Most of us need inspiration, examples of real people and real communities taking faithful steps toward a sustainable, just future. Stories reveal what is possible when people root their choices in conviction and hope. They help us see how communities get from point A to point B, showing that meaningful climate action does not require reinventing the wheel but trusting the wisdom already growing among us.
At Iowa Faith & Climate Network, we regularly hear practical, powerful stories from people of diverse faith and spirituality across the state. These stories surface in presentations and conversations, yet we haven’t had a structured way to share them widely. That changes now. We’re partnering with writer Deborah Douglas to highlight twelve stories of community leadership, hope, and climate action. (This is the first, with others to follow through 2026.) We hope that these stories will spark new ideas, climate projects in congregations, strengthen advocacy, and move our state forward.
Care of creation, community, and generosity are top of mind for members of Fredsville Lutheran Church.
Located in a farming community near Cedar Falls, Iowa, the view at Fredsville Lutheran includes rolling fields, trees, and open blue sky. Even the gathering space inside the church is designed to highlight the surrounding landscape, with large windows to bring in extra light and showcase the beauty around them.
Just across the street from the church is a cemetery, with four cedar trees, a bell, and a flower garden to mark the original church location, built in 1874. Walking down what would have been the church aisle, you’ll be surrounded by a canopy of God’s creation.
Barely visible on the southeast side of the current church building are several rows of solar panels. Members of the Fredsville congregation—and anyone who visits their website—can digitally monitor the church’s solar energy at any time.
“We wanted it to be a public witness,” says Rev. Lee Gable, pastor of Fredsville Lutheran Church and board member of the Iowa Faith & Climate Network. Gable hopes that Fredsville can be a beacon of light for others who are hoping to implement solar panels or other creation care projects at their church.
Originally from rural Pennsylvania, Gable joined Fredsville Lutheran in 2022. Although the Holy Spirit had called him to ordained ministry, he had a background in industrial electricity with experience in solar energy systems.
“When I came here, I saw a lot of potential,” Gable shares. “I saw a sign for a [solar energy company] and I asked the property committee, ‘could we at least explore: What’s the possibility? What would it cost? What would that look like for us as a community?’” The committee shared that they’d been thinking about solar panels for a while but didn’t understand the technology. They’d put the idea on hold for a different time—but maybe now was the right time.
The congregation had a lot of questions: How would solar energy benefit their church? How did the technology work? Would it really pay for itself? They found a contractor who was patient and able to provide information to answer all their questions. Then, two members in the congregation shared their personal experiences, speaking highly of using solar panels on their homes. Equipped with the technological knowledge and the positive testimonies from members, the final hurdle was justifying the large cost of installation.
At about the same time, Fredsville received a gift from one of their generous families. Gable recounts the family telling him, “‘We want you to invest in something that will help this congregation into the future… We want you to make this congregation sustainable so you can do ministry into and for the future.’”
Gable believed that solar energy could be that thing. He discussed it with the members of the congregation, demonstrating that even though solar panels were a big investment up front, it would benefit the church for years to come—and create a more sustainable future. After that, the property team got on board and the project moved forward quickly.
The solar panels were installed in April 2024, and have already proven to be successful. “One month we had a $16.30 power bill,” Gable says. “Does it work? Absolutely!”
Reducing Their Carbon Footprint
Although the solar panel installation was their biggest eco initiative, Fredsville is working on a variety of other creation care projects, including a pollinator garden on the church property. A Boy Scout worked with Gable and the property committee to turn a patch of unused grass into a prairie strip—inspired by a four-acre restoration prairie on a neighboring property. With the garden in place, they’ll no longer have to mow that section of grass, and it’s creating habitat for pollinators and other creatures.
Fredsville has also converted parts of the building heating system from oil to electric, added more recycling opportunities at the church, and are in the process of switching from gas to electric pans for cooking traditional Danish treats. They also turn off most outdoor lights at night to reduce power usage and decrease light pollution, helping birds as they migrate. Every project contributes to a larger effort that is transforming their congregation and surrounding community.
Land is a Member of the Family
“Care of creation and care of neighbor are very top of mind for this community,” Gable says.
In 1994, Fredsville Lutheran received 225 tillable acres of Iowa farmland. The congregation decided to rent out the land to farming families, and instead of using the income to pay for the church’s expenses, they wanted to use their financial stewardship to benefit the community. Every year, the farm endowment fund gives about $40,000–60,000 in grants to local nonprofits, scholarship funds, and more.
Gable shares that the congregation’s decision to steward that farm in a way that benefits others echoes their core values of community, stewardship, and generosity. He says that the community wholeheartedly believes that helping others through hospitality and generosity is just what one should do.
Environmental stewardship is also an important piece of Fredsville’s cultural values. For Fredsville families, “the land is not just a resource to be stewarded. Land is a member of the family,” says Gable. “The land is where they walk and work together with their ancestors. The machinery may change but they till the soil that has known generations of life.”
Many farmers in the community use regenerative agricultural practices like cover crops and reduced tillage that help retain nutrients and moisture, keeping the soil healthy. Gable recounts his visit with a multigenerational farming family where they told him, “‘Pastor, God gave us this soil, it’s some of the best soil in the world and we need to take care of it. We are stewards of this land. And one of the ways we do that is cover cropping. It costs more money but it’s worth it and this is how we care for creation.’”
What’s Next for Creation Care
Fredsville continues to plan new projects that will improve their environmental stewardship and creation care practices. They are hoping to build a bioretention cell and rain garden to prevent a water runoff issue in the parking lot. They’re also looking at how to weave creation care in worship life all throughout the year.
When asked about what he would share with others who are looking to start their own creation care projects, Gable says, “As we read Scripture, God’s first calling on humanity is to be stewards of creation. There are many ways to do that and many different contexts. What are the ways that you are going to reach out and touch the earth and have a lifegiving relationship with the holy ground you call home?…There’s a multiplicity of ways you can do that depending on where you live, because it’s got to be an open ended question, there’s not just one way. This great web of life we live in, we all find our place in it and we all are part of it.”
Iowa Faith & Climate Network equips individuals and communities across the state with information, training, and resources to take climate action. Learn more about how you can start an environmental project in your faith community by checking out our Iowa Eco-project Map.
Deborah Douglas is a mission-driven writer and content creator who is passionate about making a difference for people and the planet. Based in Ankeny, IA, she enjoys gardening and spending time in nature with her family.