Record Turnout Fuels Momentum for Two Organizations

The room was packed on Tuesday night as a record number of 250 partners and friends filled the room at Christ Presbyterian Church. The energy in the room was undeniable—described by 90+ newcomers as ‘electric, energizing, heartwarming, invigorating, enlightening, and life-giving.’

In case you missed it, here is a quick recap of the evening and a way to connect even further.

The evening began and ended on a soulful note, with Matthew Kleinhuizen, sharing his gift of music and setting the tone for the night.

This meeting was extra special as it marked Julie Eide‘s final meeting as Amplify’s President after eight incredible years of leadership. In a touching moment, Julie passed the baton—tossing a beach ball full of her hopes and prayers—to Andrea McMaster, Amplify’s incoming President. It was a heartfelt and symbolic reminder of the bright future ahead for Amplify and the prayers that sustain the organization.

Guest Speaker, Terry Esau, inspired the audience with personal stories from his journey – from an aspiring jingle writer to the founder of two impactful nonprofits, including Free Bikes 4 Kids and Free Guitars 4 Kids. Esau’s journey offered deep insight into the role of restlessness (aka nudges from the Holy Spirit) in spiritual growth. “What if restlessness isn’t a problem,” he asked, “but a light on the dashboard of your life?” Challenging the audience, Esau added with conviction, “God loves you so much that He wants to write you into His story. When you feel the nudge, turn the page. There’s an adventure you don’t want to miss.”

Tim Koivisto, Executive Director of Legacy 2 Inspire shared his mission to connect teens with positive adult mentors through a mobile wood and metal workshop. By showcasing powerful testimonies and outcomes, Koivisto painted a vision for expanding the mission with a second workshop trailer. Koivisto called on Amplify partners to build capacity through recruitment, vetting, and onboarding of volunteer teams.

Amber Brown, founder of Black Butterfly, outlined her dream to empower women transitioning from incarceration to brighter futures. With a mortgage-free house and a passion fueled by her own life experiences, Brown invited business leaders to help build a sustainable revenue model for this young organization.

Amplify partners then rolled up their sleeves and got to work, sharing ideas, connections, and expertise to help each ministry overcome the barriers presented and reach new levels of impact.

As the night drew to a close, Julie Eide, addressed the audience one final time as Amplify’s President. She expressed deep gratitude for her family’s support through the years. She also shared her gratitude for all of the Amplify partners who have said “yes” through the years. She concluded the evening with a beautiful and heartfelt benediction.

A special thanks to Tradition Capital Bank and Tradition Mortgage for sponsoring this event!

In Their Own Words

what guests had to say

“As a first-time attendee last night, I was blown away by the incredible energy in the room—so many great people, I wouldn’t even know where to start! It was truly inspiring to see such a meaningful mix of relationships, stories, and impact together in one place."

“What a wonderful event and group of humans! The turnout was amazing. From beginning to end, it was moving & inspiring."

"I am feeling incredibly inspired by the creative and impactful work presented by the two nonprofits. It is truly motivating to see such passion and innovation driving positive change in the world. Grateful for the opportunity to brainstorm and connect with many attendees!"

"There is nothing like this out there! It’s hard to find places where you can use your experiences in really practical and meaningful ways. I’m blown away and so impressed. I will definitely be back!”

AMP Sessions

can you make it?

Partners are needed to help advance ideas that began at our meeting on Tuesday. Spend one hour in consultation with our ministry partner and meet additional Amplify partners. Together we’ll review the feedback forms and support the ministry in identifying next steps. A Zoom link and full summary report of the ideas and feedback generated at the meeting will be provided after you RSVP.