The 2025 PhoneFaith Leadership Summit, made possible by a grant from Adventist Laymen’s Services & Industries (ASI), focused on strengthening PhoneFaith, an outreach ministry of Christian Record Services, Inc. (CRS). The virtual event, held on October 8–10, brought together approximately 20 volunteer program hosts for 10 hours of intensive training on topics including mental health, boundaries, group dynamics, spiritual support, and empathy. This ASI grant-funded event enabled PhoneFaith’s volunteers to receive practical, meaningful, and immediately applicable tools and skills.
“ASI created the opportunity for professional presenters and committed hosts to share the same space in contributing to the development of strong skills, motivated interactions, empathy, sensitivity, and compassion for all our callers. The impact will be long felt on PhoneFaith. This leadership summit training was greatly appreciated and embraced,” said Leanora Ruff, Ph.D., PhoneFaith coordinator.
Recognizing the diverse needs of the CRS community, summit recordings will be made available in accessible formats for all current and future PhoneFaith volunteer hosts. This ensures ongoing access to the training curriculum, supporting volunteer hosts in their roles on the English and Spanish outreach platforms.
This ASI grant-funded summit has served as a catalyst for growth and excellence in PhoneFaith’s programs, providing volunteers with tools, training, and inspiration for service. The summit’s legacy will be felt in each call, in every conversation, and in each life touched through this outreach.
PhoneFaith offers live telephone programs in English and Spanish, designed to support the intellectual, physical, and spiritual well-being of blind and low-vision individuals in the United States. To join an upcoming PhoneFaith program, call 209-399-9465 (English) or 774-267-3567 (Spanish).
