November 2026

Gifts to Share

It was a chilly Sunday morning in March 2025. Brittany, her husband, and their five children were dressed and ready, heading to the early service at New Hope when she spotted two calves wandering along a nearby gravel road. After locating and contacting the owner, the family was eventually given the calves to care for and keep. Raising Rocky and Rubble meant bottle-feeding them three times a day, and Brittany has cared for them ever since. Looking back, caring for these calves seems fitting for someone whose life has been marked by caring for others.

Brittany’s nurturing nature was evident long before she became a mother. As a teenager, Brittany enjoyed babysitting for local families and proved to be a natural with children. She met her husband, Ryan, at a swimming pool when they were in seventh grade, and they have now been married nearly 20 years. Today, they are raising five school-aged children in rural Orange City.

Six years ago, the family joined New Hope Church and discovered a community of genuine people who were willing to be open and honest with one another. They were welcomed into church members’ homes, invited to share meals, and encouraged to join a life group. The hospitality they received made a lasting impression. Brittany describes becoming part of New Hope as life-changing for her family’s walk with the Lord, saying that “church has become like a family.”

Inspired by the welcome they received, Brittany and Ryan now look for ways to extend that same care to others. Brittany enjoys cooking, a skill she learned largely from her mother-in-law, and prepares meals for new mothers and those who are sick. She also helps organize Meal Train volunteers to care for families in need. As New Hope’s nursery coordinator, she works with a team to recruit volunteers and ensure that young families have nursery care during services and Sunday school. Brittany and Ryan also lead a life group, creating opportunities for people to build meaningful friendships.

For Brittany, hospitality doesn’t have to be complicated. She has even invited someone new into her kitchen to help make applesauce. “It’s a good way to break the ice when you have to stand next to each other in the kitchen for three hours!” she said with a laugh.

“What I think makes this church special is that everyone has gifts to share,” Brittany reflected. She recognizes that people serve in different ways and that not every gift involves being on a stage or speaking in public. She prefers working behind the scenes, using her natural gifts for nurturing and hospitality. As she puts it, “If I have the capability to help and serve, I might as well do my part.”

Brittany also encourages those who aren’t feeling connected to consider taking a step toward others. “You get out of church what you put into it,” she shared. Reaching out, joining a group, accepting an invitation, or finding a way to serve can open doors to deeper friendships and a stronger sense of belonging.

From bottle-feeding calves and nurturing children to preparing meals, coordinating the nursery, and welcoming newcomers, Brittany uses her gifts to care for others. Her story reminds us that we don’t all have to serve in the same way. God can use the gifts He has given each of us—even the seemingly ordinary ones—to help others feel seen, loved, and connected. The question is: As you walk with the Lord, how might you use your gifts to help someone else feel at home at New Hope?