Ambassadors of Hope

Who are Ambassadors?

ISP Ambassadors are beacons of hope. They are men and women of faith serving as volunteers that long to share their gifts, talents, and abilities with others that are on the journey of recovery. They are dedicated to “paying it forward” and advancing the mission and ministry of ISP locally and throughout the ISP network. 

Ambassadors teams are pairs of individuals committed to participating in the 18-month formation and leadership program together as companions. Traditionally, at least one person on the team is a former ISP retreat participant. However, in certain circumstances both people that make up the Ambassador team can be former retreat participants.

What do Ambassadors do?

Ambassadors participate in an integrated 18-month ISP formation, service and leadership program designed to deepen their spirituality and strengthen their recovery while growing as ISP leaders on the local and Network-wide level.  

The Ambassadors of Hope program draws on the personal experiences of Ambassadors and is guided by Ignatian Spirituality and the 12-step tradition. Throughout the 18-month program, Ambassadors will engage in:

Network Formation: Ambassadors attend four retreat workshops over the course of the program. Each gathering is approx. 2 to 3 days in length and requires travel (potentially including air travel) which is covered by ISP.

Local Formation: Ambassadors engage in monthly spiritual formation to reflect and share on their spiritual journey. Ambassadors can expect to spend an average of 5 hours per month engaged in Local Formation.

Leaders Reflecting with Leaders: Ambassadors gather monthly with their cohort for formation and prayer. This is an opportunity to grow in deeper relationship with other Ambassadors across the Network. Ambassadors can expect to spend an average of 1 hour per month engaged with other Ambassadors.

Network Service & Leadership: Ambassadors are invited to share their gifts across the ISP Network by presenting and facilitating programs as needs arise. Opportunities may include serving as an inaugural Witness in a new ISP city, facilitating portions of the Network Facilitators Retreat, helping form volunteers through the emerging Learning Lab, or contributing to mission advancement through events, appeal letters, the annual report, video testimonials, and other forms of storytelling.

Local Service and Leadership: Ambassadors share the gifts and talents they are developing through the program with their local teams and community, including serving on local Advisory Councils.

Core values

Ambassadors of Hope is founded on core values of Leadership, Companionship, and Reflective Learning. 

Leadership
St. Ignatius’ sense of leadership was inspired by his spiritual life, where his weaknesses and vulnerabilities became a source of grace.  He was able to accept his wounds as a place to meet God’s transforming power, and because of this  was able to meet other people in their own humanity. This is a countercultural view of leadership. We are called as leaders because, not despite, our woundedness. We are invited to serve as wounded healers, from a place of humility, courage, empathy, and vulnerability. These are at the heart of our ISP ministry.

Companionship
At ISP, we believe relationships are transformative. Ambassador teams build strong, lasting connections with one another through shared experiences and time spent together. This relationship is more than friendship; it is a mutual fellowship that seeks and encourages the spiritual growth and well-being of one another through compassionate listening, discernment, prayer and reflection, encouragement and accountability. This companionship is nurtured throughout the program and hopefully endures long after. 

Reflective Learning
Reflection upon experience is a hallmark of Ignatian spirituality and the ISP ministry. Regular reflection exercises expand Ambassadors’ understanding of themselves, one another, and the mission and ministry of ISP. By reflecting on individual and shared experiences, short readings and videos, as well as personal relationships, participants deepen their spirituality, strengthen their recovery and develop new insights and skills.

Nomination and Application

The ISP Network asks all those interested in the Ambassadors of Hope program to enter into an intentional discernment process before seeking nomination.  Individuals interested in participating in the program as Ambassadors must be nominated by their local ISP coordinator/team members.  To discuss next steps and request an Ambassadors of Hope Discernment & Information Packet, please contact your Regional Director.