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Multiplying Light

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By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC

I want to invite you to our Annual Meeting Celebration April 29-30, at Harbor Cov, but first I must share a personal update. 

My oldest son got engaged two weeks ago (…thank you!)! This is especially wonderful news since his high school sweetheart broke off their engagement at the beginning of the pandemic and moved on. It was a tough, dark period for him after that shock.

Last year, Jordan met Xina at Coffee Meets Bagel and it was pretty much love at first sight mutually. Their description of that date is so sweet that it would make your teeth hurt! 

Jordan and Xina live in north Los Angeles.  Xina is from Austin, and leading into the big weekend she expected friends in town.  Jordan wanted to include both sets of friends (20 total!) in the actual proposal, so plans started to hatch. 

Everything revolved around a hike that Xina and her friends planned to the Tunnel to Nowhere.  In preparation, the LA friends hiked well ahead and hid in the shadows of the tunnel waiting to turn on battery-powered candles on cue.  When Xina entered the tunnel Jordan walked toward her with his candle. He later described to me that this was a surprisingly overwhelming experience.  I’m sure it was a foretaste of their future wedding processional. As they approached, Jordan got on his knee and proposed.

Jordan later explained the candles and having so many present at, what I always assume, is a more private moment.  He thoughtfully reflected that after the first failed engagement, he went into a pretty dark place – a dark cave/tunnel.  He described with a smile that he learned more about what it means to fear the Lord. 

He likens this to being in a pitch-black cave where all God gives us is a candle.  We can’t see much of what’s ahead.  We certainly can’t see the whole road.  It can feel frightening at times when we go at it alone.  However, God Himself, Creator, Father, Defender, gives us that candle and we are invited to depend on Him. 

Jordan further explains that when God blesses us with a life partner that they have a candle too.  Now there are two, and when you are in meaningful community – people who love you despite anything – they also bring their candles. 

On that first fateful date, Jordan didn’t want to make too much of the fact that Xina had a candle tattoo on her forearm when they met.  It felt like a sign after months of darkness, crying out to God, and soul searching.  “Is this a sign?!”  He knew he was still vulnerable and feeling things out again as he was getting back “out there.”  The tattoo – a single candle – would come to represent so much more. 

She said yes, and A beautiful testimony of God’s gifts and God’s call upon us is shared….

What a beautiful picture of the gift and strength of togetherness…community…our churches…the conference. 

The author of Hebrews, inspired by the Holy Spirit, calls his audience to persevere in faith during persecution and hardships.  He writes,

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.

Heb. 10-23-25

A good word for us as we make decisions to re-engage more deeply again.  I hope that you are doing more relational exercising to get that muscle memory back.  Remember, it takes 30-40 days to create a habit.  We’ve had two years of learning how to be distant from other candles.  Let’s exercise! 

Thank you for letting me share a proud daddy story.  What I really want to do is invite you to our Annual Meeting Celebration!  Ministers, we’ll be meeting Friday morning.  After lunch, all are invited to attend two of four workshops that will be offered (descriptions will be announced soon).  We are also planning a special celebration dinner so we can share a meal together.   Friday night we will have a special prayer and worship time.  I’m especially looking forward to that!  Saturday will be a hybrid annual meeting where we will have delegates online and in person. 

It will be so good to be together again to meet new family members, see old ones, share stories, and celebrate God’s gift of gathering our collective candles from around our four-state region.  Please register to attend our worship, dinner, and time of worship and prayer.  And make sure your church sends their delegates (either online or in-person). 

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8:12

Rooted

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By Greg Yee, Superintendent, PacNWC

Happy Chinese New Year – especially all of you tigers! CNY is a time to be with family and to eat good food together.  I hope you have this in abundance.  Gung Hay Fat Choy! 

The image and word that stuck with me through my sabbatical was “rooted.”  I attached myself to the images of Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.  When I trust in the Lord and place my confidence in Him, I am like a supernatural tree.  My Marvel-like superpowers are heat-resistant, drought-tolerant, and 4-season capable; no brown or dying leaves, unending sweet juicy fruit!

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. 

Jer. 17:7-8 (NIV)

Mary and I have always purchased a new Benjamin ficus every major move we’ve had: Chicago, Sacramento, and Seattle.  They are extremely sensitive plants.  They don’t like to be moved, don’t like drafts or wide swings of temperatures and they don’t like too much water.  After 30 years of having these plants, I thought I knew about growing them well, but this current one is doing horribly.  As I head out Midwinter while I write this, I am preparing myself for the worse when I come back.

