December 2024 Newsletter

Looking back at 2024

The newsletter opens in the grow room: seeds under lamplight, tended morning and evening by whoever is on that duty, some poking seeds into pods, others repotting or transplanting them outside. The point of the picture is that the people change and the tending changes hands, but the growth itself is not something any of them manufacture. It reads as a description of how the ministry understands its own work.

What God provided in 2024

• A new grow room, moved out of the women’s dorm basement and into the more centrally located barn. It supported an excellent harvest this year.
• A renovated women’s dorm basement, giving the women a larger space to relax, visit and study.
• A second Transit van in January, which means all of the Residents can now attend church and other excursions together.
• A steady supply of donated bread from a local Shaw’s grocery store.

The people of 2024

• Three graduations, in February, June and October, with fifteen graduates in total.
• Fifteen young people served the Residents as Servant Leaders.
• Six Residents publicly declared their faith through baptism in July.
• Seventy-five volunteers came through nine work groups, from churches and schools around the country, to serve on The Hill.

October’s graduation on the 25th filled the chapel with community members, partners, friends and graduates’ families, celebrating Zack and Luke.

Leadership changes

Frank Vitale completed his time as Executive Director in July, and Courtney Jones stepped into that role. Susan Woods took up leading the community in corporate worship.

Coming in 2025

• Intake Day on February 10th
• Graduation on February 21st
• Work Groups begin arriving in spring
• The Pavilion and other projects begin in the summer
• Intake and Graduation in June

Prayer requests

• Residents and Servant Leaders often miss home during the holidays. Pray for the Lord’s presence, and for the community to be a comfort.
• Many staff and their families travel over the holiday season. Pray for safe travel.
• Several staff positions are to be filled in 2025. Pray for the right people to come and serve on The Hill.
• Pray for the leadership as they steward, shepherd and make decisions.

Gifts From God’s People

Each Christmas, Residents and Servant Leaders receive personalised gifts curated by staff and funded by the ministry’s partners, so that the season is a good one for people who are away from their families. Gifts can be directed to the Gifts From God’s People fund.