Real Stories.
Lasting Impact.
Hear from past participants about how Act Five shaped their faith, community, and future.
"I got very comfortable with being uncomfortable and stepping outside my comfort zone which has helped me a surprising amount, even with little things in my life."
"I learned to cook, to clean an old house, to deal with people… I learned about creation and the people of this country who were here before we were. I learned of God, stories and people, about stairs, parks, factories, and life. I learned about the beauty of life…"
"The beauty of Act Five is that you do have opportunities to travel…but you’re not just left there either with cool pictures on a phone or just a neat memory. I think the neat thing is you have these transformative experiences that become translatable skills for you to carry on in life in a really practical way."
"This is above all an opportunity for spiritual formation. I think Act Five gives students experiences that they can look back on in years to come and say, 'Yes, God is working in and among us.'"
"Act Five was a place for me to find out who I am and what I want to be in the world. It taught me to take things slow. To observe and ask questions, not to rush. … I am slowly but surely learning how to lean on and trust God, not just in the big things, but in my ordinary life and decisions."
"Act Five was the best experience I have had. This program taught me how to rest, how to celebrate and how to love and care for people in a way I didn’t quite understand before. It became this place of growth in every single aspect of my life and I will be forever grateful for it."
"I'm learning a lot about who I am. I'm learning that I can ask for help. Act Five has accelerated my learning in how to relate to people."
"What has really become one of the main lessons God has been teaching me in this season is the beauty of different perspectives and practices. From the different backgrounds that my housemates come from, to the many stories recounted from our storytelling guests. God has been teaching me to meet people where they are at and learn from those who have practiced something I am unfamiliar with."
"Before starting this program, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to study and I was ready to start. God led me here instead, and I’ve realized that without the education and experiences I’ve been learning, I would be missing so much."
"We're living in intentional Christian community, and that means that we're not here just for the happy Jesus moments, but also the sad Jesus moments. The community is very accepting and wraps you in a big warm hug."
"I really appreciate the intentional community at Act Five. The program is teaching me how to be intentional with people and God by slowing down. Even though there are exciting aspects of the year, it's the ordinary things that teach us how to be positive and lean into the tough parts of the community. Community requires patience and I'm learning that as I wait for dinner, the shower and to catch the bus on Maplewood."
"What makes Act 5 unique? Act 5 is unique because it’s countercultural. The world today wants you to sprint through life at a pace that will leave you unsatisfied. It helped me understand that life, and my faith, is not a race and that I can stop and smell the spaghetti on Wednesdays."
"My time at Act Five created space for me to go deep with myself, God, and others. It challenged me to have greater empathy, wonder and curiosity about the world around me. Having practiced depth and received greater wonder through experiences in Act Five, I feel closer to God in ordinary moments."
"ActFive has had (and continues to have) and outsized impact on our daughter — the way she looks at the world through the lenses of Christian faith, her exposure to indigenous and environmental themes, and a commitment to a local church community."
Want to help more young people access this transformational experience?
Annual Reports
Flip through the stories, reports and updates in our Annual Report for the 2024-2025 year.*
*This report is for Act Five’s fiscal year beginning May 1, 2024 and ending April 30, 2025.
Past annual reports available on request.
