October 1, 2007 Archives

Have you met Ayelet2? She's one of the seven Beliefnet members you voted as most inspiring community member last year.

Have you been on the Catholicism boards recently? There's a hot debate there about the reemergence of confession as a popular spiritual practice. Or take a look at the Prayer boards, where Beliefnet members are discussing whether prayer has an impact on God's plan.

When was the last time you shared your thoughts on a member-created prayer circle? Dozens of prayers circles are awaiting your prayers.

Beginning this week, the Community News blog will bring you the inside scoop on our amazing members, feistiest discussions and fiercest debates, touching prayer circles, member stories and photos, and much more.

Most importantly, we’ll keep you updated on new developments with the new Beliefnet community site, slated to launch later this month. Want a sneak preview of the new site? Take a look at the new tools we’ll be offering, from personal profile pages to journals to video, and sign up to be the first to be notified when it launches.

As always, we welcome your feedback about anything going on in the community. Feel free to post your comments on this blog, or get in touch with the community staff here. Thanks for your help in making Beliefnet the vibrant, diverse, and unique community that it is.

Meet Ayelet2
Many people come to Beliefnet's message boards looking for hope and solace. In 2006, a member of Beliefnet’s Mormon community was upset about having a disability and not owning a car to get around. Enter Ayelet2, a regular poster in the Mormon Debate and Mormon Issues Boards. Ayelet2 not only posted encouraging words, she organized an interfaith Beliefnet fundraiser to get the member a car, which she then drove more than 1,000 miles to deliver.

But that wasn't enough for Ayelet2, who goes by Cyndi when she's not in Beliefnet-land. Another Beliefnet member posted about how he was disabled and trying to raise his 7-year-old daughter. He also didn't have a car. Ayelet2 was up to the challenge and repeated her amazing deeds, raising money for his vehicle.

What Others Say About Her
"Ayelet2 took hold of the spirit of giving," one Beliefnet member commented, "and inspired a community that is sometimes at odds over religious differences to come together for the sake of a fellow human being...twice. And I don't doubt that she would do it again, if she saw a need. What a friend to have!”

What Ayelet2 Has to Say
"Jesus Christ told us the two greatest commandments are to love God, and to love one another," she says. "I try to act upon these words -- to walk the walk, and not just talk the talk. That can be a downright hard thing to do, but I am grateful when I encounter those who provide me the opportunity to learn how to become a better, more charitable, person."

More About Her
When Ayelet2 isn't astounding Beliefnet posters with her generosity, she is an avid traveler, bike-rider, and hiker. She also cultivates the relationships she's formed on and off line with Beliefnet members. "I regularly correspond with people I've met on the Mormon boards -- both members and those at odds with the Church -- who live across the country, and across an ocean. I've even personally met a number of them. And we are truly friends. How cool is that?"

If you want to see Ayelet2 in action, she regularly hangs out in the Mormonism discussions.

Since Beliefnet launched, Prayer Circles have always been among the most popular areas of the site, giving our readers a chance to lend hope, comfort, and support to other members in need. Each week we'll spotlight some of the touching Prayer Circles started by our members. Whether they're praying for health, recovery, good fortune, or solace, you can add your own wishes to the circle.

Pray for D.T.
"Please pray for my friend who is struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. My friend has helped so many others with the disease of alcoholism and has shown them so much support, kindness, and hope. Now he needs help."

Pray for Carmella V.
"Please pray for my nephew's daughter, who pulled a large television over on herself while trying to climb up a tv stand. She has skull fractures w/ internal bleeding and pressure on her brain."

Pray for Karen Ballweg

"My mother has fought a long hard battle for the past year she beat cervical cancer and kidney failure. Now the doctors found that she has lung cancer."

Pray for My Mom, Virginia Imhoff

"Our Angel fell and broke her hip and her arm and dislocated her shoulder, all on the right side of her body. She will need two surgeries to get all fixed up!"

Or start your own Prayer Circle here.

There are so many discussions going on at Beliefnet that it's hard to know where to jump in. So we're highlighting a few of our most interesting conversations:

How Important Is Attraction in a Marriage?
"Everything else is 100% perfect as for a husband type [but] I found myself looking around."
--qtbabe

Do How Does God Speak to You?
"I hear God all the time. He is not like a voice actually....but more a thought."
--jeanniewes

Do Angels Guide Your Path?
"Any ideas what signs the would angels send me?"
--fivepetals

Would You Go to a Latin Mass?
"Who out there would go regularly to a Tridentine Mass if such was available in their own parish?"
--seve84

Looking for more discussions and debates? Click here for our full list of religion and spirituality forums.