Gather by the Bay has given all of us young adults the ability to take a breath in the trust of peers in a safe, faithful, and authentically affirming community, knowing that financial expenses for a night or two each quarter don’t have to be a part of the calculus of community.

We learned so much about Messy Church in this process and found out that it’s not just for kids, not intended to fix attendance problems, and is totally different from VBS. It’s intended to help people see how God’s love is for them and how acting with God’s love in mind really helps you see yourself and others with a kinder, more accepting mind and heart-set.