2025 – 2026 Annual Church Report

 

The Gospel of John takes a remarkable amount of time and space to describe the conversation and teaching that took place between Jesus and his disciples during their final shared meal in the Upper Room. Much of chapter 13 is dialogue between Jesus and his disciples. In chapters 14 through 17, Jesus is talking to, teaching, and praying for his disciples as He recognized that His time with them was running short. It is in this teaching where we find the verse that guided our journey through 2025.

 

“The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you.” – John 14.26 (CEB)

 

It is out of this verse that we were brought to our emphasis for 2025: PNEUMA. Over the year we became used to understanding that the Holy Spirit’s job was to teach us ALL THINGS and to remind us of EVERYTHING CHRIST HAS SAID. Because of this specific job of reminding us what Christ has said, much of our time in the word was spent with the lectionary Gospel text. It was a powerful and poignant time for our church family to dig into the Word of God to see how God wanted us to grow.

 

We also took the step of faith to hire three student interns from the ministry department of Northwest Nazarene University. Hiring Gracie, Henry, and Kayla has been a wonderful infusion of energy and vitality in our children’s and youth departments. Their reports are included below. I am so grateful for their addition to our team. We also have continued to rely upon the proficiency and ability of Pastor Debi and Lisa in our church. All that we do together is designed to help us live well into our mission: Love God, Love People.

 

~ ~   MINISTRY TO CHILDREN   ~ ~ 

(birth – 6th grade)

 

Responsibility List: 22

 

In our church we put a lot of focus into pouring into the lives of our children because they bring energy and excitement. We strive to continually offer them the opportunity to grow in their faith. We find new ways to include them and emphasize the value that they have in the church. They, in turn, continue to be an example for the rest of our church. Investing in our children is an investment into the future of our church.

 

This year we continued to offer Kids’ Church programs on Sunday mornings each week for kids from kindergarten to sixth grade. We also have nursery and pre-school ministries for kids who are not yet in kindergarten. Both of these groups have age-appropriate lessons to grow in their relationship and knowledge of God. On the final Sunday of each month we have a Family Sunday. On those Family Sundays, kids remain in service with their families and receive activities and snacks to enjoy during the service. In the kids' church we use crafts, Bible lessons, games, and snacks to help our children learn about God, the Bible, and what it means to live for him. There are also programs on Wednesday Nights. The kindergarten through sixth grade kids have HUB upstairs and the nursery and pre-school aged group in the nursery.

 

During the year we were a part of many events that we have done prior such as block party, district camps and Mountain Home Spooktacular. We are excited to see areas that we could grow and have an active presence in the community in the future.

 

All that we do on a weekly basis could not be possible without the support of our volunteers! We currently have about twenty people who regularly volunteer at least once per month. We are consistently looking for ways that we can work as a team to create a safe and welcoming space for our kids.

 

This year we also had a Children’s Ministry intern that took on the role of running the majority of the children’s programs since September. This has brought it some new ideas and also a continuation of the amazing ministry that was being done prior to coming.

 

Keep praying for our kids as they walk with and grow in Christ!

Gracie Ayer, Children’s Intern

 

 

~ ~   MINISTRY TO YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS   ~ ~ 

(7th – 12th grade & young adults)

 

 7th – 12th Grade Responsibility List: 32

 

Beginning September 10th, Kayla and Henry have had the opportunity to serve as youth interns at Mountain Home Church of the Nazarene. During this time, we have continued Wednesday “Youth Group” and started a Sunday discipleship class “Bible Study.” On Wednesdays, we have discussed the book of James, technology, Lent, and relationships. Sunday Bible Study included an in-depth look at the Trinity and an in-depth look into Christian practices that form us. Students have had the opportunity for strong fellowship and to grow toward Christ.

 

The youth ministry at Mountain Home Church of the Nazarene is thankful for our volunteers. Brian Powell, Kevin Hodgerson, Jed Borsvold, and Cheyenne Oyler have been a strong resource both in between and during the internship. We are especially thankful for Kevin Hodgerson and Brian Powell for all of their help and have recognized the call to take a step back from youth ministry. The relationships they have developed with students and the hours spent pouring into students have been instrumental to forming the youth ministry into what it is.

 

The youth have had the opportunity to host several events and participate in district events

as well. Among these has been Summer camp and Winter camp. We are excited for the upcoming Nazarene Youth Conference, which the youth have been fundraising for and are headed to during July.

 

Thank you to the church family as a whole who have supported the youth ministry and been such a strong influence in the lives of these students. We appreciate your continued support!

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Care & Connection Ministry                 Annual Report 2025                 Rev. Debi Hodgerson

                 Building Community, Strengthening Faith, Supporting Families

 

This year, Care & Connection continued to create spaces where connections were formed, individuals grew in faith, and our church community experienced authentic belonging.

100 + families served

80 individuals in group settings

10 events hosted

10 community connection points

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CARING & SERVING​

• Fuel, food, utility assistance, and emergency hotel stays for 22 families

Community Support

• GriefShare, Blue Christmas, Angel Tree, MHAFB, Thanksgiving Unity Service, Surviving the Holidays, ECDVC, Doyel Ray Hope Center, and the Ministerial Association.

