Monthly Newsletter
Welcome to our Monthly Newsletter!
We want to keep you connected to the heart of Together Green Bay. This new monthly newsletter features three sections:
Celebrating Impact - Highlights from the past month showing how God is moving in and through our ministry.
Be Part of the Story - Upcoming opportunities to connect, grow, and serve with Together Green Bay.
Loving Our City Together - Ways to give and partner with organizations making a difference in our city.
We believe every story, every gathering, and every step forward is a reflection of God’s faithfulness at work in our church and our city. Subscribe here to receive our newsletter via email monthly.
Celebrating Impact
Surpassing Goals for FMSC
Celebrating the 2025 Feed My Starving Children Green Bay MobilePack! We Surpassed Every Goal—And Did It Together!
For 13 years, ten Green Bay churches have joined together as the FMSC Green Bay MobilePack—hosted at Green Bay Community Church—to feed children around the world. This year’s four-day event was another joyful display of unity and purpose, showing what happens when the Church works as one.
2025 Results:
676,512 meals packed — 23,328 above our goal!
1,853 children fed for a full year - 64 above our goal!
3,307 volunteer shifts filled — families, church groups, schools, businesses, civic organizations, and youth teams joined from every corner of the community
$251,704.57 raised — $62,000 beyond our goal!
7.5 million meals packed since 2013
Every box sealed and every dollar given represented faith in action—and a community living out love together to bring hope to children around the world.
Building Bridges: Together Green Bay Team Engages Mayor Genrich in Faith-Based Community Partnership
The Together Green Bay Team recently hosted Mayor Eric Genrich for a strategic dialogue about leveraging faith communities to address Green Bay's challenges.
Understanding Leadership Challenges: We created space for authentic conversation with Mayor Genrich about his leadership journey and the challenges facing our city—from economic development to public safety. By understanding his perspective, we positioned ourselves as active partners committed to Green Bay's flourishing.
Showcasing GBCC's Impact: We provided Mayor Genrich with a tour of Green Bay Community Church's initiatives, demonstrating how GBCC serves as a community hub through education programs, service initiatives, and support networks that contribute to our city's vitality.
A Vision for Faith Collaboration: We proposed that Mayor Genrich convene faith leaders from across Greater Green Bay for a structured dialogue about the faith sector's potential to catalyze positive change. We offered to host and moderate this gathering to explore collaborative approaches to urban challenges.
Evidence for Faith-Based Impact: This proposal draws from Putnam and Campbell's "American Grace," which shows religious Americans volunteer for secular causes 40% more than non-religious counterparts and give 3.5 times more to charity. Their research confirms religious institutions as unparalleled generators of social capital, creating networks of trust and civic engagement that benefit entire communities.
Moving Forward Together: Mayor Genrich responded enthusiastically to this interfaith collaboration vision. The path forward involves uniting diverse faith communities around shared goals—pooling resources, coordinating volunteers, and amplifying collective impact rather than operating in silos.
This partnership between Together Green Bay, GBCC, Mayor Genrich's office, and the faith community represents hope in action. While government provides essential services, faith communities offer the social bonds, volunteer energy, and moral vision that transform cities into flourishing communities where all residents thrive.
October’s Giving Tree Impact
In October, The Giving Tree Food Pantry, which serves families in the Howard Suamico School District and is housed at GBCC, served 186 families, distributed over 6,900 pounds of food, and saw more than 219 volunteer hours given in service. Each hour, donation, and act of kindness made a difference—thank you for helping us care for our neighbors and nourish our community!
Why Attend a Love Your City Breakfast?
Transformation happens when people come together—and that’s exactly what our Love Your City Breakfast is all about. Each month, leaders, volunteers, and community members gather to connect, collaborate, and grow. It’s a place to meet new people, exchange ideas, and strengthen your leadership skills—all while working toward a more flourishing Green Bay.
This month we’re highlighting Jean VandenLangenberg, founder of Laundry Love Brown County, which offers free laundry services to families facing financial hardship. Jean’s passion for her work is contagious, and her involvement at Love Your City has helped her organization thrive—two new board members even joined after meeting her at breakfast!
Stories like Jean’s remind us that when we gather, good things grow. Join us at the next Love Your City Breakfast—because connection is where change begins.
Called to Serve: My Journey as a ONE.org Faith Representative
An Unexpected Call Several Months Ago: ONE.org's Wisconsin chapter called to invite Together Green Bay team member Troy Murphy to join a nationwide movement of faith leaders advocating for America's life-saving development assistance programs, particularly those serving Africa through USAID.
Understanding ONE.org's Mission: ONE.org mobilizes faith communities to influence policy supporting programs that fight poverty and disease in the world's poorest places. They recognize religious communities possess the moral authority and networks necessary to influence policy affecting millions of vulnerable lives.
National Training Initiative: Troy was selected as Wisconsin's faith representative for intensive advocacy training that brought together religious leaders from all fifty states. The training equipped them to understand the legislative process, articulate moral and practical cases for development assistance, and communicate effectively with elected officials.
