by Alyssa Fisher, Director Communications

The Be Still Ministry is celebrating its first anniversary on September 21 at 6 p.m. at Santa Ana United Methodist Church, with a special guest speaker, Rev. Ken Suhr, Director of Leadership and Congregational Vitality for Cal-Pac. Over the past year, Be Still Ministry has grown into a place of spiritual stillness, reflection, and connection, providing a modern worship experience for the younger generation and beyond.

The vision for Be Still Ministry started over four years ago with Mike Torino and Pam Reynon, who long dreamed of creating a more contemporary worship experience to engage young adults in the church and beyond. With the support of their peers and God’s perfect timing, this vision became a reality, and Be Still Ministry was born.

Be Still Ministry’s monthly Night of Worship starts with the space. As the team shared, “we’re so intentional in creating an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can enter and move through us, those who enter the doors can already feel that. The ‘vibe’ starts as soon as people enter the church.” This is purposeful to set the atmosphere and make space for the Holy Spirit: “Our hope is for people to already feel God’s presence and love even before our Night of Worship starts.”

This effort extends to the way that the team engages outside of its Night of Worship. The ministry’s Instagram feed is filled with videos that engage the community and inspire them to come check out the monthly events. Be Still Ministry is also working to expand their reach, they recently collaborated with the California-Nevada Annual Conference and hosted a Night of Worship event in the Bay Area.

Of course, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Janet Agusen shared that, at times, the ministry seemed “impossible, and yet God granted us the strength and patience to endure the trials and challenges to remain steadfast in our faith, trusting in his promises that BSM will grow and our struggles are not in vain.”

From the start, the team faced practical issues, such as finding the right space to call home for their worship nights. As a new team and ministry, finding time to come together and building trust within the group has sometimes proved difficult. One challenge they continue to face is securing funding or resources to purchase much-needed materials/equipment and operational costs for sustainability. But the group says “we were always reminded that this is God’s ministry,” and with the support of their church, they to continue to find a way forward.

Ministry team member Wendy Padua reflected on this power of the team, sharing, “Through the ups and downs from the beginning and the future to come, I can truly tell you that if I needed some guiding light, someone to remind me of the Holy Spirit who lives in me, sing praises with me over God’s goodness, I know anyone in the team will be there for you.”

For the team, a surprising aspect has been a transformation in their own spiritual lives. As Ezrah Cambe shared, “This ministry is what truly brought me back to God. Reflecting back on the past year, I’ve seen how God has been moving through each of us, and seeing that translate into our passion to keep Be Still Ministry going is a testament to God’s goodness.” Pam Reynon echoed this thought, saying that “BSM has brought me closer to God and I am grateful to have been called to serve Him.” Jessica Mendez agreed, adding that “being able to worship together through music” is a highlight of the ministry.

Now, as they celebrate their first anniversary, Be Still Ministry looks to the future with hope. Their goal for the coming year is to expand their reach, inviting more people to experience their Night of Worship and reconnect with their faith. The team shared that they know the ministry “is a bridge to bring people back to God, our hope and prayer is to be able to reach out not just to our younger generation but also those who have lost their faith and to rebuild/recommit their relationship with God.”

On September 21, Be Still Ministry invites you to join in the celebration of their first year of ministry, worship, and community. Come experience a night of worship, stillness, and the power of God’s presence. As you join the worship, remember that the team’s hope for you is in its name: “whether it’s in the moment of worship where we listen and feel songs in our hearts or when we are all together and we find that common ground of stillness in our hearts throughout our peers,” says Leislee Padua.