THE SOIL AND THE SEED PROJECT’s
2025: At-a-Glance
DATA | STORIES & SUMMARIES | MUSIC | PHOTOS | DISTRIBUTION
DATA
OVERALL
94% of respondents overall agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “The Soil and The Seed Project had a positive impact on my faith this year.” (4.42 out of 5 average overall)
91% of respondents overall indicated that listening to TSATSP's music had an impact on their faith. Using the Little Liturgies, attending events, and having conversations about faith with others were the next three most impactful parts of the project.
“[It] provid[es] a range of resources so that it is relevant to a wide range of individuals/families/groups. If music isn’t your thing, there are little liturgies; if little liturgies aren’t your thing, there’s art; if art isn’t your thing, there’s poetry….there’s something for everyone!”
These are some of the responses we received when we asked people to tell us what parts of the project had an impact:
“I’ve incorporated songs and liturgies into our Sunday School and Wednesday Night gatherings.”
“Collaborating with our school community”
“Using TSATSP and Walking Roots music in church school”
“We use it for family devotions every night and it's been huge for our family! Also used it for staff devotions today.”
“Sharing physical copies of the Project with others”
“Sharing the resources with my congregation”
“Using TSATSP's music in our Taizé worship services”
DATA
PARENT & CAREGIVERS
81% of parents/caregivers agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “The Soil and The Seed Project helped us engage our faith this year as we followed Jesus together.” (4.1 out of 5 average overall)
“I love that your music creates opportunities to talk about God and Scripture with my toddler.”
“I love it that my 2 year old's favorite songs are "Because of Jesus" and "Do Not be Overcome by Evil." Not only is it beautiful how God's word is being hid in his heart, but also him running around the house singing has become a way for the Holy Spirit to convict and challenge me.”
“I love that my kids have grown up singing the Word because of this project. It is hidden in their hearts. Thank you!”
Parents/caregivers reported that print access (74%) and digital access (67%) were really helpful to their families
“My son has a CD player in his room and loves listening to the CDs during his quiet time!”
“Love the physical media. We would honestly pay top dollar to get vinyl of your albums. But I’m happy with CDs.”
“Being able to give it away for free has helped me share the good news of Jesus with others.”
“Our son is 3. We've been listening to the music since he was born and I'm excited to start the little liturgies with him when he's ready!”
64% of parents/caregivers indicated “The project helped us engage in faith practices beyond Sunday morning this year (prayer, scripture, music/singing).”
“Having the songs to listen to has been really helpful in making me think more about God, and make sure I don't only think about him on Sundays.”
76.1% of Parents / Caregivers reported that they shared the project with someone else this year.
“As a father of young children. I've struggled to find a way to consistently have God moments in family life. Discovering your work has helped me significantly. We share it with everyone we have over for dinner.”
DATA
CHURCH LEADERS
Church leaders are using the project in a lot of different ways. Some are sharing with people within their community (57.3%), others are sharing it with people outside of their communities (57.3%). Some are using the music and resources as part of their worship together (45.3%).
83% of Church Leaders agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “The Soil and The Seed Project's resources were very helpful as I worked to nurture faith in others this year.”
81% of Church Leaders reported that they liked sharing the resources because “I know when I give the "stuff” of TSATSP to others, it will be good and will help them follow Jesus.”
When we asked church leaders to talk about the project and their ministry as a church leader, here are some of the things they talked about in their responses:
Valued diversity in the music performers (African-American and Latinos voices)
“I have used music and liturgies in my elementary SS class. Thank you!”
The project has helped seed new expressions within communities: “TSATSP's resources inspired creation of resources for the faith communities I serve.”
DATA
SHEPHERDS TREE COHORT
“I'm so thankful to be a part of this cohort and I am filled with gratitude that others saw the value in this sort of ministry. It's been a gift!” - 2025 participant
How has being a part of Shepherds Tree impacted you as a church leader in 2025?
“I was encouraged and refreshed by gathering with like-minded peers, especially with those who had part-time, jack-of-all-trades ministries like mine. It helped to have an outlet outside of my church, which is also my workplace, to be able to share joys and frustrations, and be able to receive nurture.”
“It has been such a gift to be a part of this cohort. I am thankful to have gotten to know these incredible people and hear a little of their stories and how they live into their church roles. What I have been most impacted by is the reminder that I am not alone. I am the associate pastor at the only Mennonite church in the city, and the only paid staff in the entire conference who works with children and youth. It has been extremely difficult to find resources, bounce ideas off of others, or have a safe space to be myself and ask for advice and supports. This cohort has helped me in each of these areas. I can exchange resources with others in the cohort, hear about what works or not, and we can come to each other and just be ourselves, sharing the joys and griefs of this work, along with everything in between.”
How have you experienced support from this Shepherds Tree community, specifically as you nurture faith in your community (children or intergenerationally)?
“The best support has been hearing from other lay leaders about what works for them and what resources they are using. It has been great to get creative together when it comes to how we can engage families in faith formation. This cohort has helped me branch out and try new things that I wouldn't have been able to come up with alone. It has given me courage and confidence to do my role and do so well.”
“Yes, the most important part was knowing I would have a near monthly encouragement session, that I wasn't alone, that I could get ideas for intergenerational worship and learning opportunities, and that there were folks I could ask about ministry realities (especially as someone not formally trained in church work, but working in church systems).”
“It has helped me think through curriculum decisions for my youth class.”
What kind of impact is The Soil and The Seed Project having on families (parents/caregivers and/or their kids)?
“This cohort has helped me find new ways to engage with families. It has been extremely valuable in that I am able to share resources and vocabulary with guardians when they are engaging in faith conversations with their children and youth. I send out emails with wondering questions for them to ask together as a family and provide multiple options as to help them do what works for their families and schedules.”
“It has helped me be able to have the harder conversations when (parents/caregivers) are in need of more supports and the curriculum for faith formation has also been much stronger and is building confidence in our families, youth, and children as they are able to speak to their faith.”
Shepherds Tree Participants’ Goals for the year:
Some participants leaned into them, trying out new ways of nurturing faith and supporting parents in their communities.
Some found it difficult (were triggered) when they went to work on goals for the year – so we simply supported them.
Their goals were focused on personal spiritual growth (prayer, engaging scripture, reading specific books related to ministry roles), intergenerational worship, trying new faith-forming resources in congregational context with children, and leading with care amidst difficult dynamics.
DATA
ORDINARY TIME CONCERT SERIES
On a scale of one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree), here are the average responses to the following statements:
Concerts like tonight are very welcoming for children and their families. - 4.8 out of 5
Concerts like tonight help me engage my faith. - 4.6 out of 5
If this happens again next year, I would want to come/consider inviting a friend. - 4.7 out of 5
Music (and/or art/poetry/little liturgies) is helpful in forming my faith. 4.6 out of 5
What role do you think music/art/poetry/little liturgies could play in forming faith for adults and children?
“Teaches, comforts, helps in grief, brings joy” - Respondent, age 6-12 years
“Gives us ways to engage with God and truth when we don't have our Bibles; clever ways to memorize and internalize scripture.” - Respondent, age 20-35 years
“These modalities represent ways to learn/question/explore/pray/lament that are inherently collective, not divisive.” - Parent, age 20-35 years
“Experience joy, beauty, reflect and slow down to experience Jesus and connect with others.” - Parent, age 36-50 years
“Music like this gives a very big community vibe. It helps you feel like you belong. It brings people together.” - Parent of teenagers
“Art, poetry, liturgies, music all help open the heart to what they didn't have words for, if they even realized they were feeling it. It gives people with heavy burdens a place/person to lay them down.”
“(They are an) on ramp, helps set a pattern to engage” - Parent of young children
Why are concerts like this important?
“It’s great to have an engaging space for kids and parents, so parents can engage with other adults and to talk to kids about what they are hearing.”
“(It is) community building…children also love playing together during and amidst the music; relaxing and refreshing for all who come.”
“Most of us have regrets or hurts related to the ways Jesus and God were presented to us as children. Being re-catechised by their presentations helps us learn to trust God our Father again.” - Church leader and Parent of Young Children
“It's great for the community. It encourages our hearts and souls. I love all of the free materials as well! Thank you!”
“It's a great way to invite friends.” - Millennial
“They allow families to come together.” - Parent of Young Children
“We have enjoyed attending concerts with our family and friends and the music has consistently encouraged our faith and provided opportunities to share with others.” - Gen X Church Leader
STORIES & SUMMARIES
Here are some of the responses we received when we asked “What is something that The Soil and The Seed Project does really well?”
“The Music!”
“Making music that has a lot of genuineness to it. And I really love how they make a huge effort to make things free. It’s a really cool and hard thing to do.”
“Sets Scripture to music”
“Resources and options, availability of resources, fun events for everyone, amazing music and liturgies.”
“It is wonderful that your resources are free, this is great for small congregations that have a had time with paying for curriculum.”
“Genuinely engaging with the kids in a non-condescending way. Also, all the crafts and sensory items at the fall festival are wonderful! S&S materials are easily accessible to children/families of all abilities.”
“Music!!! Liturgies help me stay in quiet worship, engage in prayer.”
“The Matthew Folk Opera is top tier. I have been listening to it on loop and it is a helpful resource for getting to know and share the story of Matthew’s gospel.”
Writing the little liturgies in a way that is accessible to a wide range of ages. Also, I really love music that is straight scripture.”
“Makes beautiful and accessible resources for faith formation…”
“They produce high quality materials that convey scripture and faith in straightforward and understandable ways.”
“Generosity”
“Creating Scripture-based music that is catchy and memorable.”
“Professional, quality product, easy to follow/understand liturgy and enjoyable music”
“In a world and church that is easily divided, TSATSP remains focused on scripture, on relationship with Jesus and how that translates into our everyday lives. As a result, the project is appealing to many people across the wider church.”
“packing solid theology into digestible biblically-inspired liturgical readings and songs”
“Events” “The Live events are great as well.”
“The TSATSP Little Liturgies offer a simple way to stimulate heart-centered conversation and prayer.”
“Music that is deeply Christian and not cringy. I love your beautiful, scriptural, singable music so much.”
What we learned about how people are using the project—in their homes, churches, organizations, etc.:
People are using it exactly as we suspected– with their families. “We read the little liturgy each night and listen to the song of the week. We play the cd on our cd player in (the) car and in (the) kitchen nonstop.”
Some congregations are using it for Sunday school gathering times with their kids, or for their church’s children stories on Sunday morning.
Some people just use the music from the project.
“I use your resources as a part of a traditional/informal Presbyterian Sunday morning worship, for a congregation of between 30-35. I've also used the "Matthew" music to supplement a three month study series.”
Some church leaders “used the material for our midweek children’s ministry.”
“Our boys listen to the music at bedtime and during play. We often use the liturgy books as our evening family devotional.”
Some people only use it digitally
“We listen to the music a lot in the car as we travel as (a) family. I try to incorporate songs and liturgy into my church classes when appropriate”
Some use it occasionally, others with great regularity: “We read the Sunday liturgies together every week.” “As a throughline, soundtrack, commentary, and teaching tool for my life and the lives of those I connect with”
“I give the youth in my church a seasonal challenge. If they do all the little liturgies (either on their own or with their family) for that season, they earn a gift card to the local ice cream joint. Get's some of them motivated to engage with it even if their family isn't.”
“Sharing CD or link with family out of state, use as part of book club meeting, mothers and children support group.”
“I love having a resource we can give for free to visitors to church, friends who love the music scene in town but who don't go to church, parents who are coming to the church for material resources, and friends in other states who don't have access to quality stuff coming out of their faith communities right now. We play the music on repeat in our cars. Our small group uses Little Liturgies before we eat. I love looking at the art and reading the poetry myself. The in person events have been formative in our family's bonding and recognition of being part of a larger Christian community in earthy and un-fussy ways. We have been using the chords in the songbook for home worship music learning (ukulele, guitar and piano).”
“The most common way we use it has been in the car on the way to school. But now that are kids are older, we’re wanting to lean into the little liturgies more as some family time.”
“We are using it as a basis for a "church without walls" in the park that aims to be intergenerational (among other things), and I listen to your songs in my car a lot.”
We do it each night as a family. Someone here at work took extra copies to hand out at the soup kitchen where she volunteers.
“listen to it almost every day”
“I shared the resource with parents of young children in my congregation.”
“CDs sent to congregation are all taken home. Newer attenders are taking them”
“Friends and their moms weekly Bible study around the table. Music plays when our household needs to experience peace. Simple songs taught and led with our church’s wednesday night intergenerational Bible study sessions.”
“Our family listens to the music - not at particular times, but fairly often, and both on physical CD and Spotify. We've also begun using the Little Liturgies with our children around the breakfast table.”
