Published Mon, Jun 09, 25.
Written by Kristy Klitz.

Thank you for supporting Gathering Table. Your support has made a big difference in helping Gathering Table soar this year!

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

With your generous support, here’s what we have seen God do so far this year!

Fully Funded All Five Pop-Up Dinners for this Year

The Gathering Table Pop-Up dinners are currently the backbone of the Gathering Table ministry. The heart of these dinners is to bring people together who are different from one another around a common table where life stories are shared, empathy grows and the hope of the gospel is proclaimed. So far we have hosted one Pop-Up Dinner this year, with another one planned later this month. In total, we plan to host five dinners this year, each costing approximately $500. We are delighted to share that we have enough funding to cover all of these costs for the year.

Launched a Bee Keeping Apprenticeship

This spring, we launched an apprenticeship program, where two men get the opportunity to learn about bee keeping while discovering answers to important life questions. Each time we meet, we start by doing a Bible study together focused on what the Bible says about bee keeping and farming, and how it applies to our lives. After that, we open up the two demonstration bee hives that they are learning to take care of. The apprentices started the two hives from scratch so that they get to see a bee hive all along the development and growth process. Funds were used to purchase two bee packages ($165 each) plus other related bee keeping expenses to grow and maintain those two hives.

Expanded from 12 Hives to 20 Hives

Spring is the busiest time of the year for bee keeping, providing lots of opportunities for pollination, honey production and splitting (multiplying) hives. We are excited to report that since the start of the year, we have grown from 12 hives to 20 hives. This was done using a variety of methods, including adding hives through catching 2 swarms, starting 2 new hives from purchased bee packages, and doing 4 splits from our current hives allowing the new hives to “rear” their own new queens (a natural way to make more bee hives). Your support has helped to cover costs associated with maintaining and expanding the hives with mite control, spring buildup and feeding, purchasing and painting boxes, preparing frames with wax, and purchasing other bee keeping equipment. Expanding the number of bee hives is a step of faith toward building farming infrastructure for the dream of someday having a working farm that helps people who feel stuck in life find freedom and purpose through the hope of Jesus.

Purchased a Larger Honey Harvester

This year, we outgrew our 4 frame manual crank honey harvester and decided it was time to make a 5-10 year investment in a larger 18 frame automatic honey harvester. Last year, in total we harvested about 180 pounds of honey. This year, we have already harvested over that amount and expect to harvest anywhere from 150 to 200 pounds more, for a total of somewhere around 400 pounds of honey! This new harvester has made a world of a difference, in both speeding up the process and making it more enjoyable. Your support has helped us to purchase this honey harvester from another bee keeper for $1200. It sells for new at $1900. The previous owner used the harvester to harvest honey for 100 bee hives in Sonora!

Through May, we are approximately 70% funded for the year! Thank you, Lord! This has allowed us to do all the things shared in this letter. Here is what remains to be funded and how we plan to use those remaining funds to further invest in both Gathering Table’s current activities and future.

• Remaining Hive Sponsorships: Of our 20 bee hives, there are 8 and-a-half hives remaining to be sponsored (adopted). These remaining hive sponsorships would allow us to further invest in the health of our bee hives by purchasing new queens, upgrading equipment and possibly expanding the number of hives beyond 20 to 25 hives to give a boost going into the winter. See the remaining hives for sponsorship HERE.
• Bless Volunteers at The Collective Shop with Clovis Bucks: We are looking to raise $100 per month from June-December of this year, for a total of $700 to be used to purchase “Clovis Bucks” as a way to bless our volunteers who help out at the Collective 103 shop in Old Town Clovis every Friday from 11am-5pm. Our volunteers will be able to use up to $25 in Clovis Bucks on food or drink each time while working the shop on behalf of Gathering Table. Learn more about the shop and/or give toward this HERE.
• New Tires for the Bee Truck: This year, we would like to invest $800 in the Bee Truck and purchase a set of four new tires (the front two and two of the back duallys are in need of replacement). This investment will allow the ministry to continue using this truck for a variety of needs such as checking and moving the bee hives throughout the year and transporting the table, chairs and crates for the Pop-Up Dinners. In addition to new tires, we also plan to use these funds to replace the back board of the flat bed with new wood and the Gathering Table logo. Learn more HERE.

Thank you again for supporting Gathering Table this year!

One way you can stay posted on Gathering Table updates is by subscribing to our Table Talk Newsletter that is emailed and/or texted out regularly throughout the year.