Faith
As part of our movement from a biennial report to a full-time program, Community Focus is working with Community Partnerhip of the Ozarks' Collaboratives program to set realistic community goals that leverage interconnectivity and demonstrate our progress. That means that new topics are being added to Community Focus to reflect the work being done through the collaboratives.
In 2025, the Have Faith Initiative and the Interfaith Alliance combined to form the newest CPO collaborative. Though officially announced in May, the Interfaith Collaborative began working together in March, when they co-hosted the annual Festival of Faiths, a vibrant celebration of the many belief systems that enrich the Springfield area.
The Have Faith Initiative, originally formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, began as a virtual gathering of faith and city leaders sharing resources, support, and information. The first collaborative meeting included the Interfaith Alliance, who chose to join forces, creating a strong, diverse network of community stakeholders.
As the Interfaith Collaborative finishes its strategic plan, Community Focus looks forward to helping them describe the impact of their main focus areas, which involve supporting the community through the faith community, increasing understanding and empathy, and providing resources to faith leaders.
At-A-Glance | 2005-2024
Faith-based organizations in the Springfield region have long served as a cornerstone of community care, collaboration, and resilience. Devoting significant resources to volunteerism and direct service, these groups have united with schools and businesses to improve education, provide crisis relief, and meet basic human needs.
Photo Credit: Jeffery Bates
Photo Credit: Jeffery Bates
Over time, the faith community’s role expanded beyond service delivery to include collaboration in public education, homelessness response, and disaster preparedness. From mobilizing hundreds of volunteers during natural disasters to helping launch the city’s first crisis cold-weather shelter for women, churches and faith partners consistently stepped in to fill critical gaps.
Today, the faith sector continues to anchor Springfield’s safety net through partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and local government. Efforts like Ozarks Ready integrate faith-based organizations into broader community preparedness and resilience planning.
Rooted in compassion and service, Springfield’s faith community remains a unifying force, translating shared values into tangible support that strengthens families, fosters inclusion, and builds a more resilient region.