Values & Guiding Principles
The foundation of everything we do: rooted in dignity, connected through relationship, and oriented toward lasting fruitfulness.
Why "Branch Life"?
The name "Branch Life" draws directly from John 15:5, where Jesus teaches:
"I am the Vine and you are my branches. As you live in union with Me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless."
— John 15:5
This imagery speaks to rootedness in Christ, connection to one another, and organic growth that flows from abiding in Him. Like branches drawing life from the vine, our model creates networks where value flows naturally, relationships sustain participants, and fruitfulness emerges from connection rather than extraction.
While our work is rooted in Christ, Branch Life serves artisans and communities regardless of religious background, and participation never requires adherence to any faith tradition.
Our Core Principles
These values shape every decision, partnership, and practice at Branch Life
Dignity of Labor
Work has inherent value. Every artisan deserves fair compensation, respectful treatment, and recognition for their skill—not because it benefits our model, but because human labor possesses intrinsic worth. We honor the work itself, the person behind it, and the craft they've mastered. This principle shapes everything from pricing to partnership agreements to how we communicate about artisans.
Transparency & Fairness
Trust requires transparency. We operate with radical openness about how value flows, how decisions are made, and how resources are allocated. Artisans understand their share of revenue. Funders see exactly how grants create impact. Community stewards know what's expected and what they'll earn. No hidden fees, no deceptive practices, no exploitation disguised as opportunity.
Community Stewardship
Economic empowerment happens through relational networks, not distant transactions. We equip and support community stewards who build distribution systems rooted in trust, proximity, and mutual benefit. These aren't sales agents—they're facilitators who connect their neighbors with ethical products while earning supplemental income. Community stewardship distributes both economic opportunity and decision-making power.
Long-Term Sustainability
We design for permanence, not perpetual dependency. Sustainability means artisans earn reliable income, stewards build skills and agency, and the model itself becomes self-supporting through earned revenue. We reject approaches that require endless external funding or create new forms of dependency. True empowerment leaves people and systems stronger than we found them.
Founded on Christ's Commandment
Branch Life was founded on Christ's commandment to love one another and to serve one another with humility and honor. This call to love—expressed through economic justice, dignified work, and mutual care—is the foundation of everything we do.
Jesus taught His followers to love as He loved: sacrificially, humbly, and with genuine concern for the well-being of others. This love compels us to create economic systems that honor human dignity, oppose exploitation, and reflect the kingdom values of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
We serve in response to Christ's love, seeking to embody His heart for the marginalized, His commitment to justice, and His pattern of servanthood. Our work flows from gratitude for what He has done and obedience to His ongoing call to care for our neighbors.
Our Commitment to All:
- • Services and participation are open to all, regardless of faith background
- • No religious requirements, coercion, or pressure of any kind
- • Respectful honor for the diverse beliefs and traditions of artisan partners
- • Partnership decisions based on alignment with our model and values, not religious identity
- • Christ's love expressed through service, never through manipulation or exclusion
We share our foundation honestly and transparently. Branch Life exists because of Christ's command to love and serve—and that love extends to all people, in all places, regardless of creed or background.
Values in Practice
These aren't aspirational statements—they're operational commitments that shape our daily work.
When we negotiate with artisans, dignity of labor means starting from their needs, not our margins. When we report to funders, transparency means sharing both successes and struggles. When we train stewards, community stewardship means empowering them to adapt the model to their context. When we plan for growth, sustainability means building infrastructure that outlasts grant cycles.
Values without practice are empty. Practice without values is directionless. Branch Life integrates both—and invites partners who share this commitment.