Meet an innoFaither: Dustin Mailman
Meet Rev. Dustin Mailman, who is redefining what church looks like with his ministry Deep Time in Asheville, NC. Dustin created Deep Time as a faith community with and for those impacted by incarceration. Whereas many churches have a social ministry, Dustin flips the script, showing us what church as a social ministry can be. Part prison ministry, part coffee roastery, part workforce development effort, part violence prevention initiative, and more, Deep Time models a new vision of faith in action.
What faith(s), if any, do you practice? How does your tradition and/or spiritual practice inspire or influence you as an innovator?
I am an Elder in the United Methodist Church but draw upon a variety of spiritual practices to sustain my life of faith. Maintaining a contemplative posture is critical to the work that I do. I say this because I believe that there can be no sustainable social change without a deep interrogation and resting with the spirit within. For me this looks like moments of solitude in the woods, centering down when the world feels busy, finding the still, small voice of God amidst great anxiety and grief. Solidarity with the poor is another spiritual practice that I maintain. This means that I actively choose to be in community with those who are on the underside of history, those living with mental illness and substance abuse disorder, those who are experiencing homelessness and incarceration. The daily touchstones of friendship, community, and advocacy mark this spiritual practice. Finally, devotional reading. Reading scripture, novels, theological texts, and everything in between has offered a consistent plumbline for my search for spiritual health. These practices are undoubtedly that catalyst of my identity as a spiritual practitioner and innovator.
What are you currently working on?
As of July 1, 2023, I have launched “Deep Time,” a ministry that uses social enterprise to celebrate, employ, and create spiritual community with people impacted by incarceration. The centerpiece of Deep Time is a coffee roasting social enterprise, where we are offering 3rd wave specialty coffee, galvanizing workforce development efforts, and offering space for inner reflection and care. In addition to our coffee roasting social enterprise, we have launched a holistic health spirituality group, a violence prevention program for at-risk young adults, and a worshipping community in the local county jail.
What can we find you doing when you’re not working?
When I’m not working, you will find me digging through record crates, reading Howard Thurman, or playing with my dogs.
What is piquing your curiosity these days?
My curiosity is constantly piqued by the idea of potential resting within each of us. More specifically, I am finding myself engaging the idea of what role does the Church, and/or communities of faith, play in saying “yes” to the potential of those deemed “disposable” – and further, interrogating who decides what it means to be “disposable”. I believe that when this idea is interrogated, that all can be seen as a precious child of God, worthy of endless respect, mutuality, and care.
What is something you’d like help on?
I am actively building infrastructure for Deep Time, as we are an emerging faith community. We are looking for new coffee subscribers, access to workforce development resources, digital storytellers, speaking/preaching opportunities, and co-conspirators for the cause of beloved community.
What is something you can offer others in the innoFaith network?
I can offer specialty coffee recommendations, pathways for conflict management and consensus building, educational opportunities regarding mysticism and social change, resources within the United Methodist Church, and lived experience of innovating within a bureaucratic denominational system.
You can find Dustin via www.deeptimeavl.org, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Email.
Meet an innoFaither is our series to introduce the inspiring optimists in the innoFaith world and what they’re working on and thinking about. We hope it helps you find and engage with each other across the network to advance faith-rooted social innovation and interfaith collaboration for social impact. Or just meet some cool people. Find the full series at www.innofaith.org/meet-an-innofaither.