlei Brathwaite
Date: April 24 - May 3, 2026
Level: Moderate
To apply for this team, go to:
novachurch.cc/rwanda
Champions in Action

In partnership with Champions in Action, NoVA participants will help host a five-day premier soccer camp with the goal of empowering at-risk youth through the hope of the gospel, mentorship and the beloved game of soccer. Whether you’re an athlete or just eager to make a meaningful impact, there’s a place for everyone to serve on this team. Join us to serve the Girls Soccer camp in July. To watch a little bit of NoVA’s participation from last year’s team trip, CLICK HERE.
Estimated Cost: $2,500
Location: Guatemala
Leaders: Pastor Marion Mason
and Pastor Jasmine Chestnut
Date: July 17-26, 2026
Level: Moderate
To apply for this team, go to:
novachurch.cc/guatemala
The Tipi Raisers

The Tipi Raisers is an organization working to alleviate conditions of poverty, honor Indigenous wisdom, and reconcile our shared history with the Peoples of the First Nations. This year, participating NoVA Youth will join The Tipi Raisers at their hub in Colorado to focus on developing local sustainable businesses. We are excited to come alongside The Tipi Raisers as they shift their business practices to empower indigenous entrepreneurs and move away from reliance on charity.
Estimated Cost: $1,600
Location: Colorado
Leader: Pastor Evan Pisani
Date: June 25-30, 2026
Level: NoVA Youth*
To apply for this team, go to:
novachurch.cc/colorado
Frontera de Cristo

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.
Estimated Cost: $2,900
Location: Arizona/Mexico
Leader: Pastor Josh Coad
Date: October 23-30, 2026
Level: Easy
To sign up for the interest meeting, go to:
novachurch.cc/bordertown
To apply for this team, go to:
novachurch.cc/partnertrip