Category: Support Pastors

By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC

Our 135th Annual Meeting last week in Bellingham filled me with renewed hope.  

We are living in a time where uncertainty and division seem to press in from every side. The world aches with grief, fear, and a longing for something steady, solid and dependable. It would be easy, even understandable, for the Church to retreat—diminished by discouragement, distracted by conflict, or silenced by fatigue.  We are human after all.

But that is not who we are.

Our 69 churches are not merely groups of people who gather on Sundays. We are the living body of Christ in the world—a people formed by grace, anchored in love, and commissioned for hope. We were never promised easy days. What we were promised is the very presence of the Holy Spirit, the victory of the cross and a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Now is not the time to dim our light. It is the time to shine.  

Our calling is not to mirror the anxiety of the world, but to proclaim the peace of Christ.   Our role is not to echo despair, but to radiate resurrection hope. While the culture grows weary, we grow deeper in prayer. While trust erodes, we show up with integrity. While isolation spreads, we build community. This is how the Church thrives—not in comfort, but in witness.

The darker the night, the more visible the light.

Let us be a people who refuse to be defined by what is broken, and instead be known by Jesus’ renewing work. Let us not merely survive these days, but embody the hope of Jesus in the middle of them. Let us act justly and love mercy as we walk humbly.  Let us not be diminished by the headlines, but emboldened by the gospel.

Hope is not just an idea we carry—it is a power we live. It is the story we tell with our lives, our worship, our generosity, and our love. Hope doesn’t deny hardship; it declares that hardship doesn’t have the last word.   Let’s remember to always hold onto Paul’s trinity of taproots he gives us in 1 Corinthians 13:13.  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

I ended my superintendent’s report citing this Gallup Poll that found what people want most from their leaders.  Significantly more than trust, compassion and stability, people wanted hope.  I surely need it.  And we know that Jesus is our blessed hope.  He is the Light in the darkness.  

As we heard stories of changed lives, churches involved in their communities, a new member church in Boise, our children and youth catching fire, awakening and revival growing…I am filled with renewed hope.  

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 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.   (Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV)

PacNWC 2025 Annual Meeting Highlights:

PacNWC 2025 Annual Meeting Resources Page:

• Annual Meeting Report
• Annual Meeting Agenda
• Superintendent Greg Yee’s Report Slides
• Superintendent Greg Yee’s Letter to Churches
• President Tammy Swanson-Draheim’s Letter to Churches
• PacNWC Constitution and Bylaws
• Annual Meeting Virtual Ministry Fair
• 135th Annual Meeting Recording

PacNWC 2025 Annual Celebration Pictures Album

By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant

Pastor Nancy DeJong spends some time with us sharing her passion for children and family ministries. Post-Covid, ministry models have changed, parents and caregivers are tired but the church still has the power to break through the the weariness and share the light of Jesus. Nancy is both the national and conference chair for the commission for Children and Family ministries. Thank you, Nancy, for loving our families and the Church so well.

To contact Nancy

By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant

Jim Sequeria interviews Erik Cave and Phil Berlin about their recent Sankofa journey. Jim leads Erik and Phil through the emotions, challenges, inspiration and conviction to lead the church well that the journey inspired. Traveling through five states, the men walked the footsteps of Martin Luther King and learned much about the history of slavery and oppression in this nation. Don’t miss this must see interview.

Sankofa Fall 2025

Weaving Justice and Peace in a Wounded Land

Youth Journey to Mosaic (J2M)

By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant

Erik Cave and Isaiah Dombach sit down to talk about the new role of Youth Pastor that Isaiah has assumed. Raised in Montana and at Headwaters Covenant Church, Isaiah has come to love the church. He has a passion for passing on the word of God and spiritual disciplines to teens. Pray with us for him as he learns and grows. Welcome Isaiah!

Send Isaiah a note of encouragement and welcome!

By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC

As you anticipate the glorious celebration of Easter, enjoy this article and video from Superintendent Greg Yee, who greets us from Taipei, along with PacNWC Pastors Andrey Khilchenko, Shaun Higgins, Michael Lee, Ian Cheng, Kurt Notehelfer, and Peter Sung. Greg sends words of encouragement to follow Jesus and expect miracles because God is able. May that same God be present with you today and throughout the month as you celebrate our risen Lord. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Miracles always startle me. Unlike explanations of extraordinary events that connect to some natural answer, the supernatural shakes and wakes me up. It’s those dry pathways through the Red Seas that surprises. It’s the moments when God communicates, like through angels appearing to shepherds. It’s when I so desperately want to touch Jesus’ hem. He reminds me again that He feels and knows my desperation and fixes His attention directly on me.  

Miracles. The supernatural breaks into our lives all of the time.  

When visiting Midway Covenant Church two weeks ago I was startled again when a brother I sat next to at their after-service fellowship lunch told me his story.  He had been homeless.  He once had deep addictions and was estranged from his family.  He said he was in such a bad place physically that one day he went to the church property to literally die. One of the lay pastors was there and prayed prayers of healing over him. I was enthralled as he so joyously shared about God’s power in his life that led to physical healing and restoration of his life and family. I went into the fellowship hall intending to make brief connections and then transition to my next thing.  Instead, I was captivated and ended up staying longer than even Pastor Shaun.  

