Welcome back, Pilgrim. Here’s what’s happened in town since you’ve been away…
Welcome back to the Reformer Newsletter, where we can take a dive into various projects and activities from around web3 and across the Christian community. You have joined this network to contribute to our collective mission of building for Christ’s Kingdom, and we will use this newsletter as a platform to enable that.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:5-8
Happy New Year. As this is everyone’s favorite time of year to both reflect on the past twelve months and look forward to the goals and ambitions of the next twelve, let’s look to the Scriptures for direction on where we focus. Throughout his letters, Paul sets an example for us to exhort each other and encourage brothers and sisters in the Church around the world. So why not provide each other some encouragement for 2023?
What have we all learned in the last year? We hope everyone in this community has learned to pick up on warning signs from people who are claiming to create value out of thin air. To recognize the signs of people who are going to lie, cheat, and steal others’ hard earned assets to make a quick buck (or, a couple billion bucks). There was some pain last year, but let us focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, and commendable- there is much excellence and many deeds worthy of praise across our community.
What do we want to accomplish this year? Oh, so many things. Each person in this group has some vision of using digital or crypto tools to do something good and to extend the Kingdom of God. Build something, engage someone, design somehow- each vision is unique. We want this group to be a place where people can bring their ideas, leverage a community of fellow believers, make connections, build partnerships, and find the support they need to turn visions into reality.
Importantly, we hope this battering of the last year has not taken away the sense of possibility in this space, or diminish the energy, or temper the creative absurdity around us. In the new year, as Paul tells us, think about these things.
Around Web3
Messari has released their Crypto Theses for 2023. Clocking in at over 150 pages, this annual report is chocked full of insights and “what to watch for” in the next year. The reports does not need to be read in its entirety to be enjoyed (thankfully), and I will also recommend checking out the recaps hitting the crypto podcast circuit on Bankless and CoinDesk. It also is fun to look at their 2022 report, particularly looking at the section “Who to Focus on in 2022.” Any guesses who made that list?
For those looking for some training and education in this space in the new year, the METES Institute is working to provide leaders with a program to help them build their digital and web3 competence. This program is “project-based and self-learning to develop critical thinking skills and abilities to confront and solve the complex problems of our society today.”
ZK Rollups are building buzz as a frontrunner for The Narrative going forward. Coindesk has a breakdown by the founder of Polygon.
Ria Bhutoria provides the roadmap for the way back to crypto strength and resilience. It’s time to insist on Sovereignty, Accountability and Credible Neutrality so that we can prove true web3 principles prevent the disasters of the past year. A great read recommended highly by some community mainstays.
Reformer Refocus: And finally, our own group is undertaking a resolution to adjust in the new year. The Warden team met towards the end of last year, and we all agreed we wanted to make Reformers more community driven. Standby for more information, but in the coming months anticipate seeing the Builders, Talents, and all other Reformers-run initiatives will be more community driven and engaged. Hit the Discord for more information!