Our Pro-Love ministry to unmarried Mothers is blooming.  Both Embrace Grace and Embrace Life are teaching the ladies their true value that is found in Jesus Christ alone and many of them are able to see the fog of hopelessness lift as they discover that Jesus and Christ Church are on their side during this journey with their newborn or almost born babies. Thank you, church, this is love and you can get involved on many levels. 

The Lord is changing eternal destinies within our small groups right now. I hear story after story of people who have made a decision for Jesus Christ because of the encouragement they received from other group members. Jesus established the small group model with His disciples; this changes lives. Bands, Small Groups, Bible Studies, and Sunday School classes.  

Cultivate Mom's ministry is offering both peer and mentor Mom support and encouragement to these young women at a very vulnerable and foundational time in their home life and you families.  These women are expressing that they are feeling valued in their roles as wife and Mother and feeding their own souls with how to live as a daughter of the True King! 

I received a phone call from one of our current SFLP parents in the early fall of 2022. She asked me if we had space in 1st grade for an additional student. She also asked if we would take a child whose first language was not English. I told her of course, and fortunately our teachers were all experienced at working with ESL students. I soon learned that this was no ordinary situation. I was accepting placement of a child who had just left her home that had been bombed and left life as she knew it behind.  Through a US-sponsored program, the two were sponsored by a gracious SFLP family here in College Station. 

The SFLP family helped register the child in our school and kind community members helped offset the cost of the tuition so this child could attend our school.  In mid-September a scared and guarded Ukrainian refugee student joined our school. Varya’s mother (with the influence of their sponsor) enrolled her in 1st grade at Christ Faith Academy. Varya came with no understanding of the English language, was apprehensive of everything and most importantly told us “No, Jesus. I not doing that! “ 

She was reluctant to participate in weekly chapel, mealtime blessings or any activity where Jesus name was mentioned.  

While Varya was hesitant to actively participate in the faith-based component of CFA, our school staff continued to pour into their little family and pray that they would come to know Jesus's love.  

Varya re-enrolled in CFA for 2nd grade and began to master the English language, excel in math, science and was catching up to her peers in reading. Her  mother got her plugged into other community activities to help socialize her and understand our language and community.  

In August 2024, our student is now a 3rd grader and we began to see a drastic change in Varya’s affect! She is smiling, attending daily lessons with our school interventionist, visits our friends at The Langford, helps distribute food with our missions team in the school parking  lot and participates in chapel, willingly!! We also recently learned that she and her mother have been visiting an ESL group at a local church.  Varya is excelling in reading, writing and completing her assignments.  

On Ash Wednesday, Pastor Kris came over for a prayer service for our students and to offer ashes to the students, staff and police officers who were on duty that day. Once he was done explaining the significance of this day, he asked the students if any of them would like to be the first one to receive ashes. Varya raised her hand and immediately got in line to be the first one! She professed that day to her peers that she accepted Jesus. Every teacher in that classroom was crying tears of joy over the impact that her presence in our school has made in her life.  

In mid-April, I received a message from our students sponsor at 11:09pm. Of course any text that late at night has me worried that something is wrong. She was just messaging me to let me know that our student and her mother went to see King of Kings in the movie theater. Our students mother actually invited her sponsor to join them… it was her idea. She shared that during the movie, Varya would tell her mother what was going to happen next in every scene and her mother was so impressed that Varya knew the entire story of Jesus so well.   

Christ Faith Academy and our church is changing the lives of children and families in our community. Without our school, this family would not have come to know Jesus! I can't wait to see the transformation that takes place in her life as a 4th grader. 

The Pastor's Discretionary fund responds to meet real human needs through a careful process that impacts lives that are often in crisis. 

The group that meets for prayer on Sunday afternoons intercedes for the large number of prayer requests from the worship services. The prayer requests are also prayed over by over 150 people who receive them in email form. 

Our Christ Church Care team makes visits, calls, and sends cards to people in need. 

The Prayer shawl and pieced prayer quilts cover people with the love of Christ and bless people in hospitals and homes. 

