Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Ingram.
Hi Caleb, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Even as a young adult, I’ve always had a heart for connection, service and seeing churches worship together. I remember the many phone calls I made to organize recreational soccer games and hangouts. I also enjoyed serving in my church that my parents started. In high school, I had the idea of combining these things: my church ministry and connection and collaboration. I called churches in the area to have a community worship night in our area.
Fast forward, and God brought me out to Ohio as I attended Cedarville University for music and church ministry. As soon as I got an internship at a church during school, I immediately began working on organizing another community worship night in Troy, Ohio–this passion was still in my heart!
Over the years I was blessed to build deep relationships with other church music directors, and in 2014 we held the first official “Declare” event–multiple churches uniting to simple declare God’s glory and celebrate and share His love. Since then, we’ve seen dozens of these gatherings all across the Miami Valley (Greater Dayton) region.
We believe that God has called the Church to be a source of hope and healing in a divided and broken world. We realize that churches and people in them have made mistakes, and we are seeking to get back to the heart of Jesus to unite in Him and share His love and compassion with the world. We love to help churches worship and serve together across the Miami Valley, Ohio and beyond! Whether through connecting people with amazing nonprofits, or through disaster response through tornadoes and covid, or simply engaging with our neighbors–there are many opportunities to work together to share God’s love and bless others!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not necessarily. God has always walked with us and made a way, but there were definitely many times of growth along the way! Times that finances were really tight–times that we weren’t sure what would come next. Times that I got tired of people looking at me wondering what I was actually trying to do.
But through all of the doubts and uncertainty, we have seen the vision and mission continue to grow, and more and more churches are collaborating to bless their communities and share the goodness of God!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Rather than sharing a “professional” skill etc, I’ll share something I’ve learned along the way. Consistency really matters. Consistency over time, and consistency in various areas of life. There are a few mountain top experiences along the journey–many days are more of a consistent grind where we need to choose faithfulness.
I also seek to be consistent regardless of who I am with–I want to be faithful with my own family, church, local community, Greater Dayton and Ohio. Every meeting and person is “important” and when I get to the end of my life I pray that those who are closest to me will know God’s love through me.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Reach out, meet with people and ask them good questions! And then listen. Seek counsel from a number of people along the way, and reach out again for consistent connection with those who you feel you could really learn from.
And as you go and grow, be open to pouring encouragement into others as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.declare.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/declaremovement
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/declaremovement
