As we reflect on the enduring works of last year, a few themes begin to emerge. It was a year of nurturing what we have been entrusted with, broadcasting seeds to the corners of the country, and building the infrastructure that we hope will cultivate fruit for years to come.

A major breakthrough came with the implementation of Minnesota’s new legislation, which officially recognizes the right of churches to establish Sacred Settlements—a game-changer for housing and zoning policies.

Because of this law, our family of Sacred Settlements flourished. Mosaic and Prince of Peace both passed their 2-year anniversaries this year, deepening relationships, expanding shared spaces, and welcoming new neighbors. Meanwhile, new communities in Minnesota and Michigan are beginning to take shape, and multiple churches in five other states have begun exploring how to plant a Sacred Settlement in their congregations and communities.

We also focused on building homes and community connections locally. Five new homes were thoughtfully designed and built with community input, and Woodland Hills Church began creating a permanent Demonstration Sacred Settlement. This will be a place not only to store the homes as they are built before they move to their final locations, but provide a model community for tours without disrupting the daily lives of our neighbors who live in the Settlements.

Regular Homestead Days brought our team together each month to research and share traditional homemaking skills like gardening and bread making, fostering a sense of unity. And leaders from our Sacred Settlements have started incorporating some of these goods and activities that are best suited for their unique communities.

Our Homestead Festival was a highlight of our summer, where we welcomed about 400 people to experience the heart of Settled’s work. This event deepened our relationship with Fair Haven Farm and introduced many newcomers to the Full Community model.

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As our mission grew, so did our team. We welcomed three new members and participated in Praxis and Stand Together's accelerator programs to help begin to scale Settled’s work nationally. It’s amazing to see the seeds we’ve planted begin to grow.

Looking ahead to 2025, there’s so much to be excited about. We’re planning to build up to 18 homes for future Sacred Settlements and create and refine tools and our curriculum to help more churches adopt the Full Community model. We’re also inviting church leaders from across the country to join immersive “Come and See” experiences to witness the power of Full Community firsthand.

At Settled, we believe that every person is needed and wanted in our communities. Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can cultivate places of belonging and abundance in the year to come. With your continued support, we will keep nurturing the growth of Sacred Settlements where everyone has value and purpose. Let’s keep growing together in Minnesota and across the country!

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