Christ Church Connecting Ministries has flourished this year. Our UNITE Wednesday evening fellowship has averaged 130 attendees over the scope of the semester. The Sunday Greeting Team continues to grow (currently 77 greeters and counting), and with that growth we are developing more ways to welcome newcomers and connect people within our church community.  Approximately 30 individuals participated in Meet the Pastor events in the first quarter of 2025. We look forward to helping people continue to get connected through this and other initiatives. 

College Ministry has been blessed to see growth in our ministry in every way.  One way we have seen this is through the numbers of students participating.  Another way we have seen this is through individuals who have experienced new life in Christ. One story of this is a young man who is classified as a freshman and started attending small group and programming in the fall of 2024. Through interactions with his Bible study and attending Overflow, he made a decision to trust Christ with his life and made a decision to be baptized in December of 2024. Prior to this decision and transformation, he professed to be agnostic. Much of this was because he came from a broken family and it was hard to understand how a loving God would allow some of the things to happen in his family. Other siblings in his household are also atheist or agnostic.  But to the glory of God, after his public profession of faith, now his younger brother is starting to read the Bible and is asking questions about faith in Jesus.

Hope Ministries provides counseling, coaching, group support, respite, and mental health advocacy from a biblical worldview. Over the last year, Hope Ministries served 1,445 individuals experiencing the surprises and messiness of life––things like bereavement, divorce, single parenthood, marriages in need of attention, life transitions, cancer treatment, cognitive decline, mental health challenges, and trauma. Hope Ministries consists of Hope Counseling Center, Mending Hearts Grief Center, Hope Conference, and Marriage & Family Ministry. In the past year, we have been blessed to start three much needed programs including the Caring Friends Respite Program, Mental Health Hospitality Initiative, and Kids’ Night In Respite for families who are grieving. 

Caring Friends, which officially launched in early April, has become sacred ground on Monday mornings — a space where older adults living with memory loss are seen, celebrated, and gently engaged, while their caregivers receive the priceless gift of rest. Because of this church’s support, joy is restored, burdens are lifted, and love is made visible in every shared story, song, and smile. From a Caregiver’s Perspective, “Caring Friends is the only place I can bring my husband where I know he’ll be safe, engaged, and genuinely cared for — and where I can breathe for a few hours without worry. It’s more than a program; it’s a lifeline that helps me keep going.” From a Volunteer’s Perspective, “Every Monday, I get to witness joy return to someone’s face — sometimes through a favorite hymn, a painting, or just a warm hand held. Being part of Caring Friends has changed the way I see aging, memory loss, and community. It’s one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done.” 

Kids Night In is a new program that we are able to offer to families in our Children’s Bereavement Program who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Many parents and caregivers voiced the need to have time to take care of themselves and do something that brings them a little bit of joy while they know their kids are being cared for. So, we had our first Kids Night in this February, and it was a huge success! The children had a blast creating a Valentine gift for their parent, learning about the unconditional love of God, and laughing and playing with other kids their age. The parents shared how incredible it was to have an evening to themselves where they could go on a date, run errands, or just rest. Because of your support, we are able to continue offering these events in the future! 

Finally, the Mental Health Hospitality Initiative began in January with the goal that Christ Church would become a Community of Hope truly ready to welcome individuals who experience mental ill health into our church family. To date, the Mental Health Hospitality Initiative has produced a series of 10 self-paced training videos for our staff and volunteers and have certified 5 staff members and 2 lay leaders in Spiritual First Aid. Participants in the Spiritual First Aid certification workshop noted how the workshop gave them a more empathetic view on how to have a supportive conversation with a person experiencing distress.