I have been in so many conversations lately that remind me of my struggling ficus.  People are barely hanging on. Churches are barely hanging on.  I know I’ve had my own moments of doubt and depletion. 

Maybe you’ve been there too.  We fill like sensitive struggling house plants rather than resilient, grand redwoods; like trees planted by running waters. 

There have been so many articles that have been written about how to manage and conquer these times.  I don’t want to give you any easy answers here.  I don’t want to offer any pithy list of the seven things you should do.  I only offer you my own testimony of our Living Water.  The only thing that has consistently kept me fresh, is tapping deeply into these waters. 

After dropping Caden off at school, a breathtaking sunrise was coloring the sky.  I knew I had to turn off the news and acknowledge Creator’s gift that morning.  I soaked it in and knew God was near and smiling. 

I sat with old friends recently at a funeral and was reminded of God’s faithfulness and protection through some of the toughest seasons.  I realize my tendency to isolate myself.  The more I prioritize being around people, the more I see and hear God. 

I love praying with my staff and with other pastors, When I pray with people, my perspective of God deepens and expands. I’m refreshed and my spirit fortified.  I wish I could bottle that! 

The more I release myself with reckless abandon the more I am able to worship.  I realize my reluctance to surrender.  My culture, personality, age, all restrict me.  My need for control does too.  Music helps me the most.

As I write, I am listening to my “Worship!!” playlist.  “Is He Worthy” is one of my favorites because of the corporate liturgical proclamation way it’s written.  The song immediately following is “Waymaker.”  These songs mess me up.  They often transport me. 

“Is He Worthy”
Do you feel the world is broken? (We do,)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do,)
But do you know that all the dark won’t stop the light from getting through (We do,)
Do you wish you could see it all made new (We do,)

Is all Creation groaning (It is,)
Is the the New Creation coming (It is,)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this (It is,)

Is anyone worthy?…
Is he worthy? (He is!)
He is worthy! (He is!)

“Waymaker”
You are here, moving in our midst
I worship you, I worship you

You are here, working in this place
I worship you, I worship you…

Waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness…
My God, that is who you are!

I know that as my worship increases, as I love and serve God with more and more of my heart, soul, mind and strength, my roots run deep.  I drink in those Waters.  I’m no longer parched.  I see new buds sprouting. 

No storm, no intense heat, no disease, no pests, no fire, nada takes me away from my confidence in God.  I lean in.  I lean in.  I lean in.

One Thing Needed

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By Rev. Dawn Taloyo, Associate Superintendent, PacNWC

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said. [emphasis added]

 40 But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make, so she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone? Tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is needed. [emphasis added] Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10

It’s a familiar passage; one I know well and love. As I listened to it read a few weeks ago, in a contemplative style of reading (lectio divina) led by Executive Minister Paul Lessard, I was stopped again by the image of Mary sitting at the Lord’s feet. What a provocative space to inhabit as a woman!  How incredible to know she was welcomed and affirmed in that inner circle space with Jesus.

What emerged in my mind and imagination this time were the multiple stories of individuals who assumed this posture and were also affirmed by Jesus. A few quick examples came to mind…

  • Luke 7, the women who anoints Jesus’ feet and to whom Jesus says, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown.”
  • Luke 8, the Gerasene demoniac healed by Jesus, “…the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind…”
  • Mark 3, when Jesus’ family comes looking for Jesus, his reply: “’Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’”

These represent only a few examples, but I hope you hear the affirmation as well:

Only one thing is needed: to be found at Jesus’ feet.

As we begin a New Year, with all the possibility and uncertainty it holds, only one thing is needed: to be found at Jesus’ feet.

As we look around and perhaps observe fewer numbers in our congregations, only one thing is needed: to be found at Jesus’ feet.

As we think about New Year’s resolutions or renewed priorities, only one thing is needed: to be found at Jesus’ feet.

What does that mean exactly? First, I hope you will take that image to heart and prayer and see what God speaks to you. What do you hear from God when you consider the one thing needed?

For me, it is a reminder that above all things, my sense of belonging and attachment to Jesus takes priority. In my opinion, the pandemic has given many the permission to “opt out” and find belonging in places other than with the Body of Christ – His local church.  Belonging is a basic human need, written into our human genetic code. Our culture offers us a multitude of options and distractions when it comes to finding belonging. There’s a group for every interest, cause, passion, or hobby.  I have no problem with the delight of finding like-minded community, but may it never eclipse the one thing needed. That is, our belonging with the community of “brothers, sisters, and mothers” that choose to find their place at the feet of Jesus.

