Keep The Garden On the Go in 2026

As the year draws to a close, we pause to reflect: Where did the time go? We kicked off 2025 with a bold visioning project and embraced the “opportunity” to move The Garden home—twice. And through it all, we’ve continued to nurture and grow in faith and hope. Amen!

Now, we celebrate our success and invite you to help keep The Garden On the Go in 2026.

Our Core Values, Our Resilience

Our core values drive our ministry and action, feed our souls, and give us courage and resilience—proven time and again in a theater, churches, a bar, and a funeral home. These strengths came into focus during the Greenhouse Challenge visioning project, where Gardeners and community members joined side by side to discern God’s plan for serving one another while sustaining and growing The Garden.

Thriving Through Change

The Garden has not sat still. We are thriving—not just in people, programs, and service, but through a stronger community presence and expanding partnerships.

On the Go, we’re making a difference: addressing needs, instilling hope, and building something beautiful together.

And that “we” includes you. Thank you.

PLEDGE NOW

2025 Highlights

Community Care & Service

- The Garden’s Garden donated fresh produce to Crooked Creek Food Pantry

- Hundreds of meals served through Soup’s On at Roberts Park

- Laundry baskets of essential supplies donated to families via Fletcher Place

- Buddy Bags of food delivered for school breaks at Allisonville Elementary

- Participated in SAWs ramp build for a housebound neighbor

- Staffed e-waste event with RecycleForce

- Joined in MLK Day celebration service

- Raised $2,901 for Streets to Home, supporting housing for people in encampments

Hospitality & Joy

- Enjoyed Sunday refreshments including:

‣ ~1,900 donuts

‣ 600+ bagels

‣ Lots of coffee!

- Invested in and enjoyed incredible soul-enriching music from The Good Earth Band

- Successfully relocated on an unexpectedly fast timeline

Fellowship & Formation

- Welcomed new members into the community

- Attended book discussion groups and a Lenten Journey program

- Grew weekly Together to Gather community to 30 participants

- Explored topics including food scarcity, grief, LGBTQ+ inclusion, anti-semitism, and the death penalty

Spiritual Growth & Education

- Continued Stepping Stones children’s programming

- Hosted a Death Café for 40 participants from The Garden and wider community

- Led book study of Lose, Love, Live with 22 participants

- Held Nature Journaling with James Todd at Oliver Woods (12 participants)

- Facilitated educational presentations on various topics

- Engaged ourselves and community members at large in powerfully envisioning The Garden’s future with the Greenhouse Challenge

- Offered Spiritual Types classes during Lent

Advocacy & Activism

- Faith in Action Team led Gardeners to write letters to state legislators advocating for hunger relief

- 40 Gardeners joined rallies, leadership training, and political activism through Live Free Indiana / Indy Action Coalition

- Hosted Posters & Pizza night — 20 participants created signs for the No Kings rally

Big Give Grants

- Supported local organizations through Big Give Grants, including:

‣ We Care Indy

‣ IYG

‣ Changing Footprints

‣ Sea Scope, Inc.

Community Partnerships

- Shalom Zone

- Streets to Home

- Indy Pride Parade Photo Booth

- FCIndy

Stewardship That Moves Us Forward

We are stewards of faith, hope, and light. Our financial stewardship remains critical for 2026. What does it look like to be bold here?

But bold stewardship is more than giving. Where do you see yourself fitting into programs? What skills can you lend? What needs do you see? If you have questions, we’ll help you find answers.

Make Your Commitment by November 30

After reflection, we ask for your commitment to keep us On the Go by making your pledge no later than November 30—either in person, by mail, or online here.

Together, we have much to be excited about in the New Year.