Beloved in the Desert (BITD) is part of the Episcopal Service Corps with the mission of forming an intentional community for young adults (21-29) that fosters beloved Christian disciples through service, study, and prayer in the Tucson borderlands.

Each Beloved interns at a local non-profit, lives in community with other Corps members, and participates in the liturgies and formation opportunities at Saint Philip’s. For more information click here.

The program year begins in July and concludes in June. This year’s three Corps members and two Corps members from previous years offer reflections on their experience and a glimpse at what they plan to do next.

Christopher Campbell (Class of 2022)
I don’t want my year with BITD to end. This year I served at Saint Philip's and learned about starting new forms of ministry, both within and outside the church community. I organized NightSong: A Compline Experience at the Annex as my capstone project, and have loved the community which has formed this year.

In this next season I will continue to work at Saint Philip’s until I return in January to complete my undergraduate work at St. John’s College.

Maddie Foley (Class of 2022)
I feel strengthened by my year with BITD. I served with Habitat for Humanity Tucson and learned how to fundraise, event plan, graphic design, train volunteers, and do outreach at networking events.

I planned Habitat Tucson’s Rainbow Build as my capstone project and loved learning from the joy and dedication of my colleagues at Habitat. I also had much fun living with Claire and Chris, and am grateful for what I feel will be our lifelong friendship.

In this next season, I will work as a Communications Specialist at Habitat. This will allow me to utilize my creative editing skills to support a mission that I care about deeply.

Claire Miller (Class of 2022)
I feel bittersweet about ending my year as a Beloved member in the Service Corps. This year I served with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and learned how to navigate the inner workings of a non-profit through the volunteer and community engagement departments.

I planned a volunteer faith day for my capstone project. It brought together 24 faith members of a variety of ages from the community to pack food boxes for Tucson residents. I have loved interacting with the volunteers and getting to know their stories. In this next season, I will remain in Tucson to start a Masters of Public Policy at the University of Arizona.

Samantha Christopher (Class of 2021)
I was made a postulant for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Arizona, and will attend seminary this fall. During my time at Saint Philip’s, I interned at the Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of Arizona.

Following my year as a Beloved, I continued to serve the Saint Philip’s community as an acolyte, subdeacon, and, most recently as a lay clerk in the choir.

This fall I will attend Yale Divinity School as a St. Luke’s Scholar. This scholarship is awarded to an incoming Episcopal M.Div. student who displays academic excellence, has demonstrated leadership ability, and has a commitment to the life and mission of the Episcopal Church.

Alex Swain (Class of 2020)
I traveled to Tucson to join Beloved in the Desert during its first year in 2019-2020 after a challenging time in graduate school studying neuroscience. I deeply desired to explore a religious vocation rooted in the Christian faith and Anglican tradition.

The year with Beloved in the Desert was utterly transformational; I experienced it as an unfolding answer to prayers prayed over the years.

During my time with BITD, I interned (and was later hired as an employee) at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona as its Volunteer Services Coordinator and Supervisor.

I became enmeshed in volunteer life and currently serve as the President of the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association. I also became very involved in the rhythms and religious life of Saint Philip’s where I now serve on the Vestry and volunteer as an acolyte.

During the height of COVID, I entered the formal discernment process and was named a Postulant for Holy Orders in March of 2021. I will attend Virginia Theological Seminary in the fall. In addition, to explore the deep and rich faith prayer life of the Anglican tradition, I was recently named a postulant in the Canon Orders of St. Benedict (OSBCn).

I will leave Tucson in early June. The Saint Philip’s community is what I will miss most; it has become my family-far-from-home over the past beautiful and difficult years!

What’s next?