I hold that image, that invitation and affirmation, close when I go to prayer. I love imagining myself among those in Martha’s house, or the other house where his family came knocking, and knowing that inhabiting that space and position at Jesus’ feet is welcomed and affirmed.

As we move into 2022, I pray that we might draw near, find rest and belonging in the community of Jesus who sits at his feet.

Introducing Sam Bodnar

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By Erik Cave, Director of NextGen Ministries, PacNWC

Enjoy this 8 minute video interview with Sam Bodnar, the new Pastor of Student Ministries at Life Covenant Church in Helena Montana. Click on the link below to learn about Sam’s background, current passions and how we can pray for him. You will also learn five random facts about Sam that you didn’t need to know you need to know. Stay to the end for the blooper reel where we learn about Sam’s theater background.

Visit Life Covenant Church’s Web Page to learn more about Sam and his church’s ministry

 

From Creation to New Creation

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Q4 Emphasis on Scripture

By Dawn Taloyo, Associate Superintendent, PacNWC

Enjoy this 8 minute video interview with Rev. James Amadon, an ordained ECC pastor currently serving as the Executive Director of Circlewood, a non-profit organization centered on “Accelerating the Greening of Faith.”

In this interview you will learn about the mission of Circlewood and how that mission springs from the overarching story of creation, redemption and new creation in Scripture. James reminds us that as Covenanters we have a deep appreciation for asking “Where is it written?” and he points us to the ecological story woven throughout Scripture.

Links mentioned in the interview:

Introducing Michael Lee

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By Erik Cave, Director of NextGen Ministries

Enjoy this video interview with Michael Lee, Lead Pastor at All Nations Community Church. Michael and ANCC are in the process of joining our conference.

Interview Highlights:

  • Born in Seoul, South Korea, and lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, before immigrating to Seattle at age 6
  • Graduated from Puget Sound Christian College and Golden Gate Seminary
  • Holds Doctorate of Ministry from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
  • Married to Mink with children Karis, Kayla, Nathan
  • Started at ANCC in February of 2020, just before quarantine started
  • ANCC is passionate about making disciples with a key value of justice. They are advocates for the powerless and marginalized through their foster care initiative
  • Pray for Michael as he meets his congregation for the first time after 1 1/2 years of quarantine as well as their movement toward being egalitarian and multicultural
  • Find out Michael’s favorite place to be, weirdest job he has ever had, would he rather have flying cars, robot housekeepers or moon cities, what he would tell himself at age 13 and his most overused words or phrases.

Visit Michael’s Facebook Page to learn more about him and his family

Visit the ANCC Website to learn more about the church and to contact him

Shoreline Celebrates Myrta Klinkman’s 100th Birthday

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Myrta with Barbara

By Barbara Whitmarsh

On May 30th members of Shoreline Covenant Church joined with family and friends of Myrta Klinkman to celebrate Myrta’s 100th birthday.  A year earlier there was a drive-by 99th party for her but this year it was so exciting to gather together as a congregation, outside, on a sunny day to honor her. 

The area was decorated with refreshments, banners, flowers and other decorations, all featuring the theme of “100”.  Myrta sat in her chair, wearing a crown and a sash, welcoming each person and family as they arrived.  She enjoyed all the attention.  Before cutting the cake she greeted the crowd and expressed her appreciation for their love and presence, ending with her signature greeting “God bless you all!” 

Myrta is a much loved member of SCC.  She has attended and served the church for many decades.  Before the pandemic she came regularly to Sunday worship and to most other church events  

She raised her five children alone following the death of her husband when the children were small.  She also has many grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.  She lives in her own apartment and just gave up driving two years ago. 

She is a blessing to SCC with her beautiful smile and cheerful attitude.  People love to chat with her after church and she always encourages them.  Because her brother was a pioneer missionary to an unreached tribe in Papua Indonesia she has been a strong supporter of SCC supported missionaries. 

SCC has another centenarian, Vivian Wheeler.  It truly is a blessing to have these two Godly women who have been wonderful examples to the congregation.

Visit the Shoreline Covenant Church Website to learn more about their programs and ministries.

Introducing Phil Moore

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By Erik Cave, Director of NextGen Ministries, PacNWC

Phil and Nina Moore

Enjoy this interview with Phil Moore, the new Lead Pastor at our new Church Plant, The Garden, in Spokane, WA

What is your personal and ministry background?

