At Isaiah 58 Ministries, we believe strong leadership is built in community. This spring, Executive Director Rev. Brenda Booth participated in two national gatherings that reinforced the value of learning, growing, and serving alongside leaders from diverse faith traditions and ministry settings.
In March, Rev. Booth joined nearly 500 leaders in Indianapolis for the annual gathering of the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM). This year’s theme, Many Gifts, One Spirit, marked the first ecumenical gathering of its kind, bringing together leaders from Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian, Quaker, United Church of Christ, and other faith-based organizations. Through workshops and collaborative conversations, participants explored responses to challenges such as food insecurity, affordable housing, healthcare access, and community well-being.
In April, Rev. Booth joined leaders from across the country at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the concluding retreat of the National Benevolent Association‘s Health and Wellness Cohort. Over two years, the cohort provided opportunities for peer learning, spiritual renewal, leadership development, and mutual support among leaders serving in social services, chaplaincy, justice ministries, and congregational life.
These experiences reflect Isaiah 58 Ministries’ commitment to growth and leadership excellence while highlighting the importance of relationships across organizations and ministry settings. By engaging with a broad network of leaders, we gain fresh perspectives and practical tools that strengthen our ability to serve our neighbors with dignity and compassion.
The challenges facing our communities are too complex for any one organization to address alone. Through partnerships with CHHSM, the National Benevolent Association, and other faith-based service organizations, Isaiah 58 Ministries remains part of a larger movement dedicated to justice, hospitality, and compassionate care.
As Rev. Booth returns from these gatherings, she brings renewed energy, deeper relationships, and a strengthened commitment to building beloved community—both here in St. Louis and alongside partners across the country.