Henri J. M. Nouwen was an internationally renowned priest and author, respected professor, and beloved pastor who wrote over 40 books on the spiritual life. Nouwen enjoyed an impressive academic career with positions at Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard Universities. His commitment to explore the relationship between faith and justice led him to become involved in the civil rights movement and to make a number of trips to Central America. Nouwen lived the last ten years of his life as the pastor of L'Arche Daybreak in Toronto, one of the many communities founded by Jean Vanier. In L'Arche people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as peers, create inclusive communities of faith and friendship, and transform society through relationships that cross social boundaries. This became Nouwen's home until his death in September 1996.

Nathan Ball met and shared community life with Henri Nouwen in Jean Vanier's L'Arche communities in France, and then Canada, for over ten years. Their friendship and Nouwen's spiritual vision had a life-changing impact on Nathan, who has had various leadership roles within the L'Arche movement. Nathan was a founding trustee of the Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust and was on the Board of Directors of the Henri Nouwen Society for several years. For the past 20 years, he has been heavily involved in various aspects of fundraising. He now lives in St. Louis, Missouri.