Greetings!

As we enter a season of thanksgiving and gratitude, we can’t help but look around Holden Village and be grateful for the long legacy of generosity that has fueled this place for 65 years. 

When you walk from the registration desk to the dining hall, you pass a framed copy of the original letter from Howe Sound Mining Company, gifting Holden Village to the Lutheran Bible Institute. A gift that was possible because of the bold ask by Wes Prieb to transform an abandoned mining village into something more. This generous act was just the first of thousands, maybe millions, that have kept Holden Village going decade after decade. 

Thousands of volunteers have given and continue to give their time, skills, and resources to care for this place and community. A community which also shares its abundance through radical welcome and hospitality to all who come to the wilderness. This stands in stark contrast to the violence and destruction that characterized so many of our shared spaces in 2025.

Holden’s legacy of generosity is also seen in the hundreds of donors who give every year to support our bold vision of cultivating a more just, sustainable, and compassionate world. Even looking to the future, we think of the generous donors who have funded the projects in our Major Gifts Campaign, which is set to wrap-up next year. As you make plans to join us in summer 2026, you can look forward to seeing this generosity in the planned installation of displays in the Portal Museum, an updated Narnia playground, and the continued restoration of the beloved historic porches around the Village.

Our family has even more reasons to be grateful this year, as we look forward to celebrating our first Thanksgiving and Christmas at Holden. We know the holidays are a special time in the Village. We can’t wait to join our Holden Family in celebrating the transformation and joy that Jesus's birth brings to our lives.

As the world continues to navigate violence and uncertainty, you, too, are a part of that Holden family, and your presence makes our community more complete. Wherever you find yourself this Holiday season, may you find joy in the legacy of generosity that animates the past, present, and future of Holden Village. And may you find strength to join Holden in building a more just, sustainable, and compassionate world.

With Good Courage,

Two Part-Time Childcare Providers

A private family at Holden Village are seeking someone to care for their children (2 and 9 years old) 20 hours a week, with the unique opportunity to also work part‑time (an additional 20 hours a week) in another role in the Village.

• Previous experience working with children preferred
• First Aid/CPR certified (or willing to complete; cost will be covered)
• Has patience, compassion, and a sense of humor
• Has a genuine interest in working with silly, fun, and creative kids