Kids ministry is blessed to be able to teach kids God's truth and help them to build a strong foundation in Jesus.  The ministry has grown!  In the past month we have had 237 kids attend our weekly programming, some of those individuals coming both Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights each week!  The nursery is open 4 days and 3 nights a week for studies and groups to meet, plus Sundays!  That means parents are able to find community groups and get poured into.  What a blessing it is to provide that ministry.  This past year we had 11 Family Events to provide families opportunities to grow in the Lord together and fellowship with each other...plus countless age divided events to encourage faith development and community building with their peers.  50 3rd-6th Graders went on Spring Retreat and over 450 kids came to VBS.  Every time we gather with kids is a time to fill them with God's love, grace and truths.  Here is a statement from a parent in our church: 

As a parent of both a 5th and 6th grader this past school year, I just want to take a moment to say how deeply thankful we are   for Christ Church Kids Ministry. This was the first Spring Retreat for both of our kids, and I had the joy of joining them as a chaperone.  It was more than just a fun weekend, it was powerful to witness the strong sense of community our kids are building and to see firsthand the impact of being surrounded by other kids growing in faith together. Our son also had the opportunity to go through the 6th grade Confirmation class this year. What an incredible experience. I truly believe the way it’s presented lays a strong spiritual foundation as these kids prepare to step into the world. The lessons they’ve learned are going to stay with them for life. Thank you to every one of you who pours your time, heart, and prayers into this ministry. Your efforts are seen, felt, and so very appreciated. What you’re doing truly matters. - Edwina Adams 

In December 2024, we hosted our annual Kidz Christmas event. Leading up to the big day, we raised over $47,000 to ensure that children could fully participate in the experience. As a result, 253 kids were able to shop at Walmart for toys, clothes, and other essential items. More than 165 volunteers from Christ Church stepped up to show radical hospitality and love, whether by shopping alongside families at Walmart or by serving pancakes back at the church. It was a beautiful opportunity for our church to pour love into families from our community. One message we shared with our volunteers was this: we want every family to feel absolutely spoiled, because we serve a God who loves us extravagantly.  

In January, nine college students and adults traveled to Turkey to serve at a training conference for TMS Global, a missions organization affiliated with three of our Cross-Cultural Workers. During this time, our team helped to facilitate the children’s program, where “Third Culture Kids” (missionary children) received the same training as their parents. It was an incredible opportunity to build deeper relationships with our Cross-Cultural Workers, love and equip children living life on mission, and give our participants a powerful global missions perspective. 

In February, we hosted the Texas Mission of Mercy dental clinic at Christ Church as part of our 2025 God-Sized Project. At this event, over 700 patients received free dental care—from basic hygiene to complex procedures. More than 1,200 volunteers from Christ Church and the wider community, including 90 dentists, offered their time and expertise to tangibly demonstrate God’s love to the people of Brazos County. This was truly a God-Sized project, where patients were not only cared for physically but also prayed over and spiritually encouraged.  

Our annual Church Has Left the Building took place in March, mobilizing around 600 members of Christ Church to serve our neighbors beyond the walls of the church. Volunteers built wheelchair ramps and decks, fed the hungry, prayed over our city, schools, and the world, and engaged in countless other acts of service. In total, 25 groups were sent out to build kingdom relationships and make the name of Jesus known in our community.  

Twice a month, Christ Church continues to host a food distribution ministry called Project Hope in our parking lot. Volunteers faithfully serve 50–60 families each time, providing fresh produce and packaged food. The heart behind Project Hope is not just meeting physical needs, but also building meaningful relationships and sharing the love of Christ through consistent, practical care. 

The start of 2025 has been a powerful season of growth and impact on our students and the ministry. We took our largest group ever of 123 people on Spring Retreat, a statistic that reflects the deepening engagement and community being built. Weekly programming has consistently drawn 85–100 students, offering a space of connection with Jesus, spiritual growth, and meaningful relationship building. Our Lead Program continues to grow stronger, equipping and empowering student leaders who are actively shaping the culture of our ministry. From large gatherings and small groups to retreats and leadership development, each program this year has played a vital role in cultivating a vibrant, Christ-centered community. 

The Music and Worship Ministries strive to create meaning and dynamic worship celebrations for our congregation and the community. Recently, we experienced record numbers in the congregation for our Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services. In addition, hundreds of people experienced the Joy of Christmas through the worship services and concerts presented at Christ Church in December. On any given Sunday you worshippers will notice an expanded orchestra and worship band in the Sanctuary services, as well as many new faces in the choir. The Music Ministry continues to reach outside the walls of the church through these extra services, but also by participating in Church Has Left the Building and the upcoming Youth Choir Tour. God continues to move through the hearts of the musicians as they share the Gospel.