Uffizi Mission Project

Our Story

The mission began with the calling of God to open the Uffizi Museum in Santa Barbara.  I was on vacation with my family in Florence, Italy.  We had the opportunity to enter the Uffizi Museum, and there I encountered the heart of God, revealing Himself through the eyes of the artist.  I was especially captured by the paintings illustrating the “incarnation.”  The incarnation is the fact that God became human, and specifically for the reason of revealing the true nature of God to us.  God does not stay distant, He comes so that we might listen, see, touch, question, seek more… I heard the soft voice of God tell me that when I returned, I was to open the Uffizi for Santa Barbara.  I understand today that this means that I am to live in the midst of culture, and encourage others to do the same – and that the ultimate way to live is to express the love of God to all people.

The “incarnation” gives us a whole new model of mission.  It is the model of friendship.  Jesus befriended us for the sake of revealing Himself and also the Kingdom of God.  Friendship is itself a redemptive process – a place of understanding and mutual sharing, and Jesus is just inherently attractive to the thirsting soul.

Liquid Communities

We believe that average people can establish “funky little things” – communities that may not look like our current church model, but the intent is that they look like the culture they are in – they are ultimately led by insiders and not outsiders.  They are led by a flat leadership model – meaning we are generally grass root and led by “normal, average” people.  They are also able to adapt and flow in and out of other communities as well, and always open to the “sojourner.”

You can experience the Uffizi within these cultures in Santa Barbara:

*Pershing Park – Meal Sharing with Friends without Homes – Wednesday Nights 5:30pm

*The Village Housing Complex at 524 West Canon Perdido

*Elsie’s Tavern 117 West De La Guerra Street Wednesday Nights 7pm

*Join other friends at Holy Chaos on Sundays at 2pm at the Loft with Friends without Homes

Share the Road

We share the road with you, so please contact us with your thoughts, stories, concerns.  Please let me know if you want any more information on our ministry or details about any of these communities.  You can contact me at syncmanatns@aol.com.

The Shaffer Family!