Miracles. God wants to show himself despite you thinking it’s impossible.

I’m writing this while in Taipei with five other conference pastors. We sat with Pastor Wayne Cheng from Top Church, Taipei, and he shared how things are in Taiwan related to China. He expressed the sense of urgency the Church feels, that leads them to prepare and train their leaders for at least a six-month disruption of corporate meetings. Even as Chinese military drills are happening right now, while we’re here, over 6000 people have gathered (including leaders from Hindustani Covenant Church!) for four days to pray and worship.  During this time, I’ve been struck by how much is sung and spoken about expectations of miracles.

Miracles. Easter is our grand confession that we believe in them.

Conference family, as you continue to walk Lent and enter Holy Week soon, may you be absolutely and shockingly startled.  May you not be tempted to move onto the next thing, but linger and soak it in. We celebrate the greatest miracle of all every Resurrection Sunday each year. This year, I pray that you will be captivated anew. I pray that Jesus meets you and continues to show you and your community supernatural things this day and in the days to come.  

He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

Click here for more information on the annual meeting, retreats, and events

Click here to see live updates from the Fire Conference on the Facebook Page

By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant

Pastor Ian Cheng shares the story of starting Seattle Chinese Covenant Church in Bellevue, Washington. Starting from a vision from the Lord to plant in Bellevue, to launching one week before covid started in 2020, then merging with another church. God’s provision, grace and faithfulness have been with Pastor Cheng and the church. We are thankful for their witness and example.

Seattle Chinese Covenant 5th Anniversary Video

By Jill Riley, Communications Assistant

If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Josh Cramer and hear about Resurrection Covenant, here’s your chance! Enjoy this conversation between he and Jill Riley. Josh talks to us about his call to start Resurrection Covenant, how the church is growing and about the culture of Boise, Idaho.

Send Josh a note of encouragement and welcome!

By Erik Cave, Director of NextGen Ministries

Introducing Darren Begay, the new SLAM Trips Director at Mending Wings.  In this 8 minute video you will hear Darren’s and learn how SLAM (Students Learning About Missions) Trips provide an opportunity for native young men and women to be discipled while they help lead groups through service and learning opportunities on the Yakima reservation. This is a great, local opportunity for students in our conference to participate in!

Email Darren to welcome him to the conference

Visit the SLAM Trips Website for more information about SLAM Trips

Visit the Mending Wings Website to learn more about Darren’s ministry with native young people and how you can invite them to your church for Dancing Our Prayers

By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC

In a short video introduction, Superintendent Greg Yee shares about upcoming retreats and events that you and your church are invited to attend. He also shares from his heart his recognition that we live in tumultuous and uncertain times. Following the video, he writes about his father challenging us with the question, “What anchors your soul?”  Please watch and read more to encourage you. 

My parents are in the process of moving out of their home of 59 years. Among the rich memories attached to my childhood home, Oakland has been the center of my family’s story for four generations.

As I sorted through my father’s files, I uncovered a treasure trove of keepsakes—his Army dog tags, a reel-to-reel audio recording of my parents’ wedding, original building campaign materials and blueprints from my home church, copious notes on random topics, and yes, even tax instruction booklets from the 1990s! Oh my!

One of the most precious discoveries was an autobiography he wrote for a school project in 1947. He was just sixteen. It offered a glimpse into his early years—memories and reflections he never shared. My father has always been a private person, and I was rarely privy to his inner thoughts or feelings. What an incredible joy and blessing it was to gain this unexpected insight into his life.

This family treasure reminds me of the even greater treasure we have in Scripture—the revelation of our Heavenly Father. God chooses to make Himself known to us in many ways, but most profoundly through His Word. We believe Scripture is the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct. In it, we don’t just find knowledge; we encounter divine truth.

Friends, what truth anchors you today?

In a season of deep division and chaos, the truth we hold onto is that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). The truth that gives us hope is Jesus’ promise to make all things new. Our souls are strengthened by the reality that the Holy Spirit “hovered over the chaos,” and together, Father, Son, and Spirit brought order out of it (Gen 1:2)

This is our truth. This is our hope. This is how we walk forward. We do not despair. Even if our bodies—or even our world—seem to be wearing away, our inner selves are being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Our church is being renewed today. So let’s not stand frozen in fear or uncertainty.

This is the day the Lord has made—let us rejoice and be glad, especially when life feels chaotic and hard. That’s the kind of God we worship. Even when the altar is drenched in water, fire still falls (1 Kings 18:25-39).

Grace and peace to you today, Conference Family.  God is good. All the time, God is good.  Yes, he is.  

For more information on annual meeting, retreats and events

By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC

New to the Covenant, NextGen Pastor Sara Hwang of Encounter Church had the opportunity to go to her first Midwinter in January. She shares her reflections of the time in Denver and about the excitement of her growing relationship with our denomination is going,.

Welcome Sara to the ECC

Visit the MIDWINTER WEBSITE for more info and links to all of the session videos