THE MISSION & VISION

More now than ever, society influences us to keep our hurt in the dark and portray our ‘best selves’ to the world. We go through life and post our highlights but sweep the less pretty things under the rug. While it's easy to broadcast the most positive version of ourselves for others to see, It’s hard to  avoid the reality of some of the pain we face in this life. Because we cannot see past the mask others wear, It’s typical to feel like we are alone in the things we deal with, but that is not true. The more we are transparent about the real stories within, the more we will realize that we have more in common with those around us than we think. The world unfortunately is often divided by the many things that make us different on the outside but our human emotions and feelings are our common ground.

 

Beyond the Cover is a faith-based media platform that highlights the impactful stories of individuals who open up about the real hardships they endured and overcame through God's power, strength, and love. Beyond the Cover seeks to portray real and authentic storytelling to free, encourage, and uplift people who feel alone in dealing with things they swept under the rug. God does not intend for the trials we face to be in vain. They’re meant for us to grow from so that we can help and strengthen others who are facing the same things. The desire for this series is to share a diverse and plenteous collection of stories so that there is a story for everyone to relate to. Our goal is to use real storytelling to reach individuals who may be hurting and furthermore connect them to the power of Christ. Jesus doesn't discriminate on who He desires to save and transform. the Bible shows that we are never too messy to go to Him. Therefore, the Beyond the Cover Project does not discriminate on the stories we allow to be shared on the platform. The only requirement is that is based on truth, transparency, and truly glorifies the power of God.

 

Beyond the Cover is rooted around four scriptures:

 

1) 2 Corinthians 12:9 - “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

 

This scripture reaffirms us that our humanity and imperfection isn’t something that we should feel embarrassed concerning, hide, or feel hopeless about. Instead, we should bring and connect it to our Creator above Whose power is made perfect in our weakness. Our human imperfection is something that is common amongst the 117 Billion people who have ever walked the earth. Alone, they make us weak vessels, but connected to our Creator, the way they were always intended to be, they gain strength and power as they attest to His glory. This is the purpose of BTC.

 

2) Mark 12:31 - “The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself”

 

Unfortunately, there is so much hatred and division in the world today. This second greatest commandment that Jesus gave urges us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. The problem today is, some people unfortunately fail to love themselves. They struggle with loving themselves because they may not fully understand the amazing being God created them to be. When we better understand and love ourselves the way God does, we can better understand and love those around us. 

 

3) Revelation 12:11 - "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."

 

​Through Jesus we have power to overcome our pain. Furthermore, the things we have gone through and overcame through the power of Christ is not meant to be in vain. It serves a greater purpose both in our lives and the lives of others. The sharing of our testimonies have much power! Your story has the power to lead people to Christ or strengthen people in Christ.

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4) 1 Samuel 16:7 - “But the Lord said to Samuel. “Do not look at his appearances or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”

 

A lot of the world's disunity is due to us primarily viewing each other through our outward differences like physical appearance, beliefs, lifestyle, and behavior. We tend to put excess value in our outward appearances, but if outward appearance is sufficient to properly distinguish us, why doesn’t God use it? It’s because our outward appearances do not tell the full story. It’s hard to understand something when you do not know the full story, and It’s hard to love what's not understood. Authentic storytelling can help us understand each other beyond what the eye can see. In reality, whether it is shown or not, we as humans are simply all broken individuals longing to be connected to the Only one who can truly make us whole.