Meeting Congressional Leaders: They engaged directly with Congressional representatives and Senators in substantive policy discussions, emphasizing:
U.S. development programs represent less than 1% of the federal budget
Development assistance enhances American security and global stability
These programs enjoy broad, bipartisan faith community support
Twenty Years of Impact: Since 1997, American foreign assistance has saved over 100 million lives through HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria prevention, vaccination campaigns, agricultural improvements, and education initiatives. Programs like PEPFAR have transformed entire communities across Africa.
Biblical Foundation: Troy’s commitment flows from Scripture's clear mandate to care for the vulnerable. Proverbs 19:17 states: "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." Throughout Scripture, we're called to extend compassion beyond our immediate communities.
Continuing Commitment: Being Wisconsin's faith representative is an ongoing calling requiring regular communication with officials, mobilizing congregations, educating believers about global poverty, and building bridges between faith communities and policymakers.
Faith and Policy Intersection: Effective compassion requires both direct service and systemic change. While churches excel at charity, we must also advocate for policies addressing poverty's root causes. The most inspiring aspect has been witnessing unity across the faith spectrum—Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and Muslims united in compassion for the global poor.
As Troy continues this role, he’s committed to expanding Wisconsin's network of faith advocates. This calling is more than advocacy—it's living out faith in the public square, being a voice for the voiceless, and participating in God's work of restoration in our broken world.
Be Part of the Story
Military Ministry Breakfast with Travis Roberts, CRU Military
If you have a heart for our military, join us for a special breakfast with Travis Roberts of CRU Military on Sunday, November 9 at 9:00 a.m., between our GBCC Sunday services. Travis will share his call from the military chaplaincy and his mission to serve the 600 active Coast Guard members and 1,200 Army ROTC, National Guard, and Reserve forces who live in our area. We invite those interested in hearing about the ministry and supporting local service members through prayer and/or financial partnership. Grab your breakfast from the lobby and join us in the Church Office Area to meet Travis and hear more.
People Are The Point
You've got a strategy. You've got a vision. But do you have a plan for how you lead your people?
Join Thrivent and Together Green Bay for an on-demand event with Jenni Catron, bestselling author, speaker and CEO of The 4Sight Group. Unpack a framework for building culture on purpose — not by accident. You'll discover practical tools to transform culture from something caught to something taught, recognize where misalignment costs you momentum, and build an intentional culture plan connecting your people to your purpose.
Join us for this free event on Thursday, November 13 from noon to one at Green Bay Community Church. Lunch will be provided courtesy of Thrivent. Save your seat using the button below!
November Love Your City Breakfast
Join us for the November Love Your City Network Breakfast—a monthly gathering of leaders from business, non-profit, education, and faith sectors working together to see our city flourish. These mornings equip you with practical tools, fresh insight, and meaningful connections to transform your life, workplace, and community. We’ll share breakfast, collaborate, and learn together on Thursday, November 20 from 7:30–9:00 am at Fire & Fir Event Hall.
Volunteer with Sawa Sawa Collective
Want to make a difference in the lives of refugee families right here in Green Bay? Sawa Sawa Collective is looking for volunteers to join us in three key areas:
Kids Tutoring – Help children succeed in school by offering homework support and encouragement.
Transportation – Provide rides that help families get to important appointments and programs.
Allies – Walk alongside refugee families as a friend and mentor, helping them navigate life in a new community.
Whether you can give an hour a week or more, your presence makes a lasting impact. To learn more or sign up, contact Laura Lee Wright at lauraleew@gbcc.me.
Warming in The Heart
Each Sunday afternoon during homeless shelter season (November 1-April 30) Samaritan’s Heart Mission Church opens its doors to offer safety, warmth and the ministry of presence to those in need. Area churches have signed up for all but 8 of these Sundays! Would you be willing to serve as the GBCC ministry lead to host one (or more!) of these remaining Sundays? If you’d like to lead or simply serve one Sunday, please reach out to Cheryl Williams at cherylw@gbcc.me or connect with her at GBCC church services on Sunday mornings.
Loving Our City Together
Thrivent’s Nonprofit Networking Breakfast
You’re invited to Thrivent’s Nonprofit Networking Breakfast on Wednesday, November 12, from 8:00–9:30 am at Cheesecake Heaven. Join fellow nonprofit, faith, and community leaders from the greater Green Bay area for a complimentary hot breakfast, roundtable introductions, and meaningful networking. Hosted by Jenny Rohan, Engagement Leader with Thrivent, the morning also includes Thrivent updates and insights from a featured guest. Bring a friend and connect with others who are making an impact in our community! For more information, contact Jenny Rohan at jenny.rohan@thrivent.com or 920-851-0688.
It’s Chili Inside!
