Hello New Story Church Family,

I haven’t seen anything like this in my 15 years as your pastor.

God is doing something in our community and in our church. There is a spiritual openness. People are turning to God, reading the Bible for the first time, craving spiritual depth, and showing up at our doors every single Sunday morning.

This year, that transformation has spilled far beyond Sunday mornings and weeknight courses:

• Hillview has become a living lab for hospitality, retreats, community, and prayer. The Gates Family is transforming the field into a prayer path and rock garden in honor of their son, Micah.

• Our teams have served in Guatemala, supported Project Purpose and Logan Hope, and deepened relationships with our mission partners.

• Ministry to the next generation—from children to youth to young adults—has grown both wider and deeper, forming communities of genuine faith and belonging.

• We have been the Body of Christ to one another. We’ve rejoiced in baptisms, new babies, miraculous healings, and countless stories of God’s goodness. We’ve also walked alongside those who are grieving, suffering, and struggling.

Through it all, God has been faithful. And His faithfulness in the past is an invitation to trust His faithfulness in the future.

How You Can Be a Part of the Story

• Pray. Set aside time from now until Christmas:

  • Pray for 3-5 people… by name… every day.

  • Pray that God would provide the volunteers, finances, and leaders needed for us to “make the most of every opportunity.”

• Serve. We currently need 26 kids ministry volunteers and 10 welcome team members. If we start a third service, it will require 25+ new volunteers on top of that! If you’ve been waiting for the right time to step in - this is it. Your willingness to serve makes space for someone else to meet Jesus.

• Give. Our year-end goal is $350,000. This would help us keep up with the growth God has given us. A stretch goal of $500,000 would allow us to begin long-term facilities planning that positions us for future growth.

  • The first $20,000 of our year-end giving will be for the sake of others—from inner-city Philadelphia to rural Guatemala, from adoptive family counseling to dental care for our neighbors. Each gift helps our partners take strategic next steps in their growth. We'll share more about Potter's House, Sparrow Fund, Logan Hope School, and Health Care Access on upcoming Sunday mornings.

Check out Paul’s full letter for more details.