It's been a privilege and a blessing to spend the summer as an intern with Faith in Public Life. Before I head back to the best little college town in the Midwest, indulge me a moment of reflection.

I'm a product of conservative evangelical circles who has only recently seen the beauty of the Beatitudes and the richness of the Biblical mandate to serve the poor with an unobscured view.

Being at FPL, then, was a chance to progress on a journey that will hopefully last a lifetime, a chance to see for myself that people of all theological and spiritual backgrounds can come together to seek the common good.

In vivid, unforgettable ways, I saw it with my own eyes:

---In the remarkable dispatches of local leaders changing their communities for the better through compassion and courage.

---As I was provoked to ponder my role by brilliant thinkers asking substantive questions about religion in the public square and rebels challenging the very way people of faith interact with the state.

---In the empowerment I felt as the faith community stood up for itself, putting the media on notice that divisive figures like James Dobson don't speak for their values.

As I move on and look ahead, I can see clearly the challenges awaiting people of faith: putting an end to poverty, defeating global AIDS, turning the tides back (literally) on global warming and ensuring that the horrors of Darfur are never repeated elsewhere. These will be the issues which will define not only the legacy of my generation, but also the social relevance of the faith community.

Before this summer, I suspected there was a faithful movement ready to meet these challenges. Now, I believe it.