Hi friends! I’m Phil Moore. I was born into a wonderful family who were church-planting missionaries helping start new, locally-empowered faith communities in Europe. When I was about five my family moved back to the states and settled in Gig Harbor, Washington. I spent my high school and college years involved in youth ministry and worship arts. About eight years ago, while a student at Whitworth University, I joined a core team of passionate folks who planted Immanuel Church in Spokane! Doing life together with Immanuel (an ECC church) changed my whole understanding of what church could be like, and changed my life really. I was an intern for a year and then later a pastoral resident with Immanuel. And it’s out of this church family that we’re planting The Garden, a new Cov church in the West Central neighborhood of Spokane!

What are you passionate about in ministry right now?

In ministry right now I’m most passionate about stories. Lately the narrative of God’s love for humanity (and all the created order) through Jesus has been compelling me to lean extra closely into real people’s stories of injustice, pain, and suffering. And also joy, growth, and goodness.

Phil and Nina with Rob and Robi Fairbanks, pastor of Immanuel Covenant

How can we pray for you?

Thanks so much for asking! Please pray for our new church community, The Garden, as we begin worshipping God and loving our neighbors in Jesus’ name starting this August! Pray that the Spirit would empower us to join God’s shalom dream in our neighborhood as we seek to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

Five things you didn’t know about Phil:

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

One time I got to spend a month visiting smaller cities and towns in Thailand with my family and I really loved it. I enjoyed the people we spent time with, the land, culture, food, art, and more.

What does true leadership mean to you?

Jesus is the embodiment of true leadership. It’s a little bit long for this, but I can’t help but pass along this quote from Henri Nouwen’s brief read, In the Name of Jesus. “The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self. That is the way Jesus came to reveal God’s love. The great message that we have to carry, as ministers of God’s Word and followers of Jesus, is that God loves us not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love and has chosen us to proclaim that love as the true source of all human life.”

What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?

I would probably be a star point guard in the NBA. I considered it but took the high road and chose to serve as a pastor instead…

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?

I’d be a public high school teacher for one day. Teachers (and everyone in the education system) are my heroes.

What is the best book you have ever read?

The Christian Imagination by Willie James Jennings is the latest book I’ve read that I can’t stop thinking about

Visit Phil’s Facebook Page to learn more

Missional Thinking About Online Ministry

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By Erik Cave, Director of NextGen Ministries, PacNWC

At any moment a seeker may be visiting your online space looking for hope in Jesus and a welcoming community. This is an unprecedented opportunity for the church to reach hurting and isolated people. 

We are compelled by scripture to live missionally.  In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul says he will go to great lengths, even make himself a slave to others, to win as many as possible for Jesus.  To Jews, he becomes like a Jew; to those living under the law, he becomes like one living under the law; to those not having the law, he becomes like one not having the law.  In sum,

Erik Cave’s Introduction to Missional Thinking About Online Ministry

“I have become all things to all people so that by all means I might save some.”  1 Corinthians 9:22 

We have to come to grips with the fact that we are called to be missional, and that being missional has nothing to do with us, our desires, our comfort or our way of doing things.  It has nothing to do with the people in your church and everything to do with the people not in your church.  It includes embracing them, their desires, what makes them comfortable and their way of doing things.  It is about leaving your comfort to go where they are.  

Our world is looking for hope and community online.  The COVID-19 quarantine has accelerated this phenomenon as we have become more dependent on the internet than ever.  For better or worse, the people in your neighborhood are selectively picking and choosing their communities through social media, and these communities are not regionally based. It is easy to make a case for the problems this poses for healthy social, emotional and spiritual lives.  This is why it is so important for the church to be missionally reaching into these online spaces to call a broken world to hope and community in Jesus.

What can a church do to take a missional approach online ministry?  Begin by strategically approaching streaming of live services. Seekers will visit your church online before they will visit in person.  The trap to avoid here is falling into televangelism.  Simply feeding content to observers will not reach seekers looking for engagement, interaction and invitation. 

Here are some good steps:

Engage All Audiences as Though They are One.  We must go beyond simply greeting both online and in person audiences.  Announcements need to be tailored for both.  Welcome and connection cards need to be available in person and online.  The speaker needs to speak to and interact with both audiences.

Interact With Both Audiences.  Invite both audiences to share prayer requests.  Invite both audiences to a common online chat to comment and discuss the service.  That’s right, consider encouraging those at the in person service to use their phones to interact with those online.  Consider asking a question from the pulpit, and share responses from the chat with all. Doing this will encourage those watching the recording later to watch live. 

Invite Both Audiences to Deeper Connection.  Lurkers is the name given to people who watch online communities but never contribute.  We need to draw these lurkers into a deeper level of connection through an invitation to something outside of the Sunday morning service.  This may be a lunch with the pastor on Sunday afternoon, an online small group or webinar, a Facebook group, or ultimate frisbee in the park.  The invitation to deeper connection must be a constant and compelling part of every service and include both online and in person options.