Personal Growth

• St. Luke’s Chaplaincy program

• Ministerial Coaching Initiative

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CONNECTING PEOPLE

         Dinner 4 Eight

• 46 participants

• New guests invited to each meal

Groups at a Glance

• 7 life groups or study groups

• Growing Together

Wednesday Discipleship

• 8 different classes held

• Shaped by Scripture

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 SUPPORTING FAMILIES

   Young Families

• Friendships formed

• “Moms Meet Up” gatherings

• The 5 Love Languages of Children discussion

• Families engaged in ministry

   Soup Ministry / Meal Train

• 50+ meals prepared

•  Rest & reassurance received

   Evergreens

•  16 attending

•  Growing in grace

 

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:

• Back- to-School Night – An evening of prayer at each school for teachers, administrators, and staff.

• Block Party arranged by our stewards and many volunteers. The “Backpack Bridge” and our local Scout Troop also participated and contributed.

• Participation in the National Day of Prayer at the courthouse, Fuller Bike Group, Spooktacular, MLK Breakfast, Ministerial Association.

• Usher & Greeter “Best Practices” training and name tags made and donated by Mike Nordin. 

• District workshops and conferences, home and hospital visits, and many conversations over coffee.

 

LOOKING FORWARD:

                Strengthen discipleship pathways

Expand young family engagement

Increase participation in Life Groups

Thank you to every volunteer, leader, and family who help make Care & Connection a place of belonging.

 

~ ~   STATISTICS   ~ ~

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Average weekly attendance:     110 (113)

Total membership:                       117 (114)

                                                   (Previous Year)

 

Total budgeted income:        $288,000.00

Tithes/Offering Given:           $266,266.00

Total expenses:                        $252,758.29

Tot. liquid/invested assets:  $612,862.84

 

 

Each year we work hard to put forth a full and fair reporting of how our church is doing in terms of numbers and statistics. While our denomination uses these figures in their own ways, we feel it is an important way to observe and evaluate how we are doing here in our local efforts to be the worshiping body of Christ locally. While our total membership is up just a bit, our weekly attendance is down by the same margin.

 

As we planned our budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, we adjusted our giving downward as several factors led us to believe that such a move was prudent. It turns out that our suspicions were accurate. While we planned to receive $288,000 (down $6000 from the previous year), our actual giving came in at just over $266,000 (down about $9000 from the previous year). Our adjustment in staffing structure, moving to hiring interns as opposed to hiring a full-time staff member, has greatly helped us in living within this budget. We are so thankful for the addition and contribution they have brought to our church family!

 

Even with this reality, our financial position continues to be strong. We have spent less than we received. Our total liquid and invested assets continue to increase year by year. We must continue to use what God has provided to this church for furthering the work we are being led to in the community of Mountain Home. And please know that your leaders are working diligently to align the missions and goals of our church to the leadings and promptings of the Holy Spirit.

 

As always, if you ever have any questions about the financial picture of our church, you are more than welcome to ask any member of the church board or the pastoral staff. We lead this church openly and transparently and would love to discuss these matters with you.

 

 

~ ~   A WORD FROM PASTOR TRENT   ~ ~

 

This past December we completed our sixth year of ministry here at Mountain Home Nazarene Church. Thank you for becoming our church family and for being willing to walk with us toward Jesus. It is consistently a gift for the #FribergNation to be loved and loved well by this church family. We have so many ways to grow in the days ahead and I’m excited to journey toward those days with you.

 

In the calendar year of 2025, our emphasis and focus was to follow the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit’s job is to teach us all things and to remind us of the words and teachings of Christ, it was our job to actively listen for the Spirit to do those things. And what a privilege it was to lead us on that journey. Trusting the Spirit to do the work is a humbling and, at times, scary journey. But I truly feel like we were able to chart that course over the year and be faithful to listen and to respond to the Spirit.

 

I would be remiss if I did not take time to thank our elected leaders over the course of the past year: Mary Ellen H., Mack M., Tyler M., Cassie N., Brian P., Connie P., Joye S., and Rebecca S. Combined as a team, this diverse group of servants have worked diligently over the course of the year to offer wisdom and direction as leaders of our church but have also supported our church staff in countless ways. I am so thankful for each of them.

 

As we step into 2026, we have only slightly changed our emphasis to PNEUMA MENEI, the Holy Spirit abides. While our emphasis last year had a definite leaning toward the utility of the spirit and what was sought to be accomplished, it is perhaps equally important to understand that the Spirit also simply walks with us. There are times when the calm, peaceful, abiding presence of the Spirit is what holds and sustains us. It is particularly necessary to remember through the dark and troubled times of our lives. My hope is that we can encounter in new and powerful ways the persistent and powerful presence of the Spirit this year.

 

I must take time before ending this report to offer my sincere thanks to our incredible and versatile staff, which includes several new folks this year. Without their work and contribution, we could not serve you and our community nearly as much as we do. I am so thankful for each of them. To Lynne, who started this year on staff as Children’s Director and eventually transitioned off as we hired interns, thank you for faithfully loving and leading the kids of our church. To Debi, Henry, Gracie, Kayla, and Lisa, I just want to say thank you for all the ways, seen and unseen, you have supported our church and loved our church family. Your grace and passion are evident every day and I’m so thankful for the work you do. I know I don’t say it often enough: THANK YOU. Also a huge thanks to our one-person janitorial crew, Mary Ellen. She loves to maintain and clean our facility, and I need to say thanks for going above and beyond, as she sees each mess not as a burden but as another form of job security. I’m so grateful for you all.

 

Here is to the year ahead. We ended last year with my 6-year pastoral review where the church board called me for another four years. It has also led us into a wonderful conversation about where the Lord is taking us in the months and years ahead. Let’s listen to the Wild Goose of the Holy Spirit, who abides with us! And let’s build upon the wonderful legacy of our church in our community as we Love God and Love People.

 

Grace and peace.

Pastor Trent Friberg