Dinner in the Pines: When Hospitality Meets Mission
For Ryan and Diane Zelhart, hospitality has always been a gift. They love gathering people, creating meaningful spaces, and curating memorable meals. But in the fall of 2024, they began to ask a deeper question: How could this gift serve something greater than themselves?
The answer became Dinner in the Pines—an evening designed for mission, community, and worship.
A Friendship That Sparked a Vision
Their connection to missions began years earlier through Pastor BJ Leonard. BJ was one of the first pastors they met when they started attending First Christian Church in Decatur, IL. His passion for local ministries and global missions quickly drew them in, and by 2022 Diane was on her first mission trip to Kenya with BJ leading the team.
That trip—and a second one the following year—changed her in ways she still carries today. At the close of that first journey, BJ had shared a thought that would stay with Diane: “The high you feel for God doesn’t have to stay in Kenya. Mission work doesn’t have to be confined to a trip. How can we bring missions back home to our communities?”
Those words were the spark that eventually became Dinner in the Pines.
From Gift to Calling
Dinner in the Pines came as a vision in October of 2024, during a season when the Zelharts were digging into what God’s gifts were for them. BJ and Mary were the first call and within minutes of sharing the idea, they were all in. Almost immediately, the “who” we could serve became clear: three young women —Abigail, Esther, and Nancy—whose education was about to be cut short.
An Evening Beneath the Trees
The setting was simple but striking. What was once just a tree line and windbreak on the Zelhart's property was transformed into an outdoor dining space. Long banquet tables stretched beneath the trees romantically lit with Edison lights draping the tree line, giving the perfect ambience for a unique date night.
Guests enjoyed a farm-to-table meal, with produce sourced from the Zelhart’s garden and other local growers. A live worship band serenaded the evening as guests sipped and savored the sunset. A silent auction showcased hand-carved spoons, bowls, and baskets crafted by Kenyan artisans.
One hundred friends gathered that night. Together, they raised enough to fully fund the girls’ education, with extra resources going toward meals for school age children in the Turkana region of Kenya.
Impact That Reaches Beyond the Event
For the Zelharts, Dinner in the Pines was never just about one evening. It was about stepping into a calling.
Their hope is that Abigail, Esther, and Nancy not only continue their education, but also experience the love of Christ in real and lasting ways. They also pray BJ and Mary Leonard, and the entire CMF Kenya Team feel supported as they continue to disciple devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
The Zelharts want to leave you encouraged that every small step of obedience can spark something far greater. Take one bold, even uncomfortable, step today—God can turn it into life-changing impact.