EXTRA: The Making of Iglesia Episcopal del Espíritu Santo

If you listened to the series, you know a bit about church planting. Yet, each church has unique needs. Back in 2016 Reverend Maggie returned to Cincinnati straight from seminary and found herself thrust into a neighborhood that needed more than a pulpit. What begins as homework club grows into a fragile, radiant community called Iglesia Episcopal del Espíritu Santo. Between language gaffes and late-night shifts, Maggie learns to be a guest, not a host: earning trust by staying, sharing meals, helping parents fill out passport forms for kids, and offering a safe space as politics darken. This addendum follows one priest’s quiet experiments in hospitality, the joys and heartbreak of grassroots church planting, and the lessons she carries forward about listening, belonging, and what it means to build sanctuary in frightening times. Lessons the church must apply now.   Resources: East Bay Sanctuary Immigrant Defenders Law Service (IMMDef)