The Greenhouse Project, a Jesus-centered experiment in building authentic community and the arts began in the late summer of 2004. Two families and a college-age intern moved on site, with another member commuting in for 1-3 days each week. Committed to 9 months of intense growth, these emerging to mid-career leaders immediately dove into duties as hosts of an arts gathering and faced the challenges of a whole new pace of life with new requirements and many uncertainties. In the following months the group did creativity exercises together, processed growth issues, looked for God in everyday life and in conflict, and wrestled with what it means to be community.

During the months of the project, each member underwent significant soul-searching, surrender, refining, and the redefinition, expansion and/or focusing of their purpose and calling. Each member also was faced with unique, real-life chances to be vulnerable with the group and see the positive fruit of choosing to take that risk. Mentoring and coaching relationships and lots of space to wonder, wrestle and grow provided the backdrop for this endeavor. Significant breakthroughs happened as the participants took ownership of the values began challenging the team -- and the leadership -- to dig deeper and find new ways to fulfill the corporate mission.

The Greenhouse Project wrapped up in April of 2005 with a celebration of the growth, maturity and new vision seen in each Greenhouse member. One member started an entrepreneurial venture and began a DVD project of original compositions. Another member, an accomplished studio vocalist, left as a singer-songwriter. She also launched an online community resourcing artists of all mediums. Other members recorded cds, and launched into dreams of teaching and coaching in their areas of passion and expertise.

Part of what made the Greenhouse Project unique was an emphasis on open space and a commitment to adjust plans and goals based on what God was doing in the lives of the community members. For example:

Extra time and emphasis was given to building community and talking through leadership struggles as it became clear participants were hungry to delve deeper into this area.

The original plan included creating a DVD as a group project. This plan was altered. The DVD project was taken over by a single community member, other members launched their own projects, and the group supported each other in these various projects.