Written by Annaliese Jacobsson (daughter of Nick and Laura)

I was on a phone call with my mom on her way home from the office where volunteers had just finished painting their office space. I had to ask her, “where do you keep finding these people?” We both sat in awe, remembering so many acts of care and generosity from individuals and groups all over the community. As October was pastor appreciation month, we decided to take a moment to zoom in on the many churches who participate in Glocal’s ministry; we’ll highlight some other amazing stories in the next letter, so keep reading! 

Glocal was birthed in a church, is currently housed by another church, and is made up of congregants living out their faith and love from churches all over the Treasure Valley. Every ministry in Glocal holds the loving hands of the church through individuals, groups, and sometimes even whole congregations. It would be impossible for Glocal to carry out this work without you all. 

Below, we invite you to see the many ways churches have shown up for their new neighbors. This is not a comprehensive list, but a window into what it means, as St. Teresa of Calcutta says, “to do small things with great love.” This is love given by image bearers to image bearers, declaring the love of God for us all. What a beautiful gift it is to witness this. 

Just a couple weekends ago, we had three different outreaches by volunteers from local churches, Stone Hill Serve the Valley Day volunteers cleaned up the garden to prepare for fall, a group of 9 gave new life, through the power of paint, to the office and training room. At the same time, Eastwind Community Church used their community outreach Saturday to hold a beautiful Fall Carnival, complete with food, bouncy houses, games, and a raffle. We held so much joy watching their many volunteers, including some high schoolers, welcoming these families into play. There was so much laughter. 

This past year, we have continued to be blessed by Cole Community Church, who has been there from the beginning with us, with financial support as well as continuing to host the Glocal Garden and sheds that hold so many of the miscellaneous items it takes to start again in a new country. A couple from Cole makes sure our vehicles are gassed up and cleaned to transport various groups to activities.

Collister United Methodist generously invited us to use their parsonage for our main office. If you missed the Open House, we now have space not only for the administration of Glocal but also to hold trainings, host English classes for women and their children, and more. Folks from this congregation have also helped teach, cook, drive the van, and volunteered for many of the small but necessary tasks that make up welcoming new neighbors. Pastor Joe and Pastor Jenny have jumped in with resources and so much support.

This past summer, Westside blessed us with a large storage area for our donations. Now, we have a space to take-in and hold donations, until we are able to sort and distribute them through our various programs. Westside volunteers support Glocal in many other ways, including recently providing set up and clean up for our open house. 

These acts of service are also beautifully partnered by the financial partnerships that allow us to focus on the people and programs at the heart of the ministry. 

Again, this isn’t a comprehensive list. Glocal has had volunteers from more than 60 different churches in the Treasure Valley who get involved to host a baby shower, work team, who donate needed items, bake cookies for projects, or whose congregants seek us out to help in whatever way they can. We are overwhelmed by the love that makes this possible. Not just love of us, but love of God and neighbor. It is this tangible, imperfect, get-your-hands-dirty kind of love that makes the church look like the church to us and those we are here to serve.