October 27, 2026

Christians in the community came out in force on Saturday, October 17 to bring aid to those affected by this summer’s wildfires. This was a challenging fire season for many in our community with several homes and structures being destroyed. OneVoice, working in partnership with Summit Christian Church rallied believers in the region to help out homeowners who were affected by the heartbreaking devastation. 

OneVoice is a local organization led by pastors and ministry leaders formed as a continuation of last year’s Reno-Tahoe CityFest movement. The goal is to bring unified communication and collaboration between churches for the purpose of impacting our city for the glory of God. 

It was learned that 17 homes that were affected by the recent wildfires will not be covered by insurance. Now, these homeowners are facing the overwhelming challenge of rebuilding their lives. The work completed was the clearing out of burnt vegetation and debris around these affected homes.

Last Saturday, 18 churches participated with more than 150 volunteers contributing willing hands and feet to the effort. Together they cleaned up the grounds of ten homesites. There are another 15 homesites slotted for next Saturday, October 24. The time is 8 a.m. to Noon, with the gathering location at Krone Company on 9515 North Virginia Street.

Volunteers are being asked to wear sturdy boots, long pants, and appropriate outdoor work clothing. OneVoice will be providing gloves and safety glasses. To register to volunteer for this special event and to get the latest information, click on the button below. 

In this feautred interview, Krystal Minera-Alvis from Nevada Right to Life discusses the importance of understanding and opposing Question Six, a proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution that would establish an unlimited right to abortion up until birth, performed by non-doctors in unregulated clinics.

The amendment, which has already passed once in 2024, requires a second vote in 2026 to be ratified. Many may be surprised to know that abortion has been legal in Nevada since 1990 for up to the first six months of pregnancy. The current law already protects the health of the mother through the full term of pregnancy. So what’s the need for more extreme abortion laws?

Krystal emphasizes the need for community awareness and action, highlighting the potential dangers of removing parental involvement and safeguards, and the risk of increased human trafficking. She encourages people to vote and engage in conversations to inform others about the current legal status of abortion in Nevada and the implications of Question Six.

Pastor Jason Hall and his team at Sparks Christian Fellowship welcomed Reno-Tahoe’s local community of believers for a vibrant evening of worship and prayer at their facilty. The event was organized by OneVoice, a new organization of pastors and ministry leaders seeking to bring unity and collaboration among our local churches.

OneVoice has been inviting churches to join together on a quarterly basis for prayer and worship. These evenings move around from church to church and region to region. This latest quarterly worship was held on Thursday, October 15 at Sparks Christian Fellowship.

The recent event featured a time of praise songs followed by a series of prayer topics guided by local ministry leaders. Together, those who gathered prayed for our schools, the next generation, expectant mothers, marketplace ministry, and for those affected by the recent wildfires in our area. 

The next OneVoice Worship & Prayer Night is scheduled for January.  

At this month’s Christian Business Connections meeting, Christina Rangel, who is a survivor of sex trafficking, shared her powerful testimony of escaping from being victimized by her traffickers. Through the power of God’s healing touch she’s been able to reshape her journey into one where she rescues and brings healing to others. She now serves as the Director of Justice Initiatives for Awaken, a local anti-trafficking and victim support ministry.

In a roundtable discussion that included CBC Coordinator Tim Lewis and Awaken CEO and Co-Founder Melissa Holland, Christina explained how she was entrapped in the industry as a young woman, despite the fact she was raised in a strong family. She highlighted the vulnerability of youth in sex trafficking, and emphasized the misconception that prostitution, legal or otherwise, is ever safe and consensual. 

Also during this meeting, Krystal Minera-Alvis discussed the importance of saying “No” to the upcoming Question 6 on the ballot. Her father, Pastor César Minera, also shared about the ministry of the Christian Business Institute, which he leads.

For more than 25 years, groups of business owners and ministry leaders have been gathering on a weekly basis to learn how to incorporate their Christian faith into the organizations they lead.

The Fellowship of Companies for Christ (FCCI) is an international organization that started a chapter here in 2000. Since then, hundreds of business owners through the years have been involved in these weekly groups. There are three active groups here in the Reno-Tahoe area. 

Since FCCI was founded here, other new marketplace ministry groups have started including Convene, C12, and Marketplace Chaplains. 

“It’s about learning how we can be salt and light in everything we do,” says Greg Latimer. He’s been leading a group at his office at Triad Plastic Technologies for more than 20 years. 

For all of the members, it comes down to one key factor, forming meaningful relationships. A meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ, and meaningful relationships with one another and the ones they serve.

“The right relationship is everything,” says Mike Roberts. “You don’t start a fire with one stick. The challenge is learning how we all do ministry together.”

