Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Ashour.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
There were nine of us who vaguely heard of St. John Paul’s Theology of the Body (TOB), and then we heard tapes (yes, cassette tapes) explaining TOB; we were blown away! A pope–Pope John Paul–spoke about the sacredness of sexuality, the sacredness of God’s design for marital intercourse, the sacredness of the body. After a year and a half in studying TOB, we realized we were meant to found a non-profit which we named TOBET, the Theology of the Body Evangelization Team, Inc. TOBET was “born” on December 8, 2001, right after the tragedy of 9-11, for we wanted to give hope to the world.
We went from a grassroots, “mama-papa” organization to what we are now: internationally-acclaimed. People from Germany to Spain to Australia to Canada, and, of course, around the United States are eagerly purchasing TOBET’s The Body Matters TOB Program for Pre-school to 8th-grade children.
In a pornographic, sexualized culture, we want children to see that the body is a gift, made for love. We help children to see the body is a gift, a teacher, a sacrament, and more, building a foundation so that in the 7th and 8th grade, we help children to see the beauty of sexuality the way God designed it. Children love our unique, originally-illustrated books, and parents are grateful that their children are learning wholesome truths about life and love.
Has it been a smooth road?
When we founded TOBET, we didn’t know that most non-profits need huge donors to keep it alive! We just loved TOB and felt like we were responding to God’s invitation to spread this truth of hope and healing to a world in need.
In addition to financial difficulties, so often people think that forming children in understanding God’s design for the body is mean-spirited or judgmental. It’s precisely the opposite. When people give TOB and chance, they love it!
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
TOBET is the first non-profit worldwide geared solely to disseminating St. John Paul’s magnificent Theology of the Body (TOB). TOB is this wondrous look at the human person who is made in God’s image and likeness. What does that mean? It means love. In other words, when we love, we image God the most, whose inner being is love, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit loving each other from all eternity.
TOBET seeks to show various people of various ages that the body matters–that the body is a revelation of the person who is created to give and receive love. And the opposite of love–the opposite of being a gift–is used, using others.
Soon, we will finish our four-year project called The Body Matters. What sets us apart is that we are the only organization to create original books for children based on TOB. St John Paul uses the word soul 55 times and spirit 91 times in TOB. He uses the word body 1,319 times! The body matters.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely. Dallas and the surrounding areas have a small business flavor with the ability to grow. I am very pleased that TOBET is in the Dallas area, especially with two airports handy for when I travel and give talks nation-wide.
Pricing:
- The Body Matters TOB Books are $19.99 each.
- Theology of the Body Marriage Preparation is $19.99 each
Contact Info:
- Address: TOBET
948 Blaylock Cr. N.
Irving, Texas 75061 - Website: www.tobet.org
- Phone: 1-888-855-4791
- Email: info@tobet.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theologyofthebodyevangelizationteam/
Image Credit:
TOBET’s logo and TOBET’s The Body Matters Trademark were developed by David Fiegenschue of FigDesign, who owns his own small business in Irving.
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