January Newsletter
Thank You!
We are beyond grateful for the support of this community throughout 2025. Your commitment and generosity have allowed us to serve those in need, reaching out with the love of Christ, and see lives transformed.
This year we were incredibily inspired to see the generosity not just in financial gifts, but in the many volunteer hours, toys, and gift cards that were provided in the final weeks of December. This year marked our biggest “Community Christmas” ever with multiple events and more than 225 children receiving toys.
There is so much to look forward to in 2026 as Tree of Life continues to grow and your support makes all the difference.
Praying that you experience all the riches of His blessings in this new year!
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13
Community Christmas
Eastern Loudoun Community Christmas Event
Our first Community Christmas event for the season for families was hosted by Christian Fellowship Church in Ashburn!
A huge team of incredibly festive volunteers from CFC made all the guests feel welcomed and loved as they provided delicious food, carols, Santa photos, crafts, and more! Thirty-seven families were blessed, including more than 80 children that received Christmas gifts!
The whole church was filled with the joy of the season, and we are so grateful to CFC for making this such an amazing event for those we serve – thank you!
Western Loudoun Community Christmas Event
We held our Community Christmas event in Western Loudoun at Purcellville Baptist Church. It was a joyful night celebrating the true meaning of Christmas with our community!
118 neighbors, including 72 children, joined us for a Christmas puppet show, an interactive nativity, a warm holiday dinner, and the excitement of gifts and toys for every child.
This special evening would not have been possible without the 30 incredible volunteers who served with such care, or the many community members who generously donated toys and gift cards to make this a truly special night!
Thank you to all who helped create a night filled with joy, generosity, and the love of Christ for families in our community!
Eastern Loudoun Community Christmas Event
Our third Community Christmas event was at Grace Covenant Church and blessed so many.
We had the privilege of serving 29 families, including 76 children, through a special evening centered on the Christmas story. Families participated in an interactive nativity, enjoyed festive treats, and each child received gifts generously donated by our community.
As our final family Christmas event of the season, this night was a beautiful reminder of the joy, hope, and love we are called to share. We are so grateful to Grace Covenant Church and to everyone who helped make this evening possible for the families we serve.
Also, a huge thank you to The Potter’s Players for leading the nativity plays at these events, making them truly special and Christ-centered!
Still Waters Community Christmas
Our annual Still Waters Christmas Ball at Purcellville Baptist Church was a blast!
We had 141 attendees, including 78 of our partners with special needs who were the stars of the night. We enjoyed dancing, dinner, Santa, and a beautiful time of fellowship and community.
A huge thank you to the PBC Dwell youth group that decorated and volunteered to make sure all our guests had a wonderful time.
The joy of the season was on full display, and we are so grateful!
Day Break Community Christmas
Our final Community Christmas outreach of the season is a special one.
Our Day Break volunteers came together to pack Christmas bags for 110 senior adults in local nursing homes, and those bags were delivered to residents who often have few gifts or even visitors during the holidays.
As we delivered the gifts, we had the opportunity to spend time talking and praying with residents, sharing encouragement and reminding them they are valued and loved.
We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this outreach possible and to be able to bring a little extra joy and hope this Christmas season!
SimplyBe Coffee Update
Thank you all for your patience as we work through the details of opening a SimplyBe Coffee at Giant in Purcellville.
Delays of many kinds have made it a much longer process than we were expecting and we ask that you continue to pray for this effort – we know that all things happen in God’s timing!
Currently, we are optimistic that we will be able to hold a GRAND OPENING this February, but we will continue to keep you all updated via our newsletter and social media as things move forward with permits and construction.
In the meantime, we just wanted to let you know how grateful we are for your support and look forward to serving you “coffee with a cause” at Giant in the very near future!
Piedmont Region Update!
Momentum continues in our new Piedmont Region!
Thanks to the generosity and support of three local churches – Upperville Baptist, Upperville Methodist, and Trinity Episcopal – we are gearing up to begin serving the community through THREE ministries this month!
Upperville Methodist has graciously provided us space to start our food pantry so that grocery deliveries can commence in the coming weeks. While Upperville Baptist is providing office space for operations.
Trinity Episcopal will be home to our Community Dinner Ministry, with our first dinner happening on Wednesday, January 21st at 5:30pm. If you’d like to sign up as a host group, please click here.
Please continue to pray for this effort as we reach out to those in need in Fauquier and Clarke counties.
Volunteer Highlight
This month we want to highlight one of our amazing volunteers and new Ministry Leader for ESOL in Western Loudoun – Beth Lani (pictured left).
Beth has been one of our English teachers for years, volunteering every Thursday after a long day at work. She has also been instrumental in coordinating the ESOL schedule and working in other ways behind the scences.
Her volunteer commitment goes well beyond English classes – you will find her helping at our Annual Summer Giveaway, working her magic to get the many school supplies organized for our attendees. She also helps out at our fundraising events, like our 5k “Race with a Cause” providing an extra hand wherever is needed.
She brings joy and lightness to all her tasks and we are always so happy to be with her. Thank you, Beth!!
Donor Spotlight
We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks to AllTech Services for their faithful support of Tree of Life throughout the holiday season.
The AllTech team stepped in with remarkable generosity, offering essential in-kind donations that supported several of our holiday events. Their impact included over 100 turkeys for our Thanksgiving delivery boxes, 70 bags of rice for our Christmas delivery bags, and countless gifts for our Community Christmas events.
We are deeply grateful for their partnership and the meaningful impact they made in the lives of so many families.
www.alltechservicesinc.com
Save the Dates!
Weekly Day Break Bible Study
Thursdays, 11am, Blue Ridge Bible Church
Storytime at SimplyBe
First Wednesday of Every Month, 10am
Volunteer Introduction Program:
Monthly – Click HERE for dates and registration.
WELCOME 2026!
As we welcome a brand-new year, many of us are thinking about New Year’s resolutions. What habits should I change? What goals should I set? What do I hope will be different this year? But have you ever stopped to wonder if God has resolutions for us? I believe He does.
Scripture is full of loving instruction, gentle invitations, and powerful promises: each one pointing us toward a life that is deeper, freer, and more like Jesus. When we listen and follow, God does not burden us with pressure; He blesses us with purpose.
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)
“Love one another. Just as I have loved you…” (John 13:34)
“…as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13)
So as we step into 2026, these are the resolutions I believe God has for each of us:
INCREASE OUR FAITH. PRAY MORE. LOVE MORE. FORGIVE MORE.
These are not resolutions fueled by willpower, but by surrender. Not goals we achieve alone, but transformation God works within us as we walk closely with Him. God’s call for us in 2026 is simple, yet profound: be more like Jesus.
As we follow Him and listen to the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit, I pray we will make wise and faithful choices. When faced with what the world offers versus more prayer, more love, and more forgiveness, may we choose the path that draws us closer to Jesus Christ. And as we draw closer to Jesus, I pray our faith will grow, not just belief in what He can do, but deeper trust in who He is. Trust in His timing. Trust in His goodness. Trust in His presence with us every step of the way.
Thank you for joining us in this journey of coming closer to Jesus. I can’t wait to see what Jesus will do in 2026! If you would like to receive weekly emails that encourage and equip you to follow Jesus, please email me at wruckman@tolministries.org.
May you be blessed,
Chaplain Wayne Ruckman