God’s word can bring healing to individuals and their families and Encounter Ministry is offering valuable services to facilitate this through their Biblical Counseling Center. They are rapidly expanding their team of counselors and they are encouraging those in the community who may be struggling in their marriages, relationships, and with mental health issues to reach out and seek their assistance.

In this interview, Dr. Rob Rodriguez, the Director of Biblical Counseling with Encounter Ministry, explains the difference between biblical counseling and traditional counseling. He emphasizes the importance of seeing individuals as created in the image of God and using Scripture as a tool for healing.

The center offers a 32-week training program in partnership with the Association of Biblical Counselors, aiming to equip believers to help others using Scripture-based principles. The center encourages churches to partner with them to build up local biblical counseling programs, ensuring that the community can provide care rooted in God’s word.

Timothy L. Lewis, a financial planner and author, discusses his book “Uncommon Wisdom: Clarity, Conviction, and Stewardship in a Confused Financial World.”

Tim is active in the local community heading up Christian Business Connections, a gathering of ministry and business leaders who meet nearly once a month at the Encounter Ministry building.

He emphasizes the importance of biblical wisdom in personal finance, addressing topics such as debt, investing, and contentment.

Tim shares his journey in financial planning, his motivation to write the book, and practical advice for readers, including the “cards-facing-up” exercise for tackling debt and the concept of Kingdom investing. He encourages readers to align their financial decisions with their Christian values and to seek clarity and conviction in their financial choices.

When the wildfires struck in Northern Nevada this summer, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony was under direct threat and forced to evacuate. Pastor Tim Lucas and the team at Colony Christian Fellowship jumped at the opportunity to support the Native American community he serves.

He wasn’t alone. When he put out a call to other churches in the region to help, the response was extremely encouraging. As Pastor Tim explains, it was an opportunity to see what could happen if the entire local church worked with unity and collaboration.

In this interview, Pastor Tim shares the journey from his personal struggles as a boy to becoming the pastor of Colony Christian Fellowship, which is located on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.

He discusses the challenges of ministering in a Native American community and he highlights the need for respect, forgiveness, and the teaching of true biblical doctrine in their ministry. He invites others to connect, support, and pray for their mission.

Nearly 200 people gathered on Saturday, September 19 at Big Wheel Acres in Washoe Valley to celebrate and support Pathfinders Children’s Ministry. There was country and bluegrass music to set the mood, and the barbecue served up was both plentiful and quite tasty. A silent aunction featured a host of valuable gifts items, many of which were generously donated by the women’s ministry of Grace Church.

Chuck Grimm, the executive director of Pathfinders, shared the history of the ministry as well as some heart-tugging stories about the impact it has had on serving the impoverished children of our community.

This is one of many fundraisers occurring in the weeks ahead as this is a critical time of the year for these non-profit ministries to receive their annual support in time and financial resources. So if you get asked to host a table, or to attend one of these events…just say “Yes”!

Believers from around Lake Tahoe gathered at Tahoe Church to participate in an evening of prayer and worship on Saturday, September 19. It’s part of a larger ministry effort up at the lake by Mark Swanson and Anna Lise Renner to bring the Church together and they have events planned in the near future.

This ministry has three primary goals:
1. Forge unity among Christ followers in the Tahoe region through prayer and worship.
2. Intercede on behalf of the believers and non-believers alike – that they might more fully know the love, grace, and salvation of our Lord.
3. Invite the Church to explore practicing community prayer regularly and consistently.

For the past 16 months or so, their practice has been to meet in various locations around Truckee so that they can bring prayers and worship out into the community. Between now and December, their schedule is as follows:

• October 24 – Truckee Calvary, 5:00 pm
• November 21 – Sierra Bible Church, 5:00 pm
• December 18 – Wagon Train Restaurant, 6:30 pm

All are welcome to join in on these nights of prayer and worship. If you would like more information you can reach out to Mark Swanson or Anna Lise Renner. (Photo by Mick Diero.)

Should Christians care about politics? If you ask this of Dr. Cesar Minera, then his answer is an emphatic “Yes”, and he’s prepared to share many places in the Bible where this strong position is centered.

A pastor with 40 years of ministry, in this interview Dr. Minera discusses the importance of Christians engaging in politics. He emphasizes that faith should influence all aspects of life, including societal and political matters.

Dr. Minera shares his journey from focusing solely on his church to engaging with the broader community and government. He highlights historical examples where Christians in positions of influence made significant impacts and stresses the importance of education, voting, and respectful engagement in politics.

Dr. Minera concludes by urging Christians to recognize their calling to make a difference in the world, starting from their homes and communities. Make sure to watch this interview and to share it with others.

Randy Haskins, founder of New Beginnings, a reentry organization for those coming out of incarceration, shares his journey from a troubled past to a life-changing decision to follow Jesus.

