Celebrating our Core Values: CHRIST-CENTERED

This month we have the privilege of hearing from Melissa Conner, Renew’s Executive Director, on what being Christ-centered looks like at Renew from her perspective.

To me, it always feels like a fresh start when the summer heat breaks and we find relief in the breezes of autumn. We notice the vibrant colors of the trees as they begin to change and soak in the deep blue of the fall skies as the sun dips lower. It is the perfect time of year to appreciate the changing seasons through apple picking, pie making, pumpkin carving, hayrides, and all the things that help us celebrate the season. One of my favorite traditions at this time of year is the Blessing of the Horses at Renew.

Usually held in the fall near the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, the Blessing of the Horses is a tradition rooted in the Christian practice of blessing animals and acknowledging their place in this world as created beings loved by God. At Renew, this tradition began several years ago as a small event held prior to our annual Fall Festival. Local pastors from a variety of Christian traditions are invited to pray over the herd, and members of the Renew family and the greater community are invited to walk throughout the property, pausing at each paddock to be led in prayer for the horses.

I love this event because, during this hour, we gather, we pause, we breathe, we acknowledge, and we give thanks to God for our equine partners. Our hearts focus on them and only on them—not on our to-do lists, not on the lesson schedule, not on fundraising, and not on all the other mission-related work—but simply on them. For this hour, they are our single focus.

We stand together before God on this beautiful property He has provided for this work. We give thanks for each horse and offer petitions on their behalf. We lift them up and remember that they, too, are created by God and loved by God. We take seriously that they have been entrusted to our care as partners in our mission.

This event epitomizes what it means to be a faith-based nonprofit. Every year, I am grateful for the opportunity to gather in this way. If you have not yet been able to join us, I hope you will have the opportunity to experience it one day.

For me, the Blessing of the Horses sets the tone for a new season and a new school year. It helps me pause, refocus, and feel ready for whatever lies ahead. It is a beautiful picture of our core value of Christ-centeredness—held by our staff and Board members and lived out in collaboration with the Renew family and our greater community.