“We listen to various TSATSP albums in our car with our kids a lot. Our kids ask most often for TSATSP or for Music Together songs (MT is the secular music education program they are involved in). Our 9 year-old will sit at the piano and teach herself to play TSATSP songs by ear. I listen to TSATSP songs on my own in the car or at work as well; it helps me pray and center myself.”
We asked our community what their ideas are for things that we could do differently or that would be new. Here are some of the things that they said:
Deepen our work by providing more direct support to Children’s Ministries: “I think there would be possibilities to lean into the kids ministries since many of the songs are great for kids - host a kids music workshop, invite kids to practice and then sing some songs at a concert, host an instrumental music workshop where youth learn more about performing or leading worship in this style of music. In any of those events, time of games, connecting with other kids/youth, bible story times, etc could all enrich the experience.”
Create a guide for how to use the various resources that we’ve created
Spend more energy “advertising” (telling others about what we’re doing)
Help create more opportunities for people who aren’t near us geographically to experience “live shows” that they hear about through emails/social media
Differentiate responses within the liturgies for older students and younger students (need more options for older boys especially)
Video
Create videos/tools for modeling how to use the Little Liturgies at home for families
More resources in other languages (Spanish especially)
Create bridge materials to correspond with denominational (Mennonite/Brethren) Sunday School curriculum scope and sequence
Stand alone app (because family lives in low bandwidth area)
Creating a resource like WorkingPreacher.org that people can use to find out which songs/resources are for the upcoming week easily –so that if congregational leaders want to use resources in worship, it’s easier for them to find.
More coloring pages
Notating the music for piano
Festival of Booths Liturgy/more music connected to Hebrew Scriptures.
A request to write more congregational singing that is easily accessible for corporate worship.
We asked respondents what else they wanted to tell us. Here are some of the things they shared:
“I was able to share a copy with a cousin who is terminally ill.”
“It’s somewhat of a struggle for me to create a routine at home to do the liturgies with the kids - wondering if there could be a Facebook group or other structured group with other caregivers to connect on ways to create routine and use this with their kids.”
“My adult children introduced me to TSATSP. The materials draw them closer to the Lord and others. They are sharing the materials with younger adults in their church. Thank you!!!”
“This has been a tough year with discouragements in our little church - I've found volume 4 to be a soundtrack for my soul, particularly 'Holy One' and 'Praise to God (Whirlwinds)'. Thank you.”
“Have worship and regional concerts around MCUSA (Mennonite Church USA)”
“Music really resonates with what is happening in the world, I find comfort in singing along.”
“We have friends who don't attend a church but who love music and several of the band members who play in other groups in town. They listened to the music and might attend the concert because of these connections.”
“I was gifted a Little Liturgies book and CD by a professor at Eastern Mennonite (University), after I had the pleasure of keynoting an event at EMU. The intimacy of your liturgies is just perfect for the small church context...warm, gracious, and conversational. Y'all have been a blessing to my ministry this last year, so thank you!” (PCUSA Pastor)
“I love that my kids have grown up singing the Word because of this project. It is hidden in their hearts. Thank you!”
“As a father of young children. I've struggled to find a way to consistently have God moments in family life. Discovering your work has helped me significantly. We share it with everyone we have over for dinner.”
“I love it that my 2 year old's favorite songs are "Because of Jesus" and "Do Not be Overcome by Evil." Not only is it beautiful how God's word is being hid in his heart, but also him running around the house singing has become a way for the Holy Spirit to convict and challenge me.”
“I found your material in the chapel room inside the Dulles airport while waiting for my flight back to the country where I serve as a missionary. Since then I have kept up with new material and shared with others. It has helped me find fresh words and rhythms in my personal time with God and also to write God’s word on my heart. Living overseas, I love the digital versions.”
“I loved participating in the retreat for Shepherd's Tree!”
RESOURCES CREATED
Sermon on the Mount: Bible Memory Collection
Matthew: Gospel Collection
Lectionary Year A (a compilation and re-release of Volumes 5-7).
DISTRIBUTION
The Soil and The Seed Project reached new levels of distribution in print, downloads, and streaming:
Over 3,200 subscribers for physical / digital download distribution
Over 2,800 copies distributed additionally at in-person events
Streaming to 38,000 listeners in 148 countries for a total of 12,000 listening hours
