By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC
I hope you’ve read my January article “Togetherness is Our Superpower” and February’s “Leveraging The Conflict Debt Snowball Approach.” I’m sticking with our Annual Meeting Celebration theme “TOGETHER” for my articles leading up to our time as a Conference family in Gig Harbor, at Harbor Cov, April 24-25.
This is a foundational theme for us. Our founding mothers and fathers believed we could do more together than we could ever do as independent churches. It reminds us that today we are a family of mission partners, leveraging our growing diversity, for greater ministry – TOGETHER.
It is a timely theme. I recognize that we’re not all necessarily feeling a sense of togetherness. Too often this together feels distantly aspirational. Currently it may feel too complicated or painful. But we can agree that God is a God of unity and clarity and not confusion and separation. Even when it’s difficult we must draw together. I am convinced that we must push and encourage each other in this shared mission because too much is on the line. We can’t just be on our own. More than ever, we must move forward TOGETHER.
This month, I want to share a few togetherness sightings. I know there are so many more stories out there. I would love to hear them, so please share them with me.
Iglesia Esperanza Viva has been hosted by Kent Cov since its beginnings five years ago when Esperanza launched. Now, Esperanza has been led to start a new service over in Sumner at Faith Cov. Very exciting! Earlier this month, leadership from bother churches shared dinner and walked through a facilitated meeting getting to know each other through “walk with Jesus” testimonies, vision sharing, and prayer. They are positioning themselves to be able to reach even more of Sumner now by intentionally working together. It inspires me to see them join together, learn from each other, be changed by each other, and now be on mission TOGETHER!
I was exited when Ian Cheng first cold-called me. I’ve been praying for a Chinese-language planter for years. And so many of our Eastside Seattle churches have prayed for opportunities to reach their growing population of Chinese neighbors. It’s taken a village to help get Seattle Chinese Cov going this past year leading to its grand opening this past month. Newport, Evergreen, Highland, and Pine Lake have contributed free use of their facilities, prayer, and financial support. Newport prayed over Ian and his leaders during Newport’s service just before SCCC’s grand opening that afternoon. That morning I also attended Disciple Community who rents Newport’s gym. It was good to sit down with Pastor Derek Hwang there and Newport Chair Barbara Moffat and dream together after their service. On the Newport campus that Sunday, there was a whole lot of TOGETHER!
We have been praying for Pastor Grant Christensen as he’s been working through cancer treatment but more recently his hip replacement surgery. I loved seeing how Grace Bremerton and Harbor Cov connected during this challenging season this past month and how Harbor has come alongside to help support Sunday services while Grant has been out. They are also working together to start a dinner church in Bremerton. Harbor has already started a dinner church in the New Tacoma/lower Dome area. There’s something beautiful about churches working TOGETHER!
Trinity Cov (Salem) invited Dawn Taloyo, director of pastoral and congregational health, and her husband Carlos to lead a marriage retreat. In the planning stages Trinity decided to reach out to McMinnville Cov to see if they would be willing to host the retreat in their facilities and invited MCC to participate as well. In the end 10 couples, a mix from both churches joined together for a Friday evening and all day Saturday marriage intensive this past month. Dawn reported,”This felt like a win– win. One church took on the planning and the other provided the space and it was a reminder of how we are ‘in it TOGETHER’.”
This past month 325 students and youth leaders were at MUD. This big production ministry only happens through careful planning by a team of youth ministers serving on our Youth Commission along with Cascade’s Camp and Conference staff. This team further partnered with additional churches to recruit leaders and students to share their stories. Over 30 PacNWC churches were able to participate along with some non-Covenant friends such as Mending Wings from the Yakama Nation. Our shared mission giving also goes towards scholarships to make sure every student can attend. We know that 64% of Christians began following Jesus before they were 18. MUD and Thunder continue to be some of the most fruitful and exciting things we do TOGETHER!
As we lean into our lenten journey let’s lean into each other as we share God’s mission here in this place and at this time. I pray that these togetherness-sightings might inspire you; that it might spur holy creativity. I pray that it would encourage you to have a conversation that just might lead to surprising doors of opportunity opening up. I love that we’re doing this TOGETHER.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor…As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another…And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching
Ecclesiastes 4:9, Proverbs 27:17, Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV.