RELIANT ON THE SPIRIT. ROOTED IN LOVE. RESILIENT IN FAITH.

  • Church Family,

    During our Advance ministry plan of 2024-25, we asked God to help us grow in three main areas. We desired to grow in our reliance on the Spirit (Eph. 3:14-16). We asked God to root us in His love (Eph. 3:17-19). We wanted to grow in our resilience in faith (Eph. 3:20-21). As we earnestly sought God to grow us in these three areas, He did exceedingly and abundantly beyond what we thought to ask!

    As we journeyed through 1 Peter, we learned to be resilient in tough times. I saw men, women, teens, and children in our church continue to trust the Lord through their own tough times. As we considered The Whole Disciple in January, I saw our church rise up to love one another with the love of God. As we have started our pilgrimage through Acts, our reliance on the Spirit in both worship and witness has exponentially increased. These aren’t measurable things, but they are beautiful realities.

     In all of that, we as a church have had setbacks and uncertainty. We have weathered a tough staff transition. We have experienced let down with our facility. A healthy, growing, vibrant church is not without storms. We should know that better than anyone as we study Acts together! Many times, storms produce fear in us. Let us look to God who creates and calms the storms. Storms produce a desire to retreat in us. Let us look to the God who strengthens us to move forward. Storms make us question our success. So let us look to the God who measures success not by the lack of storms, but by trusting Him through the storm.

     For 2025-26, we will be continuing our Advance ministry plan. God is calling us to continue to Advance, even when times are tough. As a church, we will continue to anchor ourselves in Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul’s prayer for the church is that they would be reliant on the Spirit (Eph. 3:14-16), rooted in love (Eph. 3:17-19), and resilient in faith (Eph. 3:20-21). 

    While the church was facing hardships and unanswered questions, Paul points the Ephesians back to a God who is in control, has steadfast love, and will continue to work in power. 

     For this next season in Advance, I want to ask each member of our church to participate in Paul’s prayer:

    1. Be reliant on the Spirit - Obey God and trust Him with the results. 

    2. Be rooted in love - Love one another and our world as an overflow of God’s love. 

    3. Be resilient in faith - Ask God to do what only He can do in your life and our church.

    Each year that I write these letters, I get to look back and remember. This past year, God showed his love toward us by moving in our midst. He continued to grow us, save souls, mature our body, and increase our witness. I also get to look forward in faith. This next year, God will continue to show His love toward us. I am praying He will Advance us in our remembrance of His love and our rehearsing of His love one to another.

    Church, you are so loved by God.

    Pastor Travis

RELIANT

ON THE SPIRIT

Be strengthened with power through his Spirit (Eph. 3:16)

Followers of Jesus are reliant on the Spirit when they are obedient to the Word, submitted to God’s leading, and walking in God’s power in daily life.

  • Christian is family—son to my first cousin—and married to April. We weren’t especially close growing up due to the age gap, but several years ago, we began connecting over the phone during commutes. Our conversations revolved around family, work struggles, and the search for purpose as men balancing both.

    At the time, I was going through a difficult season at work. I shared openly with him, and he could relate. Even in the struggle, I made it a point to express how God was sustaining me—through a faithful spouse, a praying gospel community, and a Bible-preaching church. Christian always responded with interest and support. I’d often invite him to church, and he’d usually reply, “I’ll talk to April,” but nothing came of it for a long time.

    One Christmas, Diana and I sent their kids a Jesus Storybook Bible — something we’d done for others before. I didn’t think much of it. Months later, I learned that God had used that simple gift—Christian and April’s kids were asking to read from it nightly, and April began reading her own Bible. Eventually, she started urging Christian to go to church. Then one day, he called and said, “We are going to church this Sunday.” And they did.

    Six months later, Christian told me they were ready for baptism and asked me to do it. Though I felt unqualified, I was honored. Watching them be baptized was a powerful moment—proof of God’s work through an imperfect person like me.

    It’s now been 8 months. They’re in the membership process and have joined Dream Team!

    What God has taught me through this: He is always present, always working, and He will save in His perfect timing—even through flawed vessels like me.

  • Our church hit some unexpected speedbumps over the past year, but adversity always brings the opportunity to grow in reliance on the Spirit of the Living God. We launched the Tables Initiative, where we started praying for opportunities to share tables with non-believers. We saw God open dozens of doors to conversations about the gospel as a result! 9 people came to faith in Jesus and were baptized, with even more baptisms on the way. God continues to move in our student ministry – we took 23 kids to camp this summer  — our largest number ever! 121 unique kids checked into Story Kids and heard the gospel over the last year. Though this year didn’t look how we planned, the Lord still moved in ways we never could have imagined.

ROOTED

IN LOVE

Being rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17)

Because God first loved us fully and completely in Christ, we strive to love one another with our speaking and our serving. 

  • Our decision to foster grew slowly over a couple of years, beginning with a sermon at Story Church. Travis made a side comment: as Christians, we can’t just be against abortion if we’re not also willing to be part of the solution—like fostering or adopting. That truth struck Melinda deeply, and months later, after many conversations, it hit Robbie too.

    Ephesians tells us that we were adopted into God’s family while we were still outsiders. What a joy it is to not only share our lives, but also the gospel, with the children God brings into our home. We’re reminded often: these kids—biological or foster—are not ours, but the Lord’s. Our calling is to steward them well, for however long they’re with us.

    We planned to foster just one child, but days after welcoming a newborn, we learned he had an older brother in need. Though it took months due to licensing rules, we eventually brought him home too. In six months, we went from two kids to four — all under age six. It’s been overwhelming, but also full of God’s faithfulness.

    The foster system brings deep uncertainty, and several times we came close to losing the boys. We prayed, “Lord, whatever is best.” Each time, we saw God orchestrate details only He could.

    This journey has been sanctifying. It’s shown us our selfishness and pushed us to depend entirely on God. And we’ve watched our daughters grow in prayer, worship, and love for His Word—even in the chaos. God is at work.

  • The Lord continued to grow our church to be more deeply rooted in His love this year — especially in community with one another. 18 people joined a home group for the first time, totaling 107 people in groups. More people are hungry for gospel-centered community, so we’re attempting to launch 4 new groups in the Fall! As we keep expanding covenant membership, we welcomed 23 new members to our church this year. We’ve heard countless stories of our church rallying around each other this year — from providing meals, to paying off bills for one another, to someone even gifting a car to a family. Certainly, God has been growing deep roots in our community!

PLAN TO ATTEND

We believe the best way to be rooted in love is to regularly attend our ministries where we build relationships and pursue Jesus together. Check them out and plan to attend!

GROUPS

Church is so much more than Sunday services! Weekly community at Story happens in groups throughout the week. We share meals together, dive into life alongside one another, pray with each other, and most importantly, pursue Jesus in groups.

RESILIENT

IN FAITH

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20)

When life is hard, unclear, or painful, Christians cling to a faithful God who gives us hope for the future and strength for the day.

  • I was married for about eight years. My wife and I felt a strong tug from the Lord to adopt, so we pursued foster care. Within days of being licensed, we were placed with Laney—just two weeks old. Her mom was homeless and using drugs. Overnight, we became parents.

    The next three years were full of uncertainty. We didn’t know if Laney would stay—her biological parents were both fighting for her, but dealing with addiction and instability. It was a painful, prayer-soaked season. But just after her third birthday, we officially adopted her. It was one of the most joyful, faith-filled days of my life. God had truly answered years of prayer.

    Then COVID hit—and everything unraveled. I discovered my wife had been having multiple affairs. She eventually left Laney and me and moved out of state. I fought for our marriage, but she wanted no reconciliation. The divorce was devastating. Overnight, I became a full-time single dad.

    The challenges were endless—running a business, raising a toddler, cooking meals, grieving deeply. But God carried us. He surrounded us with a faithful support system. Both sets of grandparents retired and began helping weekly. People saw the truth of our situation and showed up with love, prayer, and presence.

    God has deepened my faith in ways I never expected. He has been our strength and provider. Laney and I are still walking through it, but we’ve seen His goodness. He’s never left our side—and we know He never will.

  • Through changes and setbacks to our plans, our church body has been resilient in faith. Our weekly attendance has remained steady — our church has shown up hungry for the Word of God! We met our budget goal for the second year in a row. We saw 19 people sign up to volunteer for the first time, bringing our volunteer total to 114! Our church’s resilient faith in Christ is evidenced by being consistently here, consistently generous, and consistently servant-hearted!

ROAD TO BELONGING

We believe the best way to grow in resilience in faith is to belong to a local church. Find where you are at Story Church and consider where you can take the next step to belonging! Already a covenant member? Consider taking a step towards owning the ministries of Story Church.

1) CONNECT

  • FILL OUT A CONNECT CARD

  • REGULARLY COME ON SUNDAYS

  • ATTEND OPEN HOUSE

  • SIGN UP FOR A CLASS

  • SHOW UP TO AN EVENT LIKE: FORGE MEN’S MINISTRY, FLOURISH WOMEN’S MINISTRY, OR RESTORE WORSHIP NIGHTS

2) GET INVOLVED

  • JOIN A GROUP

  • SIGN UP FOR A VOLUNTEER TEAM

  • START GIVING REGULARLY

3) BELONG

  • BECOME A COVENANT MEMBER

  • OWN THE MINISTRIES OF STORY CHURCH BY DOING THINGS LIKE:

    • ATTENDING SUNDAYS WEEKLY

    • VOLUNTEERING MORE OFTEN 

    • BECOMING A VOLUNTEER LEADER

    • HOSTING OR LEADING A HOME GROUP

    • INCREASING IN GENEROSITY

2025-2026

PARTNER

WITH US

PLANNED GIVING

If giving is not a regular part of your budget, make it regular and planned.

PRIORITY GIVING

As giving becomes regular, make it a higher priority in your budget.

PERCENTAGE GIVING

Make giving a percentage of your budget, rather than a fluctuating amount.

PROGRESSIVE GIVING

Over time, grow the percentage of your budget that you are giving.