The Journey So Far | 8 Years of Eden Invitation Timeline
May 2025
The image of a pilgrimage to depict the ups and downs of our lives in discipleship, this journey towards God and with God, has been used for millennia. The pilgrim way isn’t easy for any of us. Christians with LGBTQ+ experiences can face unique obstacles– we know because those obstacles have been part of our own stories. Yet in this place of difficulty, we have also seen God’s Glory, and we recognize our longing to be with Him.
Here at Eden Invitation, pilgrims don’t walk alone. We’ve learned (and are still learning!) how to accompany each other on this journey through the mission and community of Eden Invitation. We want to pull out the map– the metaphorical (and sometimes real) hills and valleys and canyons and rivers we’ve seen and charted so far– and share with you our 8-year story.
It’s hard to fit 8 years into one post, so there will be plenty to explore as we move through the sights on this journey! Click the arrows on the left of the date to expand each section for more stories, pictures, videos, and links.
December 21st, 2016 | In Milwaukee, WI, Anna Carter and Shannon Ochoa got together to watch Parks & Rec, but the conversation took a turn…
March 1st, 2017 | On Ash Wednesday, Anna and Shannon created a project plan in earnest. Later that month, they met with their friend Pete Burds to brainstorm names.
April 29th, 2017 | “An Invitation to the Longing Ones” was launched on NET Ministries’ blog. Eden Invitation’s ministry begins!
Summer of 2017 | Anna and Shannon balanced full-time jobs and efforts to raise awareness and support for this mission. Story Calls began right away!
December 2017 | Shannon began working for Eden Invitation full-time with the help of monthly donors.
January 2018 | Eden Invitation went to SEEK 2018, and the first Book Club started.
Summer 2018 | The community continued to expand rapidly, requiring new solutions…
October 2018 | The first community members shared their stories on our blog.
February 8th-10th, 2019 | The first Eden Invitation Retreat: “Fear Not”
July 13th- 20th, 2019 | Eden Invitation’s first Encounter trip, and Anna moved to working full-time for Eden Invitation.
Early 2020 | The world shut down, but Eden Invitation boomed through online community
May 2020 | A larger community meant more costs to maintain the ministry…so we kicked off our first Anniversary Drive!
Summer 2020 | Eden Invitation hired its first full-time staff members beyond the founders!
August 29, 2020 | Eden Invitation won the OSV Innovation Challenge, receiving $100,000 to fund our Hearth & Porch Initiatives
Spring 2021 | Trained the first Hearth Group Coordinators
June 2021 | Launched our Inheritance Blogs and hosted online discussions– Our first large-scale, multi-faceted June media efforts.
Summer 2021 | Our initial Hearth Groups meet for the first time!
October 11, 2021 | Porch Series Videos are launched!
Early 2022 | 75 community members prepared for the Rooted & Free Retreat to discern where God could be calling this mission and community of striving LGBTQ+ disciples.
May 2022 | Launched our Values Blog Series during our 5th Anniversary Drive
June 2022 | Eden Invitation moved our home office to Saint Paul, MN with the official welcome of Archbishop Bernard Hebda, and hired 3 new staff members.
July 2022 | A community milestone– we celebrated the first wedding of two EI members, Peter & Angie!
Throughout Summer 2022 | Hearth Groups begin organizing Community Weekends
Early 2023 | This is when we estimate we’ve received over 1,000 unique individuals with LGBTQ+ experiences seeking faith resources*
May 2023 | Mary Conway, our current Operations Manager, joins the team.
October 2023 | We moved to a new, layered online community platform
November 2023 | Priest Companions begin to walk with some local (in-person) Hearth Groups.
June 2024 | Launched Monthly Info Nights for new community members to join the Porch layer of our online community.
July 2024 | EI’s Community and Mission robustly present at the National Eucharistic Congress
September 2024 | One pilgrim completes the Journey– we mourn the loss of our community member, R*.
October 17th-20th, 2024 | Largest Eden Invitation Retreat to date– over 100 people, representing 5 countries!
December 2024 | Added a new “Affiliates” layer to our online community.
Winter 2024 into 2025 | A Fourth Value?
April 29th, 2025 | Eden Invitation is 8 years old!
We are in awe of the Lord’s providence through all 8 years of this Journey! So much of His providence has come through the generosity of our Magdalene Givers, recurring donors sustaining this mission and community.
For about $1,000 a year, one person with an LGBTQ+ experience can receive:
Approachable, entry-level welcome with trained volunteers
Feasible and accessible short-term formation and communion with others who share an LGBTQ+ experience and desire to live out Christ's teachings
A sense of belonging to the Church, through ongoing community, that has already benefited people for months, years, and—we project—decades to come
But they do so free of charge because our Magdalene Givers are right there, walking beside us.
A thousand dollars a year for this systemic impact—which can change the trajectory of a person's life—is no small ask. But, when you consider it from a companioning perspective, it becomes $83.33 per month.
The Lord provides for us through every gift, whether you're giving for the first time or in addition to your regularly scheduled donation. Our goal this Anniversary Drive is to raise the funds needed to continue this mission sustainably– $5,000 of new monthly donations. If you have been impacted by this mission and want to walk with us, please prayerfully consider starting a monthly donation by May 31st.
We are so grateful for all of you who support our mission! We cannot wait to see where the Lord leads us next, and we hope you will join us on this adventure for years to come!
