Dear HUB friends,

As we close this year and look ahead to 2026, we want to share our gratitude for your presence in our HUB learning network. Thanks to more than 50 of you for participating in the HUB IMPACT 2025 Survey! We have learned so much from and with you, and look forward to seeing how God will surprise us again and again in the new year. What joy to be with you (see the NE regional group represented in the photo above)!

As a quick recap of the year, WE MADE NETS! We gathered with you at our HUB fall convening, HUB summer camp, two regional gatherings in Indianapolis and Washington DC, bi-monthly online Food and Fellowship meetups, and in two team-led affinity working groups focused on youth ministry and seasons. We shared, reflected, walked, looked at and made art, and built long-lasting relationships for flourishing ministry in the city.

WE STEWARDED GRANTS! We distributed 48 grants for a total of more than $2 million in five categories supporting ministries in more than 30 cities! Our grants ranged from $5000 (over one year) to $300,000 (over two years), allowing us to support grassroots congregations and ministries as well as help organizations and institutions build capacity to strengthen pastoral leadership.

We are happy to share about five new grantee cohorts that were awarded funding this month. Please check our HUB website grants page to learn more. Thank you to Lilly Endowment for allowing us to steward resources to encourage ministry leaders and communities in over 20 cities through these grants.

WE SHARED RESOURCES—at our bi-monthly Food and Fellowship gatherings, at the Fall convening, and on our HUB website. And WE TOLD STORIES–on our “Light Breaking Out” podcast, in the “Creative Community Care” traveling exhibit, on social media, and in our times in person together. Check out our latest “Light Breaking Out” episode featuring “Creative Community Care” artists de'Angelo DIA and Olga Lah. This will wrap up our fall season.

One bit of news we didn’t announce earlier was the arrival of Maximus Philip Bonano on November 21st at 11:44pm (length: 22 inches, weight: 9 pounds 8 ounces!!!). April and baby Max are doing well. Juliya will be our interim grants administrator for the next few months. Please direct grant-related matters to her (juliyaj@cityseminaryny.org cc mitcHUB@cityseminaryny.org).

Have a wonderful end of the year and peaceful start of 2026!

Blessings,
Maria and Mark (with the HUB team)

Ministry in the City HUB
City Seminary of New York
302 West 119th St, 3rd Flr
New York, NY 10026, USA

This national initiative is generously supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc.