November 2025- A time of Thanksgiving

Here we are again — wow! The end of November… wait, no — it’s already December! Where did the year go?It feels like we blinked and suddenly we’re preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This season is all about Him. Truthfully, every season should be about Him.
But before we move ahead, let’s take a moment to reflect on November.

A Month of Prayer
Every Thursday in November, Portal hosted the Thursday noon community prayer meeting. It was a meaningful time to gather with others and pray over our town, our schools, our families, and our teens.
There is something powerful about believers coming together in unity — and we were grateful to open our doors for that purpose.

Gratitude That Hits the Heart
November is often centered around gratitude. During our annual Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Night, we asked the teens to write down what they were thankful for.
Many wrote the expected answers: friends, family, fun memories.
But one response stopped me in my tracks:
“Finally, a stable home.”
That one hit deep.
I have always had a stable home and family. I’ve never had to experience life without that foundation. Listening to some of our teens share their stories has opened my eyes to realities I never personally faced — and it can be heartbreaking.
So to hear that one of them now has stability? That is something to truly celebrate. That is something to be grateful for.

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – Portal Style
Our annual Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was everything it was meant to be!
If you’ve seen the cartoon, you know the simple, mismatched feast that inspired our theme. Teens brought what they could from their cupboards, and together we created a feast.
This year, several adults and volunteers also contributed homemade dishes. A donated ham was devoured within minutes — literally nothing left but the bone! We also had cheesy potatoes, mac and cheese, salad and all the fixings, tacos (another huge hit), and more desserts than any normal person should probably consume.
Our final teen count was 38 — a record high for the number of teens we’ve ever had in the building at one time.
Every teen ate their fill, and some even left with goodie bags. The building was full of laughter, conversation, and gratitude. It was a beautiful night.

A Generous Surprise & A New Beginning
We were also blessed with a generous donation from Ohio Homemakers & Community Education (HCE) — a gift we were not expecting and were incredibly thankful to receive.
In addition, we are excited to officially announce something we’ve been working hard on:
our new sponsorship program.
We want you to become a Star in Our Galaxy.
This initiative is designed to invite individuals, churches, and businesses to partner with Portal in a consistent, meaningful way. More information is available on our website, and we would love to talk with you if you’re interested in learning more.
We are excited to see how this program grows and how it will deepen community involvement in the lives of our teens.

🌱 Join the Mission This Month
As we reflect on gratitude, here are a few ways you can help us continue serving teens:
• Become a “Star in Our Galaxy” monthly sponsor
• Provide a meal or themed food item for an upcoming event night
• Donate snack items or paper goods
• Pray specifically for teens seeking stability and hope
Your support helps create a place where teens can find friendship, stability, and the love of Christ.

As you move into December, we encourage you to read Romans 15:1–13.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13