Clothing with a Cause

During the month of October, we are holding our first ever fundraiser to support the Clothing Closet!

 

Our goal at the Clothing Closet is a simple one – to provide free clothing to those in need and to do so in a way that preserves their dignity. Since opening our doors in 2020, we have been able to do this for more than 1,100 individuals in need through our voucher program’s private shopping appointments. 

That amounts to approximately $30,000 in discounts annually. For the first time, we are reaching out to the community to ask for their assistance with that cost in order to help sustain our ministry of #clothingwithacause.

 

We would love for you to take a moment to check out the link below and consider a donation.

 

Race with a Cause

At Tree of Life, “shelter” is about more than just a house – it’s about helping families make ends meet and move towards a brighter future.

Our inaugural “5k for Shelter” is a chance for the wider community to help us reach that goal and we recently shared in our press release about why our Shelter Branch serves such a vital role in our purpose to reach out to the poor and needy in our community with the love of Christ:

In addition to housing, Tree of Life offers a comprehensive support system that includes mentorship, life skills training, and spiritual guidance to help residents achieve stability and self-sufficiency. This program plays a crucial role in addressing the immediate needs of those affected by the county’s housing crisis while helping them transition to long-term housing solutions.

We hope you take a moment to read more about the event, the goal, and consider signing up to RUN or WALK with us!

Day Break Picnic
Despite rescheduling our Annual Day Break Picnic – and even moving it indoors – we had a wonderful turnout and some great fellowship!

Hymns were sung by an amazing young man with special needs, named Henry, that inspired us all. That was followed by a message of encouragement by our very own Roger Hartley, who also shared a list of recommended books for older adults about continuing to lead spirit filled lives.

The event was rounded out with some delicious fried chicken and fantastic music from the Back Creek Valley Boys.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made this a truly memorable event!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

This month, our volunteer spotlight is a little different… we want to put the spotlight on the MANY volunteers that have been vital to our ministry over the last year!

At our Annual Volunteer Recognition Picnic in September, we celebrated the huge difference that our volunteers make across all our ministries and how important they are to the community. It was a beautiful afternoon of fellowship and fun enjoying the rare sunny day we’ve had recently.

Dinner included delicious BBQ from Monk’s BBQ and the sides and desserts were generously donated by Wegmans – what a treat! Thank you to both for helping make this a truly special event.

We then shared a devotional and recognized some exceptional individuals that have truly dedicated their heart to serving the poor and needy in our community with the love of Christ. We are so grateful for their commitment and their support of Tree of Life.

Thank you to ALL the volunteers that are making a difference everyday has the hands and feet of Christ through Tree of Life!

 

 

 

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

This month, we want to highlight an amazing partner: Unity Power Services!

Unity Power is known for their quality service and for fostering team un

ity and community engagement. This year, they are going above and beyond to help those in need by sponsoring Tree of Life’s 5k #racewithacause!  The race will support our Shelter Branch, which includes transitional housing, mentoring, free clothing, our summer giveaway events, and more.

We are so grateful for their support and all they do in this community.  Thank you, Unity Power!

www.unitypowerservices.com

Please join Unity Power and Tree of Life to #racewithacause on October 19th at Patrick Henry College!

 

 

 

STILL WATERS NEWS

Our Fall/Winter Still Waters events are off to an amazing start! Not only do we have a full calendar of events, but our partners were all gifted awesome new shirts so they can represent this ministry in style. Check out our upcoming events and download the full calendar at the link below.

OCTOBER
10/6 Pickleball Tournament
10/7 Bonfire & Flashlight Walk
10/11 Pumpkin Gospel & Carving
10/14 Fall Celebration
10/19 Hike and Picnic
10/30 Museum of the Bible Field Trip (register)

LAST CHANCE!

Registration for our Annual Golf Tournament is closing soon – sign up today!

We still have spots for individual golfers and foursomes. Please join us for this fun event all in support of a great cause!

Use the button below for more information and to register. If you have questions, please email Jordan Smith at jsmith@tolministries.org.

THANKSGIVING TOGETHER

 

We are excited to once again be hosting our annual Thanksgiving Together celebration at St. Peter’s Episcopal in Purcellville!  Join us to help make Thanksgiving truly special for those in need in our community.

Save the Dates!

STILL WATERS CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE
Download HERE

Weekly DayBreak Bible Study

Thursdays, 11am, Blue Ridge Bible Church

Annual Golf Tournament
Thursday, October 10th

5k #racewithacause  
Saturday, October 19th

Volunteer Introduction Program:
Click HERE for dates and registration.

 

 

 

 

Isn’t autumn beautiful? I enjoy watching the leaves change color. It’s such a vibrant season. But then the leaves fall, and winter comes. Isaiah 64:6 (NLT) describes the process like this:

We are all infected and impure with sin.
When we display our righteous deeds,
They are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
And our sins sweep us away like the wind.

While this evokes sad thoughts regarding our lives as the leaves fade, it also gives us HOPE.

Whenever I fall, I have hope that I can get up. It works the same way in our spiritual lives. The HOPE that we possess in Jesus Christ comes from our belief that God sent Him to redeem our souls and give us eternal life.

We are blessed by autumn then, because without leaves falling and withering, we would have no need to hope for spring. Look at it this way:

Without death, there would be no need for new life.
Without loss, would we recognize our need for Jesus?
Without Jesus, where would we be?

Heavenly Father, we THANK you for giving us the autumn season! We recognize its beauty, but also realize its sadness when we see leaves withering. We recognize our need for Jesus during these times and realize that you have given us these seasons to share the gospel with us. Through autumn, we recognize our sin and the need to die to ourselves. We realize that You sent Jesus to give us hope for new life, and spring represents that new life we receive.
Thank You, Father, for allowing us to rejoice in all seasons!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

May you be blessed,
Chaplain Wayne Ruckman

Consider a Donation…

Tree of Life would greatly appreciate your support in reaching out to the poor and needy in our community with the love of Jesus Christ. We ask that you prayerfully consider a one-time or recurring donation to help us continue to serve those in need in Loudoun County.