Not long after the 2025 Jubilee conference ended in February, the buzz around the CCO office began. In approximately twelve months, we would be gathering again in downtown Pittsburgh for Jubilee 2026, The 50th Jubilee. The Jubilee of Jubilees!

“Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you… (Leviticus 25:10).

My friend and colleague Jen Pelling came up with the brilliant idea to collect 50 stories from the past 49 Jubilees—an audio project that would invite pairs of people to interview one another about their experiences of the conference since the first Jubilee in 1977. 

We started to brainstorm names of people we wanted to hear from. Former CCO staff and students, speakers and musicians—a diversity of voices representing five decades and celebrating what God has done and continues to do through this catalytic weekend event.

And Jen and I would have the privilege of sitting in rooms—in person and online—to eavesdrop on these conversations before they would be edited into 10-minute-ish podcast episodes and go out into the world as we count down to February 2026.

I’m excited to report that the project has come to fruition! Kind of.

At the beginning of October, as we were deep in the weeds of scheduling more interviews, our team got the news that Jen’s position was being eliminated due to budget cuts. 

In the midst of our shock and grief, I am grateful to report that (somehow) the work continued.  Jen’s last official day as a CCO employee was October 31, but she graciously agreed to continue on as a contractor to help bring this project into the world..

And now, most of the Jubilee stories we were able to collect—not 50, but nearly 20—have been edited and produced and are being released on the CCO podcast feed every week between now and February 12, when the 50th Jubilee will kick off with an epic celebration and reunion of former students and CCO staff members. 

I invite you to join the many listeners who have already been blessed by these stories by visiting ccojubilee.org/podcast, or subscribing to CCO Podcast on the platform of your choice. And if you want to join me in Pittsburgh for the Jubilee celebration—or the whole Jubilee weekend!—in February, find out how by visiting jubileeconference.com/50th.

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True confession time. I had hoped to share the news about the 50th Jubilee with you a while ago, but given the unexpected and unwelcome departure of a good friend and gifted colleague, I have been living in the tension that so many of us find ourselves in every day. It’s been a season of great anticipation and deep grief. And I have to admit—the grief, in its myriad stages, has taken center stage for the past few weeks.

I miss sharing an office with Jen and the joy of working together to share with the world how college students’ lives are being transformed by the good news that Jesus was, and is, and is to come. 

And I am grateful for the good work we got to do together, including collecting and distributing the testimonies of people who are living their lives with Gospel purpose—in their families, communities, churches, and workplaces. (Also, I am grateful that Jen is still nearby and we will continue to be in each other’s lives!)

And I am grateful for you and the many ways you continue to support me in this work I have been called to do. Thank you. 

I pray that you have experienced the blessing of the paradox of this Advent season as I have. Walking through darkness, with the promise of light. Trusting that the hope, peace, joy, and love promised in the first coming of Jesus the Christ is a foretaste of its fulfillment when he returns. 

Being assured that, to paraphrase J.R.R. Tolkien, all the sad things will come untrue. 

Amy Maczuzak
Senior Editor
December 2025

To give to my ministry: ccojubilee.org/amaczuzak or send a check to CCO, 5912 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206