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Relational Ministry: People at the Center
People growing, people serving, and people connecting—people are the heart of everything relational ministry is all about. Relational Ministry encompasses First Impressions, Special Events, Small Groups, and Connections Ministry, all working together to create spaces where relationships can form, faith can deepen, and lives can be changed.
People growing, people serving, and people connecting—people are the heart of everything relational ministry is all about. Relational Ministry encompasses First Impressions, Special Events, Small Groups, and Connections Ministry, all working together to create spaces where relationships can form, faith can deepen, and lives can be changed.
First Impressions: Creating a Welcoming Culture
One of the most common comments from newcomers is: “This place is so welcoming.” This is made possible by the faithful service of Joy!’s First Impressions Team, which includes:
Small Groups: Growing in Community and Faith
Our 11 long-term small groups (meeting September–May) continue to thrive as meaningful spaces to experience God.
One of the most common comments from newcomers is: “This place is so welcoming.” This is made possible by the faithful service of Joy!’s First Impressions Team, which includes:
- Greeters at the main and office doors
- Welcome Center volunteers
- Ushers
- Communion servers
- Those who set up chairs
- Communion bread bakers
- Refreshment providers
- Those who set up & take down the coffee & altar
- This team has welcomed several new volunteers this year; however:
- The 10:30 am service still often had roles unfilled
- And we continue to have a shortage of people willing to usher and do coffee/ altar set up - two areas we greatly need
- An average of 2–3 new visitor bags are given out each month, helping new guests feel seen and appreciated as they take their first step into Joy!
Small Groups: Growing in Community and Faith
Our 11 long-term small groups (meeting September–May) continue to thrive as meaningful spaces to experience God.
- 55% of active Joy! participants are engaged in a small group — approximately 125 people.
- In addition to long-term groups, Joy! offered short-term group opportunities in 2025, including:
- A fall church-wide study
- A Lent study
- These options helped connect even more people to authentic community and spiritual growth.
Connections Ministry: Committing to the Mission
Special Events: Gathering, Serving, and Celebrating Together
Special events continued to impact our community in meaningful ways in 2025:
- 15 people became new members in 2025, publicly committing to Joy!’s mission of changing lives. This is a powerful affirmation that Joy! continues to live into who God is calling us to be.
- Approximately 60% of repeat visitors who shared their information were retained this past year.
- Online engagement continues to grow:
- 769 members in Joy!’s private Facebook group (+25 this year)
- 1,018 followers on Joy!’s public Facebook page (+100 this year)
- Joy!’s Google Business profile has also been strengthened, with a 4.9-star rating from reviews.
Special Events: Gathering, Serving, and Celebrating Together
Special events continued to impact our community in meaningful ways in 2025:
- Faith & Gender Identity Event:
- 52 people gathered to watch the Will & Harper movie and engage in a thoughtful discussion
- Holiday Breakfasts:
- Easter morning filled with casseroles, fellowship, and joy
- December breakfast following the family program, with sunlight pouring into the café as people shared waffles, eggs, and sausage
- JoyServe:
- Four days of living out our mission
- 130 people served across 11 projects
- September Kickoff Tailgate:
- A fun, new way to gather, celebrate team pride, enjoy game-day treats, and kick off a new ministry year
- Men in Motion:
- Built 17 bunk beds
- 33% growth in the number of people serving that week
- Women’s Christmas Dinner:
- Held at Lino’s Restaurant
- 47 women attended, including 14 first-time attendees
Looking Ahead to 2026
With God’s help, Relational Ministries will continue to offer meaningful opportunities for people to grow, serve, gather, and connect in ways that honor God. Our prayer is that these experiences leave a lasting imprint on our lives—encouraging and equipping us to go out and live our mission of changing lives. Be on the lookout for a new event this spring: a PINK lunch!
With God’s help, Relational Ministries will continue to offer meaningful opportunities for people to grow, serve, gather, and connect in ways that honor God. Our prayer is that these experiences leave a lasting imprint on our lives—encouraging and equipping us to go out and live our mission of changing lives. Be on the lookout for a new event this spring: a PINK lunch!
