Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Rosenthal.
Hi Alison, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story began while I was attending Community Bible Church and participating in our women’s Bible study. As my faith deepened and I reflected on my own life, I couldn’t help but see the overwhelming goodness of God. It stirred a question in my heart: if the Lord could do such a transforming work in my life, couldn’t He do the same for others?
Throughout Scripture, we see a consistent call to care for the poor, the fatherless, and widows, and that felt like a natural place to begin. What started as a one-time serving opportunity for our church to meet practical needs in the community has since grown into the Outreach Ministry at Community Bible Church called Joy in the City.
Today, this ministry serves individuals and families across Livingston County. Our focus is to support our church family as they scatter into the community—meeting tangible needs and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We currently serve in more than 15 local communities through regular meals provided by our BBQ Ministry, practical assistance, fellowship and mentorship, along with offering six different support-style groups within our building.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Stepping out to do something new is never easy. It took time for me to gain confidence that I was even capable of leading this kind of ministry. Coming from a business background and having never volunteered at a church before, I often felt uncertain—especially since there was no clear roadmap beyond that initial one-time serving event. I wasn’t sure what my next steps should be.
In His faithfulness, the Lord quickly brought the right people around me—individuals who did have experience serving in this way. What began as a group of ten strangers has grown into a close-knit family, and today Joy in the City is supported by more than 200 volunteers who serve on a regular basis.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay to try and fail. Failure can be a beautiful part of the journey, teaching lessons we wouldn’t learn any other way. The key is perseverance—learning to try again when things don’t go as planned. In fact, we didn’t begin to see significant fruit from this ministry until the third year. Had we given up after the second year, we would have missed out on the incredible blessings God had in store.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is ministry. My focus is to live out what Scripture teaches by following the example of Jesus Christ and creating structure and opportunities for our church family to do the same. I am best known for coming alongside people, organizations, and even ideas—helping them grow from a vision into a reality.
I am a natural dreamer who loves imagining what could be, grounded in the confidence that I serve an all-powerful God. Through prayer, I have seen ideas come to life in ways I could never orchestrate on my own.
For example, as we began building relationships with our neighbors, we discovered a lack of resources for individuals experiencing homelessness. After spending time in prayer, I was introduced to Community Catalyst, who were in the early stages of developing Livingston County’s first transitional living community, Bethel Suites. Through partnership, we were able to come alongside them and help many individuals take steps toward permanent housing.
Another example came during the COVID pandemic, when we were no longer able to serve in our usual ways due to food quantity restrictions. After two weeks of prayer, I received a phone call that introduced me to two incredible women who owned a catering company and were eager to help provide meals for our neighbors. What began as a one-time opportunity grew into a meaningful friendship and partnership. Together, we were able to walk alongside them as they opened Livingston County’s first Pay It Forward café, The Ivy Table.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am very much a risk-taker, especially when that risk involves coming alongside someone in need. I tend to approach situations with the mindset of, what do we lose by at least trying to make a difference?
One example is a local alternative high school we now serve. I was first introduced to them because they needed help stocking their food pantry. But after meeting the teachers, staff, and students, it didn’t feel sufficient to simply drop off food and walk away. I had a flood of ideas—likely overwhelming the staff—and truthfully, I hadn’t yet checked with anyone at CBC to see if all of them were even possible. Still, I knew the heart of our church family, and I believed it was worth the risk to try to serve this school well.
Four years later, we continue to walk alongside them in meaningful ways. We regularly stock their food pantry, serve a Thanksgiving meal, support their Christmas Shop, and help celebrate students at graduation. What began as a simple need has grown into a lasting partnership rooted in care, presence, and hope.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://communitybible.net/
- Threads: https://www.threads.com/@joyinthecitycbc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyinthecitycbc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CommunityBibleChurchBrighton
