April Newsletter
Breakfast with a Cause
This March, we held an informative and engaging Business Breakfast for local business leaders who gathered to enjoy breakfast, coffee from SimplyBe, and time to connect while learning about ways they can partner with Tree of Life this year.
From team volunteer opportunities to event sponsorships and supporting our Gospel Enterprises – SimplyBe Coffee and The Clothing Closet – there are so many ways businesses can make an impact in our community.
We’re so thankful for the many local leaders who want to be part of bringing hope, help, and opportunity to our neighbors in need.
Want to get involved? Email development@tolministries.org
Day Break Bingo was Bananas!
Our Day Break Ministry for senior adults held a brand-new event in March – Bingo and Banana Splits! Our guests enjoyed multiple rounds of bingo with some great prizes like one-of-a-kind quilts from Station Stitchers. We served Banana Splits with all the fixings – including homemade hot fudge!
It was a great afternoon of fellowship and fun. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us and to our amazing Day Break volunteers for putting this event together!
Want to be encouraged? Check out their quarterly newsletter here.
Food Drive Challenge
We’re so grateful to the Business for Life group at Purcellville Baptist Church for their recent food drive!
Over the past few weeks, attendees took on a friendly challenge – seeing which table could bring in the most donations – and together, they collected more than 3,500 pounds of food for our community.
Their impact will be felt by so many families in need.
Thank you for turning a little competition into a lot of compassion!
Want to host a food drive? Learn more about our Food Pantry and connect with your nearest pantry here.
Thank you for supporting Give Choose!
THANK YOU to everyone who donated to our Give Choose campaign!
We are so grateful to the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties for hosting another wonderful day of giving.
This year’s funding will directly support our efforts to fight food insecurity in Loudoun and beyond through our Food Branch. We are ALMOST to our goal and only have about $6,600 to go… you can still donate!
Want to support our campaign? Giving is open for about another week and we’d love your help.
Pickleball is April 18th!
Play for a great cause during National Pickleball Month!
Join us Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Life Time Ashburn-Sterling for Tree of Life’s 3rd Annual Non-DUPR Charity Pickleball Tournament. It’s going to be a fun, competitive day, with all tournament proceeds directly benefiting Tree of Life’s mission to help those in need in our community.
A New Way to Support SimplyBe
Looking for a way for your business to give back? Become a Business Sponsor for SimplyBe Coffee!
In 2025, 43 individuals with special needs were provided meaningful volunteer and employment opportunities at SimplyBe Coffee, creating a space where everyone can thrive. As a sponsor, you help sustain and grow these life-changing opportunities while being recognized through tiered benefits.
From in-store and online visibility to exclusive perks like Coffee Club memberships and event recognition, we invite you to join us in making an impact. Sponsorship levels range from $100-$1,000 per month.
Want more info? Email us at simplybecoffee@tolministries.org
Volunteer Highlight
This month we are delighted to highlight Loretta White, a faithful volunteer with our Boxes of Blessings ministry.
Loretta is a key volunteer in making sure that things run smoothly in this ministry… she collects, organizes, and prepares the food donations, serving joyfully alongside volunteers to ensure families in our community are cared for.
A resident of Brambleton, Loretta is happily married, the mother of three adult children and ‘grandma’ to two grand-dogs! She is also a founding member of Brambleton Presbyterian Church, where she has served as Head of Hospitality for 21 years and as an Elder for 11 years.
When she is not serving, Loretta enjoys gardening and cooking! We are grateful for Loretta’s beautiful smile while serving and the blessing she is to Tree of Life.
Want to volunteer? Reach out to wnunaley@tolministries.org
Donor Spotlight
We’re so grateful for the incredible generosity of The Good Feet Store!
From donating backpacks and shoes for our Annual Giveaway to serving meals at our Community Dinners and supporting our events financially, you have been a blessing to many with your kindness.
Thank you for showing up in so many ways and helping us reach out to those in need!
STILL WATERS WINTER/SPRING EVENTS
We have so many fun events this April for our Still Waters Ministry! Make sure you click the button below for the most up to date calendar.
Here are a few highlights for the month (click HERE for registration)
• Bowling at the Branch (4/10)
• Pizza and Bingo (4/24)
Make sure you are signed up for our text alerts so you get all the updates – use the link below for more info.
Save the Dates!
Weekly Day Break Bible Study
Thursdays, 11am, Blue Ridge Bible Church
Storytime at SimplyBe
First Wednesday of Every Month, 10am
Pickleball Tournament
Saturday, April 18th
Volunteer Introduction Program:
Monthly – Click HERE for dates and registration.
MORE TO THE STORY
It should never surprise us that God is capable of the impossible. After all, our omnipotent, omnipresent Creator had a plan of redemption in place before the foundation of the world. Yet when we revisit the Easter story, we’re reminded that there is always more to the story: details that can sometimes get overlooked but reveal the power and purpose of God in profound ways.
Matthew records this at the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross:
“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him… were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” (Matthew 27:51–54)
Let’s consider what took place:
1) The curtain was torn. The massive temple curtain, nearly 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and several inches thick, separated people from the Holy of Holies, the very presence of God. At the moment of Jesus’ death, that barrier was torn from top to bottom. God Himself removed the separation between Him and mankind. Through Jesus, access was opened.
2) The earth shook. This was no small tremor. With Jerusalem filled for Passover, the earthquake would have been widely felt, stirring hearts and raising questions: “What just happened?” Even a hardened Roman centurion and his soldiers were moved to awe and belief, declaring Jesus as the Son of God.
3) The tombs were opened. In one of the most astonishing moments in Scripture, saints who had died were raised and appeared to many in Jerusalem. Imagine the shock and the testimony of lives restored. Death itself was being confronted and overcome.
These were not random events. They were powerful demonstrations of God’s authority, His love, and His victory through Christ. And that same God is still at work today.
Every day presents an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ. Just as God used visible, undeniable acts to draw people to Himself then, He continues to work in and through our lives now.
I can’t wait to see what He will do next in your life! Remember, Jesus Lives! Believe and rejoice in His name!
Happy Easter!
Chaplain Wayne Ruckman