He emphasizes the importance of moral rehabilitation and a relationship with Christ for successful reentry. New Beginnings provides a structured program, including a six-month foundation period, job placement, and skill development through an auto shop and thrift store.

Despite high national recidivism rates, New Beginnings has achieved a 33% recidivism rate for those staying longer than 90 days and a 7% rate for graduates. The ministry is funded through church support, private donors, and in-house fundraising efforts, with a focus on teaching self-sufficiency.

Nick Emery, the executive director of Life Choices, a ministry in Carson City, Nevada, shares insights on their mission to support individuals facing unplanned pregnancies.

Life Choices offers free medical services, practical support, and education, emphasizing spiritual guidance and accurate medical information. They strategically position their services to be the first option people see when searching for abortion services, providing free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds.

The ministry also offers parenting programs, a fatherhood initiative, and post-abortion support. They rely on community support through prayer, volunteering, and donations to continue their life-affirming work.

Make sure you watch our latest Hope Herald interview. Brad Dacus, founder of Pacific Justice Institute, a non-profit legal organization defending religious freedom and parents’ rights, shares his journey from a life-changing conversion in third grade to leading a nationwide network of attorneys.

Despite a severe accident at 16, his faith strengthened, leading him to establish the institute in 1997. The institute has taken on numerous high-profile cases, including defending Christians against discrimination by Southwest Airlines, challenging the Southern Poverty Law Center’s practices, and supporting parents’ rights in education.

Brad also discusses their involvement in defending Jewish and Christian students from harassment on campuses and supporting Turning Point USA. He emphasized the importance of standing up for one’s faith and rights, offering legal support and resources through the Hope Herald website.

Many are familiar with the ministry efforts of Real Choices, which aims to provide Biblical support and solutions for individuals and families facing unexpected pregnancies. But have you ever seen how the ministry functions through the eyes of those receiving these critically important services?

Nicku Bruce, Executive Director of Real Choices Women’s Center steps in as a guest host at Hope Herald. She interviews Luz and Marco, a couple who use the center’s services. They are joined by their baby boy, Liam (who shares a few comments of his own throughout the interview).

The young couple discuss their journey from discovering Luz’s pregnancy to attending birthing and parenting classes. They highlight the center’s supportive environment, educational resources, and the impact of the ultrasound experience.

They also share their experiences with the center’s parenting classes and the benefits of the baby boutique. The couple expresses gratitude for the support they received and recommends the center to others.

If you were ever curious about all of the services that Real Choices provides, you’ll enjoy this fascinating glimpse inside the ministry from the perspective of those who enjoy the many important lifechanging, and lifegiving, services provided.

Join the Nevada Christian Institute for an inspiring evening of insights, student stories and their special guest speaker, Mike Alger.

For over a decade, Nevada Christian Institute has prepared students to bring the transformative message of Christ to their communities. Their programs, offered in both English and Spanish, serve a diverse population dedicated to sharing God’s Word.

They need your support to continue this mission of spiritual formation and service, training future leaders who will impact their families, churches, and communities. Please prayerfully consider attending and supporting their annual banquet.

Thursday, November 5 | 6:00 p.m. | Sparks Christian Fellowship | 510 Greenbrae Drive

Their vision is simple: connect families with Christ and help people experience lasting transformation through Encounter Ministry.

Join them on December 1 for Encounter Ministry’s FriendsGiving, a special evening of celebration, gratitude, and vision as they gather to share how God is transforming lives through Encounter Ministry – Rooted Together.

FriendsGiving is more than a fundraiser. It is an opportunity to hear powerful stories of restored marriages, transformed lives, biblical counseling breakthroughs, and individuals who found healing and hope through Encounter weekends and scholarships and the connections made.

Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy fellowship, inspiring testimonies, worship, a silent auction, and the opportunity to partner in the future of this ministry. Together, we can expand access to biblical counseling, provide scholarships for those who otherwise could not attend an Encounter, increase discipleship opportunities, and strengthen families throughout our region.

Tuesday, December 1 | 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. | 10300 Rio Wrangler Parkway

Every revival in the history of the Church was first started with prayer. As church, ministry, and marketplace ministry leaders gather together in unity to transform our community for God’s glory, they know it all begins with prayer. 

Co-leaders Shawn Pennell, Mike Glenn, and Sue Bullard share the story about the formation of the OneVoice Prayer Team. Starting out as part of the Acts 4 movement that began locally in 2011, the prayer team has persevered through the peaks and valleys of ministry. Playing a significant role in the success of the Reno-Tahoe CityFest event in 2025, the team continues now in its role of heading up prayer for OneVoice. 

The OneVoice prayer team meets for 90 minutes together once per week. The focus at all times is The Cross and The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. With members from several different churches, they have purposed not to dwell on their differences but to endeavor to keep the Unity Of The Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).