Heart + Soul carries a simple conviction: faith should shape the whole person—and become visible in the way we love, lead, and serve.
From 2006 through 2010, Heart + Soul Conferences brought people together around worship, truth, leadership, and community. That chapter is part of our story. It also points to the question that continues to shape our work: what happens after the gathering ends?
What happens when the music stops, people return home, and ordinary life asks something of their faith? How does a meaningful encounter become a different way of living? How do we help people carry what they believe into their relationships, decisions, responsibilities, and communities?
Those questions sit at the heart of Heart + Soul today. Through the leadership of Aaron R. Young and his wife, Donvielle, the vision connects the gathering with the growth that follows: learning, spiritual practice, honest conversation, leadership development, and service.
People bring more than gifts to a room. They bring questions, experiences, hopes, and places where they are still growing. Leaders need formation as much as responsibility. Young people need belonging as well as direction. Families and communities need relationships that make room for truth, care, and growth.
That is why we put formation before function. We want to help people become grounded in Scripture, mature in character, attentive to others, and prepared to serve with wisdom. What we build matters. Who we become while building it matters too.
Gather Collective connects people through community and service. Gather Conference creates a space to encounter, belong, learn, and take a next step. Aaron Young Leadership equips leaders and organizations. Heart + Soul Leadership Institute is being developed for deeper Christian learning. Curriculum, Beyond Sunday, Gather Publishing, and Temple + Table help carry the work into everyday life.
These expressions serve different people in different ways, but share one purpose: helping faith become a lived reality. We work alongside churches, families, educators, and community partners, bringing our gifts to the work they are already doing and building new possibilities together.
Our hope is that people will know where they belong, understand what they carry, and be equipped to offer it in service to others. That is the heart. That is the soul. That is the work we are building.
Make room for biblical understanding, spiritual practice, character, and healthy relationships.
Build knowledge, skills, and practical tools for the responsibilities people carry.
Help people take meaningful steps in their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities.
Reflect on participation, follow-through, and the experiences of the people being served.
Develop people who can teach, encourage, and equip others to carry the work forward.
Heart + Soul was shaped by two people who believe faith should become visible in the way we serve, lead, gather and care for people.
Aaron R. Young and his wife, Donvielle, are the founders of Heart + Soul. Together, they have previously led Heart + Soul Conferences across Northwest Indiana, creating spaces for worship, leadership, honest conversation and community.
Both Aaron and Donvielle have served at Family Christian Center. Today, they serve at The Go Church Chicago, where Donvielle serves as Director of Children's Ministry under Episcopal Vicar Matthew Blumenberg.
Aaron is a Christian leadership consultant, writer, speaker and systems builder. He is the founder and chief architect of Heart + Soul, Gather Collective and the Beyond Sunday work, helping people connect faith, formation and leadership to everyday life.
Donvielle is a children's ministry leader whose work centers on helping children and families experience belonging, care and a living faith. She brings warmth, wisdom and practical service to the formation of the next generation.
Together, they are raising Kennedy, McKinnley and Ryan. Their family life keeps Heart + Soul anchored in love, faith and the conviction that healthy movements begin with healthy relationships.
Gather works alongside churches, nonprofits, schools, health organizations, businesses and community leaders. We are here to strengthen the good work already happening and help new ideas take shape.
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