Dear Friends,
As I sit down to reflect on this year, I’m struck by how full it has been. Our days were full of deep conversations, incredible partnerships, new ideas, and so many moments where I’ve seen the power of Sacred Listening come to life. This work is only possible because of you. Your belief in what YOU do, your trust in what WE do, your willingness to listen, to engage, and to trust in the process makes everything we do at Future of Faith matter.
This year has been all about connection. We’ve been so fortunate to work with incredible partners who are as committed as we are to shaping the future of faith. With TryTank Institute, we’ve had the chance to do research that fuels bold, experimental ministry ideas. Our work with Princeton Theological Seminary has helped amplify the voices of youth ministers, giving them the tools and space to dream about what innovation might look like in their field. Through partnerships with Goodfaith, Flagler College, Gordon College, the ELCA, and Dominican University, we’ve been able to listen, learn, and measure the impact of their beautiful work in creating spaces of faith and belonging. We’ve had countless inspirational and meaningful conversations with new friends, potential partners, and people we long to be like when we grow up.
One of the most meaningful parts of this year has been creating new tools for Sacred Listening. I’m especially proud of the tools we developed with Ideos Institute’s “31 Days of Unity” Campaign and The Lighthouse from Flagler College’s Missing Voices Project. These tools are already being used to spark conversations and bring people closer together. And next summer, we’ll take that work even further with a boutique Sacred Listening retreat for families at Zephyr Point in Lake Tahoe. I can’t wait for the kind of deep rest, reflection, and connection that retreat will bring.
We also launched a new research project this year, that’s especially close to our hearts. The “Sacred Listening Study” is about understanding how listening impacts relationships and faith formation. It’s about showing, with evidence, the transformative power of listening as both a practice and a way of being in the world.
Of course, none of this work happens in a vacuum. This year, we’ve been privileged to be part of so many conversations about the future of ministry. What we’ve learned over and over again is that listening is at the heart of it all. It’s what builds trust. It’s what sparks curiosity. And it’s what keeps us moving forward, even when the path feels unclear.
Looking ahead to 2025, Josh and I are so excited about what’s to come. We’ll be piloting Sacred Listening workshops, creating new tools, and continuing to use our listening-focused research to empower our partners to make an impact. Also, drumroll please, Josh's book, "Faithful Futures" will come out! And, as a team, we’re growing. Hiring Lauren Chow this year has been such a gift. Her creativity and energy have already made us better, and we’re so grateful for what we’ll accomplish together in the year ahead.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Whether you’re a partner, a supporter, or just someone curious about what we do, your presence means so much. You remind us why this work matters. We invite you to connect with us about literally anything...ideas, questions, cool songs, community...anything.
As we move into the new year, we hope you’ll continue to join us—whether it’s by using one of our Sacred Listening tools, attending a workshop, or just staying connected. The future of faith is being written right now, and it’s being written by all of us together.
With deep gratitude and hope,
Megan Bissell
Executive Director and Co-founder