ANNUAL REPORT

“We are a community of faith. Part of being a part of that community is being there for one another. I have never felt as supported and loved by that community as I have to ministry of this team. It's been just really powerful.”

“My time at the women’s retreat was not only restorative but healing.

God revealed so much to me about what he has been working in me in the last couple years, and how much purpose there is to our pain. He also showed me how we are not alone in the hard - through the beautiful community of women who I was able to connect with and from whom I learned so much about embodied spiritual practice for every day. 

We feel His love through the people around us, through quiet moments with Him, through poignant moments of worship, and through the natural beauty around us… and the retreat allowed me to experience all of that, and remember He is with me in the good and the hard.”

“Something that I took away from the retreat is that it is important to surround ourselves with both grace people and truth people, and that we need to allow others to accept and know us.”

“What stood out to me is how quickly the men were able to form a trust factor and bond with each other to share and lay out some of the things they're going through in life, the good and the hard things.

We all worked to create a safe environment where many felt comfortable to be vulnerable. I also appreciated getting to know new people that I might have never talked to long and share in life.”

“The women’s half day retreat was such a gift for me! The time to be in nature, journal and gain clarity about my own relationship with rest vs. striving, & be in community with other women was amazing. Krista created such a beautiful event to help us reset for the season.”

“I couldn’t think of a better way to start the year than with a journey to The Hike-Inn hotel. Three days of being in nature, away from the news, and spending it with friends we’ve known for decades. Even with these long term friendships, it presented an opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper level. Getting away from the daily grind also allows for fun with completing puzzles, board games or hiking. Playtime isn’t just for children. We forget this as adults. It’s a good reminder of the things God created us for… community, friendship, food and fellowship.”

“I enjoyed getting away for a weekend and experiencing God’s beautiful creation of nature. I especially enjoyed forming deeper connections with other high schoolers. I liked the last night when we sat around in a circle and asked each other meaningful questions and encouraged each other. I had a chance to know, love and listen to other’s stories.”

“Prayer Matters resulted from God pressing in on me to ensure All Souls has a regular corporate prayer opportunity. Our pastors support us growing in our rootedness, sharing in each other's lives, following the Way of Jesus in prayer and asking God to intervene in our world. Prayer Matters articles investigate the meaning of prayer in our lives with inspiring Scriptures and stories of encouragement. What would happen if we regularly joined our hearts in prayer to our Father Who has unlimited resources and delights to meet with us?”

“I joined the team because liturgy is a great way to spread God’s word. I enjoy it because it is social and it feels like a conversation. This experience has brought me a new way of getting closer to God.”

“This trip wasn’t just about skiing — it was about connection. Whether we were pushing each other to try harder slopes, playing games or joking around in the warm cabin, every moment brought us closer. Even the car rides were a chance to learn more about each other. We built deeper friendships, met new people, and made memories we’ll never forget.”

“[Refugees] are made in God's image. And they are worthy of respect. They have dignity. And they need to be seen. Now, this is just a small way to come alongside some of our neighbors and extend kindness to them. Maybe show them that there are people who care about them. And just trusting that through their connection to Ethne, they're going to understand this is God loving them through what they’re receiving.”

“Our small group decided together that we would bring a meal to share with the families. When I was there, I was drawn to hanging out with the kids. I know I am so blessed in life to have a home and security. I wanted to bring a little normalcy to them. I know God wants the children to know Him and I hope to be a facilitator of that…. I was able to connect with the kids and even go back and make jewelry. Now our company is trying to help them take the next step to finish renovating their space to make it a more welcoming and comfortable setting for the families. We have an architect working with them and we are hoping to be able to renovate their space soon.”

“Working with the children at ASF has been one of the most rewarding activities of my life. It’s like getting to spread God’s word to three people for the price of one…I get to be a positive influence for a child while allowing the parents to worship knowing that their child is completely happy and safe.”

“When I think about God's justice and reconciliation, I think of it not just for a certain group of people or a select group of people. I think that God has demonstrated that he wants reconciliation for all of his children."

“One of the things I learned is how important it is to preserve history. And to know who built the history, why was it important, what was going on at the time, and how it informs us now as we move forward as a people try to continue reconciliation, unity, and flourishing for everyone in our city.”

This Spring, our church-wide study focused on Practicing Justice & Mercy.

Social Justice.

The very words were once more than enough to cause a good deal of consternation, misunderstanding, irritation, and, among some, even anger. And yet, they didn’t have to be—especially as we considered what Scripture actually taught concerning how God’s people ought to regard and treat the vulnerable. While "social justice" was a sensitive term in that cultural moment, the theme of biblical justice proved to be a rich, frequent, and beautiful one found throughout Scripture.

Our series on mercy and justice took us on a journey into the heart of the living God, prayerfully leading us to consider why He expressed His deep care and concern for the vulnerable with such passion and fervor. We saw how the Lord used His word to imprint a culture on His ancient people that reflected His love for the vulnerable, to the extent that it was woven into the very fabric of their society.