I like to listen to podcasts.  One host regularly reads comments on their YouTube posts.  This drew me into making comments in hopes that they would be read.  Every time one is read, I show it to my family and friends.  I used to listen to another podcast at a later time than it is recorded live.  After hearing the hosts interact with live comments in the chat, I decided to listen live so I could also participate in the chat.  Still another podcast regularly invites all listeners to an online game night each Saturday.  One Saturday I had nothing to do, so I joined.  I met the hosts, who learned my name.  I am now part of their community.  These are examples of how online platforms can draw people into deeper connections one step at a time through engagement, interaction and invitation.

Think about online ministry beyond Sunday services.  We must go beyond inviting seekers to our online spaces to connect with them in their online spaces.  Ask yourself the question, “What online communities, or gathering places, are connected to our churches’ local physical community?”  Apps like Next Door are designed to connect regional communities.  Sites like Reddit and Facebook have groups dedicated to cities and neighborhoods. Your church already has members embedded in these online communities.  Consider leveraging this by providing digital postcards consisting of pleasant images and text inviting people to your online services. Encourage your church members to regularly post these to their social pages and online communities. 

These ideas are disruptive and require some work, and they are worth it. They may not result in substantial increased attendance or giving, and that is OK.  Let us remember that missional activities have never been about comfort, numbers or institutionalism.  Missional living is about going into the world with the hope of Jesus and invitation to community.  We can make an impact on the world through missional online ministry. 

PacNWC Resources for Online Ministry:

[Click Here] to access our page dedicated to resource for online ministry

  • Streaming Live Services Guide
  • Online Annual Meetings Guide
  • Website Front Page Guide
  • Faithful Ministry for the Long Haul Webinar

Introducing Thomas Sudbury

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By Erik Cave, Director of NextGen Ministries, PacNWC

Enjoy this interview with Thomas Sudbury, the new Pastor of Creative Arts at Yakima Covenant Church

What is your personal and ministry background?

My name is Thomas Sudbury, and I am the pastor of creative arts at Yakima Covenant Church in Yakima Washington. I am working under lead pastor Dean Nelson. My wife Jennifer and I have four amazing kids, Elijah (8), Noah (6), Jacob (3) and Malachi (1).My wife grew up here in Yakima and I am from Prince Edward Island Canada.

I have worked at a number of different churches throughout my minister career, primarily in the areas of worship arts and youth. I have been a camp counselor, program director, worship pastor, worship arts pastor, and youth pastor. As this is a part-time ministry for me, I am also working full-time at the YMCA as The director of youth outreach. 

What are you passionate about in ministry right now?

Right now I am very passionate about the opportunities in ministry to reach out to those who may not normally step foot inside the church doors. This is both for those who are older or have health complications that keep them from coming during the pandemic, or  from other people who have either been hurt by church or are not normally drawn to a traditional church building. I love working with the team we have in place right now and building relationships in the church as well.

How can we pray for you?

Please pray for our family as both my wife and I are essential workers which puts a large stress on our kids and our family. Also pray for more opportunities to reach out to young families here at Yakima Covenant. 

Five Things You Didn’t Know about Thomas:

  1. One of my favorite things to do is play music with my family. I enjoy collecting instruments and teaching them to my kids. We I have a piano and drums set up in our living room And as much as we can we play together. Even our two youngest join in and it’s a blast! 
  2. One thing I could not live without would be my family. I enjoy spending as much time as possible with them. We love to go on trips, discover new things together, and enjoy life. My wife and I are both very young at heart and we love to go to Disney or on adventures with the kids. 
  3. Our favorite place to be is Disney. We love Disneyland, Disney World, and the cruises. My wife was a Disney employee for about eight years and you can see her and lots of YouTube videos! 
  4. The best place I have traveled to would be Israel with my wife and our youngest at the time Jacob. It was an amazing opportunity to see where Jesus walked as well as the old city. I really felt connected to the city and Mt. Arbel because from there you can see the entire earthly ministry of Jesus (and a few cows that get stuck up on the mountain) 
  5. One of the opportunities I have here at Yakima Covenant Church is to develop a Creative Arts Team. I think leadership to me means serving like Jesus did and finding ways to bring out the best in everyone. I am looking forward to building new relationships and living life together with this team. 

[Click Here] to visit Thomas’ Facebook Page

[Click Here] to learn more about Yakima Covenant Church