Dear
Reader,
Have you ever come across a fellow reader of F
IRST T
HINGS out “in the wild?” Maybe it was on the subway, at a coffee shop, or in church . . . or somewhere else altogether.
Regardless, it’s a marvelous experience. Between two strangers, a hint of understanding is kindled: “So you read F
IRST T
HINGS too!”
Sparked with similar kindling, our Readers of F
IRST T
HINGS (ROFTers) groups bring together local subscribers for monthly gatherings of fellowship, discussion, food and drink. If you do not already belong to a local ROFTers group,
take a look at our growing list of new and active groups here. If there is not yet a ROFTers group in your area, email us at
[email protected] to take the lead in forming one!
I cannot overstate how encouraging the growth and flourishing of our ROFTers group network is to our editors and staff, and
I want to thank our ROFTers leaders for their tireless dedication to coordinating schedules, preparing discussion questions, circulating reminders, and everything else that they do. They labor in the confidence that this magazine—these conversations, this community—is of vital importance.
This year, F
IRST T
HINGS is preparing to become a more useful co-laborer in the ROFTers project. As featured in
our 2022 Annual Report, in October we partnered with Belmont Abbey College to host an inaugural regional readers summit in Charlotte. Eighty devoted readers joined editor R. R. Reno and instructors from the college for a Friday lecture and Saturday morning seminars on “Friendship in an Age of Polarization.”
In the coming months, we plan to use targeted emails, social media posts, and regular reminders in the magazine to introduce readers to their local ROFTers groups. We also hope to identify prospective group leaders with whom we can partner to establish new groups and expand the ROFTers footprint.
We know that there is far more that we can do to support our network of ROFTers groups. And we want to hear from you! Please email
[email protected] with any ideas you have.