Enjoy a warm night for a great cause! Join us Friday, November 14 at Olde 41 (1966 Velp Ave) for a night of soups, stews, chili, raffles, and bake sale fun - all supporting Laundry Love Brown County. Our own Together Green Bay staff member, Cheryl Williams, will be competing with her prize winning Venison Chili recipe - come cheer her on and taste the competition! Laundry Love offers the simple but powerful gift of clean laundry for neighbors in need, restoring dignity, confidence, and hope for families across our community. Every ticket and donation helps keep washers spinning and spirits lifted. Your $10 admission lets you sample as many soups as you like! Doors open at 4:30 pm and soups are served from 5-8 pm. Learn more using the button below.
Love Your City Food Security Collaboration Workshop
Thursday, December 4 • 8:00–9:30 AM
STEM Innovation Center, Board Room 131 • 2019 Technology Way, Green Bay
With the continuing reduction of federal SNAP benefits, families and local food pantries are feeling the strain. This Love Your City Food Security Collaboration Workshop invites nonprofits, churches, businesses, and community members to come together for learning and hands-on collaboration on building a more resilient food system in Brown County.
Featuring experts from UW–Madison’s Food Security Project, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Rooted In Inc., and the Brown County Hunger Coalition, this session will deepen understanding of our region’s food systems and ALICE populations. Participants will leave better informed and equipped with long-, medium-, and short-term calls to action to strengthen food access for all.
Use the button below to complete the Collaboration Snapshot Form ahead of time so your organization is included in the shared notes.
Celebrating the Safe Families Boogie
The "Boogie for Safe Families" fundraiser on October 11 was a huge success! Executive Director Betsy Borns shared, “Our goal was $100,000 and we blew it out of the water—raising $113,000! We are so excited! This helps us continue to grow our impact here in our area. Last year we served 29 families a month, this year we’re averaging 45, and we can do more! Thanks for your continued support—we couldn’t do this hard work without you!”
Safe Families for Children surrounds parents in crisis with caring volunteers who help keep children safe and families together, with the goal of preventing the need for foster care. If you want to learn more, our GBCC Safe Families ministry lead Kenna Kanneberg can help you learn more or have someone contact you about getting involved.
Adopt a Food Pantry — Feed the Body, Nourish the Soul
The Brown County Hunger Coalition and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin are urging community members to step up as pantry partners in this season of heightened need. The best way to help is to “Adopt a Pantry”—through financial gifts, volunteers, or shared resources—to strengthen food access for local families. Learn more, see which pantries need help most, and take action using the button below.
You’re Invited to the Ubuntu Gala
Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating unity, culture, and community at the Ubuntu Gala — an event supporting the work of Sawa Sawa Collective. Together, we’ll enjoy dinner, live music, and stories of hope and resilience from refugee families and their allies right here in our community.
Your participation helps empower newcomers through mentorship, education, and economic opportunity — creating a stronger, more connected Green Bay.
📅 Saturday, November 15, 2025
🎟️ Reserve your tickets today using the button below
Come celebrate the power of “Ubuntu” — I am because we are.
Exciting Momentum Toward a Dream Center in Green Bay
One of the best things about living in Green Bay is the incredible work already happening—and the shared belief that there’s always more we can do together!
A team of local leaders, championed by Together Green Bay, is exploring the creation of a Dream Center—a one-stop resource hub supporting those facing addiction, homelessness, and underemployment. Dream Centers across the nation look different in every community, each designed to meet local needs.
Chaplain Karen Konrad recently gathered community leaders from churches, nonprofits, schools, government, and law enforcement for two conversations—one at Green Bay Community Church and another at Life Church. Participants identified key local needs, including expanded mental health and addiction services, rising homelessness, and more affordable housing for larger families.
The most inspiring part? The spirit of collaboration. People from across Brown County are eager to work together toward lasting solutions. Together Green Bay is honored to help champion this dream—and the hope it represents for our community.
Malawi Orphanage Trip Update
GBCC’s Children’s Ministry and Together Green Bay sent two team members as part of an amazing team of five that had the honor of taking 11 days to go to Malawi, and working with the two orphanages supported by Malawi: Orphans of God in the villages of Funsani and Lisungwi.
During their time there, they witnessed hundreds of children singing and dancing for hours in joyful praise. They saw their bright smiles and full bellies, nourished by the food grown right at the Malawi: Orphans of God centers. They also had the privilege of teaching Bible lessons and empowering leaders in local schools, churches, and centers.
While at the centers, they delivered suitcases filled with clothing, shoes, flashlights, books, games, school supplies, and more—generous donations made possible by supporters from Mission Guides, Malawi: Orphans of God, and Green Bay Community Church.
Their days were filled with laughter, tears, and countless moments of gratitude. Malawi is a breathtakingly beautiful country filled with incredible people, yet it also carries the difficult reality of being the poorest nation not currently in conflict or war.
If you would like to hear more about this trip and our vision for future partnership, please join us at GBCC this Sunday, November 2 in The Cave from 11:45-12:30. Register using the button below.