In October, many Christians gathered to celebrate the Reno-Tahoe CityFest movement which culminated with a large, outdoor festival at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park last August.

Prior to this event, a small group of ministry leaders met to discuss launching a formalized effort to keep this movement and collaboration between churches moving forward.

They listened to wisdom shared by Gary Gaddini, who leads Transforming the Bay with Christ (TBC), and who is also connected to a national network of cities similarly hoping to lead their cities to Christ.

The result is there is a new entity forming consisting of pastors and ministry leaders to develop a more permanent and more integrated system of communication and collaboration.

It’s led by Pastor Dan Dix, and is supported by the prayer and input of more than 30 pastors in the area. Plans have been underway for more than two years, and was intended to benefit by the momentum caused by the Reno-Tahoe CityFest effort.

We’ll share more on Hope Herald of these encouraging developments as they progress.

GARY GADDINI

Melissa Holland, the co-founder of Awaken, a Reno-based ministry that works with victims of sex trafficking, shares her personal testimony and the origins of the organization.

Awaken’s mission is to transform the city of Reno into a safe place where victimization no longer occurs, while providing direct services and healing for minors and adults affected by sex trafficking.

Holland describes her journey from a troubled youth to becoming a missionary in China, which led her to recognize the issue of sex trafficking in her own community. She partnered with Jen Campbell to start Awaken, which has grown to offer prevention, restoration, and city transformation programs.

The organization has faced challenges but has seen God’s hand at work in miraculous ways, including securing a building and gaining community support to combat the legalized sex trade in Nevada.

Nicku Bruce, the executive director of Real Choices Women’s Center in Northern Nevada, provides an overview of the organization’s services, which include free and confidential pregnancy tests, options counseling, ultrasounds, parenting classes, adoption support, and abortion recovery programs.

Real Choices is a pro-life Christian ministry that aims to empower women facing unplanned pregnancies to choose life for their babies, while also providing practical and emotional support.

The organization relies on volunteers and community donations to fund its operations and outreach efforts, which include digital marketing to reach women considering abortion.

Learn about the role of corporate chaplains in providing support and care for employees in the workplace.

Paul Gendron, a representative of Corporate Chaplains of America, explains how chaplains serve as a confidential resource for employees, offering emotional and spiritual support, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Gendron shares personal stories that illustrate the impact chaplains can have in building trust and helping people navigate difficult life circumstances. The summary highlights the importance of chaplains being present and available to employees, and the value they bring in supporting the overall well-being of the workforce.

John Katov, the founder of Open Table, shares how this ministry helps people in need by connecting them with volunteers and community resources.

The core of Open Table is small groups called “tables” that meet regularly with individuals or families to identify their goals and work together to remove barriers preventing them from achieving those goals.

The ministry also has a “neighbor” model where volunteers regularly text and connect with lonely individuals, as well as a “network table” where a group of volunteers leverages their personal and professional networks to solve specific challenges for those in need.

The key principles of Open Table are building relationships, accessing community resources, and empowering those being helped to take the lead in defining their own path forward.

The Fellowship of Companies for Christ International (FCCI) is a Christian organization that helps business owners and leaders integrate their faith into their work.

Jim Johnson describes how FCCI started a local chapter in the Reno-Tahoe area in the year 2000. It resulted in bringing together business owners and leaders for weekly small group meetings centered around the “table” – a place for sharing challenges, seeking counsel, and supporting one another.

Jim shares the importance of peer-to-peer relationships and using the Bible as a guide for making business decisions. He also touches on how FCCI has impacted the local community and discusses the vision of having every Christian business owner involved in the larger goal of transforming their city for Christ.

Pastor Shay Gilliam shares the story behind his new ministry, A2GG Apologetix, which aims to teach apologetics – the reasoned defense of the Christian faith – to youth in Northern Nevada and beyond.

Shay was inspired to start the ministry after being asked to teach apologetics to a homeschool group, which led to hosting regular apologetics sessions in his home that drew large crowds of interested teens. He believes this generation of young people is particularly open to exploring questions of faith, and he wants to provide them with the tools and knowledge to defend their beliefs in the face of challenges.

A2GG Apologetics uses interactive sessions where Shay plays the role of a skeptic to help the youth practice responding to common objections and arguments against Christianity.

First Responders for Christ ministry, which was started by Steve Walker and Kyle Endres, two local firefighters who felt called to share their faith with their colleagues. (Retired firefighter Chase Perham also was a co-founder).

The ministry is a weekly Bible study open to all first responders, including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and military personnel. The goal is to create a safe and judgment-free environment where first responders can openly discuss their faith and support one another.

The founders emphasize the importance of having a ministry specifically for first responders, as the nature of their work can make it challenging to be open about their beliefs. They discuss the growth and impact of the ministry, with both Steve and Kyle expressing their vision to expand the group and fill up the worship room at their meeting location at Encounter Ministry.

David Little, the Reno-Tahoe Convene Chair, discusses the concept of “marketplace ministry”. He shares about the Convene organization, which aims to integrate Christian faith and business practices.

David explains how the global organization provides peer advisory groups for Christian business leaders and CEOs to support one another, share best practices, and grow in their faith.

The groups meet monthly for a full-day session that includes devotions, business planning, and executive coaching.

David highlights the value of having a safe space to discuss the unique challenges faced by business leaders and the benefits of gaining clarity and community through the Convene experience.