Friendship House: Eat Together, Pray Together, Celebrate Together

Reported By: Shelby McCormick

In 2017, George Fox University (GFU) partnered with Mark 2 Ministries to open the Friendship house in Newberg. The Friendship House is a place for GFU students to live in community with individuals who have intellectual or physical disabilities.

“The vision of friendship houses is to eat together, pray together and celebrate together and to create inclusive integrated housing opportunities,” said Mandy Loftdahl, who works with Mark 2 Ministries.

Mark 2’s mission, as laid out in their website, is “to empower adults in Yamhill County and beyond, that are experiencing developmental disabilities (hereafter referred to as "Friends") to live independently, have meaningful work, and to be actively involved in their communities.” The Friendship house is one of several programs Mark 2 oversees to strive for this mission.

There are several Friendship Houses throughout the United States, and those involved in establishing Newberg’s house were able to visit one Duke Seminary to see what this model of ministry looked like in action. From there, conversions with GFU’s Spiritual Life and Student Life offices happened, and, by the following semester, GFU had their own Friendship house.  

“I think one of the most important things about Friendship House being successful is that George Fox has embraced it as something that they value,” said Laftdahl. “The spiritual life department is always looking for ways to create opportunities on campus and having those be inclusive opportunities.”

Along with finding community within the larger context of GFU, a main goal of the Friendship House is to build community among those living there. They achieve this through intentional weekly dinners as well as other fun experiences as a household.

Emma Reith, who currently works at GFU and has lived in the Friendship House since Jan. 2021, said that one of her favorite memories was when the house decided to randomly go and look at Christmas lights and drink coffee together as a sendoff for one of their housemates who was moving out.

“I think apart from dorm life or living with your family, there are very few opportunities for intentional living and an intentional community that holds you accountable,” said Reith, “So I’ve definitely learned how to be less selfish with my time and show up and be present.”

While the Friendship House is currently only an opportunity available to women, there is hope that in the near future there will be an opportunity for men as well, said Laftdohl.

There is no set time commitment for how long students have to live at Friendship house. Some live there for the majority of their time at GFU, and others just for a summer in a transitional phase.

At $600 a month for a private room and half bath, it also provides an affordable opportunity for students off campus. “What's most important to us at Friendship house is that students have the time and bandwidth for getting to know the people they live with rather than being stressed about the finances,” said Lafdohl.