FIVE THINGS 2025

We asked MPC folks to tells us 5 Things you loved about 2025 or are thankful for in 2025. A memory, a product, a movie, a song, an album, a book, a game, an experience, a trip, a person, a lesson learned, whatever. It doesn't need to be overtly spiritual, but certainly can be. If your answer needs a little explanation, please give one. Here are the results.

Archive: 2023; 2024
If you’d like to contribute your five things, fill out this form.

CHristine Durrett

  1. My sister and brother-in-law and nephew moved to Manhattan, just one block from us. This has been the biggest gift for our families (and our mom!). Still doesn't feel real.

  2. Reading The Magpie Murders series by Anthony Horowitz- murder mysteries within murder mysteries! highly recommend!

  3. Performing Mozart's Requiem and Holst's The Planets- both bucket list pieces for me,

  4. Sending my oldest off to college (Purdue) wasn't easy but even though I miss him plenty, it's a blessing to get to move from manager to audience with your child.

  5. Watching the Lord work to make the new building possible for MPC made me realize I often pray too small. Everything about it has been so much more than hoped for. I love seeing God's generosity in that.

Dave Meyer

  1. Retiring from the Army and moving into being the chaplain endorser for InFaith;

  2. The American Missionary Fellowship

  3. Katherine winning the battle with breast cancer

  4. Finding the church home we expected at MPC

  5. Two kids well launched

Claire Luehrs

  1. Thankful for church community and how welcoming you all having been after moving to a new place not knowing anyone.

  2. Thankful for a solid group of ladies who build each other up to Christ

  3. Thankful for a loving husband

  4. Thankful for the bible study and learning how to pray better

  5. I loved all the trips we took (honeymoon and family trips!)

Rob B

  1. My wife

  2. My daughters

  3. My new puppy and established dog.

  4. Lost weight.

  5. Being loved more than I’ll ever deserve.

Madilynn Allen

  1. Song: Not safe by Gable Price and Friends (Youtube / Spotify)

  2. Resolution of past experience

  3. Available cancer treatments that aren’t chemo

  4. My roommate (it’s her sister)

  5. Consistent friends

Rachel Koontz

  1. Birth of my son

  2. Safe international move

  3. Success in graduate school

  4. Reading the Stormlight Archive (finally!)

  5. My husband learning to cook more

Jeremy Fritz

  1. Running (Something that I thought I would always hate)

  2. Mexico Mission Trip

  3. Baseball Trip with my Dad

  4. Translating/Studying/Teaching the Sermon on the Mount, it keeps feeding me, even months later!

  5. Family time/raising Andreia with Bailey

Berkley Hough

  1. K Pop Demon Hunters (Netflix Movie)

  2. Playing snare in marching band

  3. Twenty One Pilots concert/bentonville trip/that really yummy Nutella crepe (Video)

  4. Life Of A Showgirl (New Taylor Swift Album)

  5. Dog Trick or treating in the rain

Erin Stuver

  1. Remission of chronic illness

  2. A call to ministry

  3. Rough and tumble play

  4. Time out in sunshine

  5. A church building!

Brian Hough

  1. Sabbatical: I fell apart a little (had a panic attack), but it was such a blessing of the Lord that I had the time to slow down long enough to fall apart and heal. Plus time with kids and with just Laura in Colorado and other trips was truly life giving. And it gave me a new appreciation for ministry partners, both in order to make it happen and to come back to. I've really appreciated having folks who encourage, who challenge, who serve and celebrate along side with.

  2. NYT Crossword Puzzle: I have an app on e-reader that gives me a new puzzle everyday, I don't always get to do it, but I find it really relaxing, especially Monday :-)

  3. Running: I took up running again in the Spring and I loved it so much. I have not run hardly at all this Fall and I miss it.

  4. Glasses: I've had better than 20/20 vision my whole life and in the last few years seeing things close to me has become difficult, but reading glasses make everything look HD again and I'm so grateful they exist, thanks Wyatt!

  5. Church Building: not just having it, but the mind blowing faith nourishing way the Lord provided the funds to buy it and continues to provide service and donations to fix it up)

  6. Mexico Mission Trip: Was incredibly fun to see our kids love to serve in this capacity, a joy to get to know Grace folks and to get to know MPC folks on trip better. (I know it’s supposed to be 5, but I’m an Astros fan, of course I’m gonna cheat a little :-) )

Helen Durrett

  1. K-Pop Demon Hunters (Netflix Movie)

  2. Prom!!! (not quite what Disney made it out to be but still fun)

  3. Reading Pride and Prejudice over and over - I’ve read it 3 times this year alone

  4. Debate, especially winning concessions in cross examination

  5. Hanging out with friends

Jon Dunning

  1. The devotional book “Seeing Jesus Together” has been a helpful guide to reading the Bible

  2. The book “The Imperfect Pastor” has been encouraging

  3. A new messenger bag has been fun (yes, I have a problem)

  4. This thought from Herman Bavinck, “… the unknown is unloved” (He used this phrase to emphasize the importance of acquiring knowledge of God, stating, full quote; "In order for our hearts to find rest in God, naturally we must possess some of knowledge of him, for the unknown is unloved")

  5. I think I’m thankful for this quotation from Henri Nouwen: “… maturity … is the ability and willingness to be led where you would rather not go …”

SadiePiper Hough

  1. London with my mom: We were so blessed by my moms friend and had the best time sightseeing and experiencing London and Paris for the first time together!

  2. Mexico Mission trip: I had the best time building with Jeremy and playing with the kids. I learned a lot about gratitude and thankfulness.

  3. PineCove Camp: This was the first time we’ve gone to this camp and it was my favorite camp ever. We studied Jonah through out the week and I learned a lot.

  4. Missy moving to town: My best friend moved into town and we get to see each other whenever we want now! She is such a blessing to me.

  5. Swim State: My goal this year was to swim at state this year since it was my last swim season and I swam in all three relays and had the best time with the girls!

Ashton Bartlett

  1. The practice of silence & solitude has been a refreshing experience in a crowded, loud, and busy world.

  2. Summer Link, fun camp good times, and good opportunities

  3. The Band, “Of the Land” (Youtube / Spotify)

  4. New Job is a blessing (Youth Ministry Staff at Grace PCA in Lawrence)

  5. The end of 2025, ready for a new year!

Kristin Benoit

  1. Watching Harrison and Jake love each other more deeply and watching them love Mary so well. Watching Mike parent a baby girl.

  2. Bible study on prayer. Love the prayer binder, conversations, seeing my faith grow more. And having a church building to be able to have these daytime gatherings!

  3. Meeting with a Biblical counselor and seeing growth in myself.

  4. Having the privilege to introduce baby Meredith to my grandmother who she is named after.

  5. Any chance I get to walk, read, or write especially at a coffee shop. I especially loved a some Saturday mornings playing card games with Harrison and Jake at Radina’s.

Wyatt Dougherty

  1. Time to grow in many relationships: Elizabeth as we prepare for our marriage and many men throughout the church to grow in Spirit and truth. I am so thankful for all of the people the Lord has put in front of me

  2. Elizabeth's and I got a puppy, Teddy Roosevelt, which has been so much fun! Sharing custody until we get married has been a fun challenge!

  3. The Flagg's for taking me in with a situation with my housing. They are such a joy to be around and I am so thankful for their hearts and open arms- THANK YOU!

  4. The beautiful Fall weather that the Lord has blessed us with, now I can drink as much hot coffee and/or my new favorite drink: Hot Butter Rum (that one will be more limited)

  5. I have loved my new job as Manager of Success Vision Express, getting to use the gifts the Lord has given me to serve my employees and patients everyday has been such a joy. You're welcome, Brian!

Avery Bartlett

  1. My girlfriend, Bella (who is totally real)

  2. Manhattan Pres

  3. New Friends

  4. Books: Wounded Healer, Burning in my Bones, Heart Aflame

  5. Growth in being organized

Hunter Flagg

  1. White Sulphur Springs

  2. Cross Country team

  3. Wrestling

  4. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

  5. Manhattan Pres

Ande Flagg

  1. Opportunity to celebrate my dad's 85th birthday with him in person

  2. Our church building

  3. A home with which to serve covenant family

  4. Women's sex club (A study the women did on Biblical joy of sex in marriage)

  5. My husband

Andy Roig

  1. Our green cards arrived - finally over with this loooong process!

  2. Spending 2 months with our families back in Brazil after the waiting process

  3. Mateo’s PhD graduation

  4. Our first Christmas tree after we got married

  5. Finding MPC! It’s a blessing to have such a solid church and amazing people around us :)

Mateo Roig

  1. Completed my doctoral studies.

  2. Could visit my family in Brazil after a 4 years gap.

  3. Got a good job in a cozy town (Manhattan) for starting my academic career.

  4. Found a faithful and welcoming church to attend (belong).

  5. In all the above we felt God’s hand taking care of every detail.

Laura Hough

  1. This new Spiral Bound note taking Bible

  2. Living in community with the body of Christ. Beautiful, broken, redeemed. People giving of their time, gifting, skills and money working together for the glory of Christ. Things like prayer Bible studies and sex class (study on biblical gift of sex), vulnerability and conversations and relationships built this year.

  3. Nevermoor book series. Such a fun read! (Reminiscent of Harry Potter)

  4. Really great adventures. Pine Cove for all the kids, Mexico for mission trip, London with SP, Lake Michigan and all the sweet memories made.

  5. Still Eileen’s frosted sugar cookies…

Nina Kochenberger

  1. Camp Timberline: A Church camp in Colorado where I got significantly stronger in my faith. I also met Alex and Madison Curto there who introduced me to Manhattan Pres and RUF, which provided me with a wonderful community as well as a home away from home.

  2. The Kansas State Interior Design program, where I get to start the journey of pursuing my dream job. I’ve spent countless hours in the studio either learning, drawing, laughing, or crying, but I’ve loved every second of it and can’t wait to continue to learn out my passion.

  3. My Sunday morning and Thursday afternoon meetings with Laura Hough.

  4. Music, specifically Dad music.

  5. All of the amazing people I’ve met either through the church or through Kansas State. Who all make me feel so loved and seen, while giving me never ending wisdom and support through my walk with Christ. Which is way more than I expected and deserve.

Caydee Roy

  1. I got to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway with my son.

  2. My husband and I got to go on an us only vacation to Charleston in May!

  3. My 2 year old daughter started preschool and has started taking more and more.

  4. Found our church home at MPC

  5. Put in new floors and a new fence in our house!

Elizabeth Mummert

  1. Getting engaged to the love of my life Wyatt!!

  2. First year at MPC and all the people who have made it home.

  3. Our new puppy Teddy Roosevelt! And my other dog Nora turning 5 this year.

  4. Starting school again to get a business degree at K-State

  5. The book Consider the Lilies: Finding Perfect Peace in the Character of God by Jonny Ardavanis

Beckham Hough

  1. PineCove: I have never felt more surrounded by people with the same world view as me. It was a big lesson on leaning on God and dying to self, but I learned so much!

  2. OJ: He is my best friend and is finally in a place I can see him all the time. We have grown so much closer and is an amazing support system.

  3. Mexico Mission Trip: One of the most uncomfortable positions I have ever been put into became one of the best times of my life. I made a lot of friends through Grace too.

  4. RUF: They have been a better group of friends than I thought I would be able to find in college and are all so funny.

  5. Healing: my elbow has been out of order for 9 months and I am finally to a point where I feel confident that I will get back to normal.

Brant Wall

  1. Moving in with church friends

  2. My job, it's been a blessing to observe how the Lord has used me

  3. Friends & family

  4. Mexico mission trip

  5. Returning to learning piano

Melissa Wilhelm

  1. Moving to Manhappiness! Being in the same town as my mom and sister for the first time in almost 30 years is such a blessing!

  2. Sadie Piper. I highly recommend you get yourself an intergenerational bestie.

  3. New jobs for Ben and myself.

  4. Trip to NYC!

  5. Manhattan Pres. church family. Y'all are the best.

Mike Benoit

  1. Songs “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day” words by Henry Longfellow and “Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan.

  2. Book- The Intentional Father by Jon Tyson.

  3. Grateful to be a husband and father. To share life with my beautiful wife. To disciple the next generation.

  4. Grateful for my parents and extended family who hold a high view of marriage and family which has shaped how I prioritize my life- Generational blessing.

  5. Biking with the boys around Manhattan.

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