Rise Graduation
Rise Graduation
Dear Friends,
Last week, we celebrated our first RISE graduation, and we’re still carrying the joy of it.
Each graduate represents a full circle story. Every single person in RISE was first met on street outreach, welcomed into the Family Room, and then invited into deeper support. What began as showing up and loving someone in crisis grew into housing, job training, spiritual formation, and a renewed sense of hope.
Graduation wasn’t about perfection or arrival. It was about courage, consistency, and community. It was about people discovering who God created them to be when given stability, dignity, and ongoing support. We are deeply grateful you helped make that possible.
Each of the graduates shared the difference the RISE program made for them and there was not a dry in the room. It was so encouraging to hear how each piece of the program made a tangible difference for the participants. One is enrolled in college classes, one is finishing a culinary apprenticeship with a guaranteed job at the end, one has a full time job in the medical field, and everyone shared stories or restored life.
As we look toward next year, we know this is just the beginning.
We are already seeing more people who are ready for the kind of transformation RISE offers. Our hope for 2026 is to grow the program so we can walk alongside more individuals by providing housing, job skills, and long-term support for those coming off the streets and out of crisis. We are moving forward with plans to acquire a motel for RISE housing in early 2026.
To finish this year strong and step into that future, our year-end goal is $175,000. These funds allow us to continue meeting people at rock bottom and supporting them every step of the way.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to give, or if you’re able to make an additional year-end gift, we invite you to join us. Your generosity directly fuels stories like the ones we celebrated at graduation and the many more we hope to celebrate next year.
Thank you for believing in this work!
With gratitude,
Kayla Horne
Robert
Melvin
Ina