The Next Step Community

The Next Step Community is a group of people, like you, who need other people to help them take a next step following Jesus. You won’t find any preconceived notions or quick fixes here; just real people trying to follow Jesus in real life. You are welcome to join in!

About

As The Next Step Community, we are sold out on helping each other delight in taking a next step following Jesus. Not everyone is going to resonate with our values or our basic vibe, and that’s OK; we believe having a variety of options is the best way to sustain…Continue reading “About”

O Zoom, All Ye Faithful

16 Dec 202015 Dec 2020

By Katie Helmreich In those days a decree went out, that everyone should return to their own homes and stay there. This was the first pandemic in a hundred years,…

For Me

Mom’s Trash Can

15 Dec 202015 Dec 2020

By Kim Longden My mom went to be with the Lord six months ago, and one of the things we brought from her kitchen to ours was her trash can.…

For Me

My Favorite Tea Kettle

By Rachel Hinz Earlier this fall, our cute, teal tea kettle of 12 years finally needed to be replaced. As usual, it was a busy week, so I wasn’t sure…

Dear Jesus, I Have Survivor Guilt

13 Dec 202014 Dec 2020

By Kristeen Bruun Over the past ten days, I have been working on writing my annual Christmas letter, something I have sent out for at least the past 30 years.…

Noel

12 Dec 202011 Dec 2020

The Next Step PodcastSeason 3: Light in the DarknessEpisode 5: NoelDate: 12 December 2020Guests: Artist Deanna Rossow& Author Heidi Goehmann Also available on: iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, and Amazon Music. In…

Immanuel in Our Mess

9 Dec 202016 Dec 2020

By Katie Helmreich We're "real tree" people. Come what may, we load everybody in the Suburban and head to the tree farm early each December! I love the cozy, Courier and…

Discipleship Tools…

Light in the Darkness Hymn Journal Book Tabs

Once again, our Lead Illustrator, Valerie Matyas, has provided a printable set of book tabs specially designed to go with your hymn journal. These tabs complement Light in the Darkness:…

Emmanuel

5 Dec 20204 Dec 2020

The Next Step PodcastSeason 3: Light in the DarknessEpisode 3: EmmanuelDate: 5 December 2020Guests: Musician Brendan Knorp & Visual Faith™ Ministry Artist Ann Gillaspie Also available on: iTunes, Spotify, Pandora,…

Cultural Studies…

My Identity, On Deposit

By Justin Rossow I’ve been struggling a lot lately with the question of identity. Well before COVID made working from home a common, cultural experience, I left a job and…

For Me

Choose Kind

30 Nov 20201 Dec 2020

By Kim Longden It was my son’s last treatment and all had gone well, but as we were leaving I received information about our account that was, at best, really…

To Us

28 Nov 202028 Nov 2020

The Next Step PodcastSeason 3: Light in the DarknessEpisode 1: To UsDate: 28 November 2020Guests: Singer/songwriter Brooke Orozco & Visual Faith™ Ministry Artist Katie Helmreich Also available on: iTunes, Spotify,…

Cultural Studies…

Expanding Your Sermon Into The Week

24 Nov 202025 Nov 2020

An interview with Rev. Sam Fink This special episode of the Next Step Podcast captures a conversation between Rev. Sam Fink, Associate Pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Orchard…

Holiday Mom Stress

By Amy Larson from Mom Fuel Whether or not you are ready for it, the holiday season is upon us. You may feel some extra stress about the holidays if…

Discipleship Tools…

Thank You Lord, For Pizza

By Katie Helmreich Jane was almost asleep, basking in the glow of the mini Christmas tree I agreed to set up early, curled up in her bed with Bear and…

For Me

Saying Good-bye to Beany Malone

16 Nov 202016 Nov 2020

By Kristeen A. Bruun When I was in junior high, I began reading a series set in Denver whose heroine was Beany Malone. Lenora Mattingly Weber’s first book was published…

Introducing Light in the Darkness

The Next Step PodcastSeason 3: Light in the DarknessEpisode 0: IntroductionDate: 15 November 2020Guest: Lead Illustrator Valerie MatyasAlso available on: iTunes Welcome to Season 3 of the Next Step Podcast,…

A Visual Advent Calendar

15 Nov 202015 Nov 2020

Editor's note: This blog originally is adapted from Introduction to Light in the Darkness: A Hymn Journal for Advent & Christmas (c) 2020 Next Step Press. Used by permission. By…

Discipleship Tools…

Our Thankfulness Garland

By Katie Helmreich I have been chasing after my youngest all day, cleaning up one mess after another. She glued a kitchen towel to the counter "on accinent." The bathroom was…