Third Year Adjustments
Description for each photo: The city of Bellevue’s outreach director invited our church to participate in a “Neighborhood Walk” (top left); Vaughan receiving prayer with me (Pastor Phil) after announcing his new role; Ligaya hosting a women’s “Favorite Things” party; Meeting with Pastor Harry Li from Mosaic Church; Lilly’s baptism this summer ; Our church plant’s outdoor service at a park in Upton, Wyoming; Albert in the kitchen helping behind the scenes at Gardner and Yoana’s wedding; Celebrating a birthday for Ching-yu, and with her daughter, Ichein (bottom right).
Last May I sensed God was leading us into some significant change. In response, our church body and some ministry partners came together to begin seeking the Lord in prayer. Leading through uncertainty is hard for me so I sincerely appreciated praying together through our upcoming decisions, and needs for our church. Afterwards a friend encouraged me to change my view of change with a “growth mindset.” I knew in my mind that growth was a normal part of starting a church. What I learned this summer is how much I wanted clarity, and yet God was revealing to me how much I needed to trust him without clarity. As a result, I’ve been praying and encouraging our church to pray this summer, which leads me to this update.
I wanted to highlight seven adjustments we’re looking to make as we enter our third year as a church this September. To be honest, these areas of growth are still in a process, and so we’re asking you to join us in prayer as we adjust ….
From Classes to Talk Time: Last year we offered 56 ESL classes for our 24+ ESL students (click here). With two key leaders moving away, and more of our students looking to Bellevue College (BC), we approached our friends at Chi Alpha to see if we could partner together to start a new ESL ministry at BC. We learned that the long-standing on campus “Talk Time” ministry did not continue through Covid-19. So this fall we’re looking to serve the international students and other adult ESL students with Chi Alpha through an ESL Talk Time ministry. In addition, we’re aiming to offer some online ESL Talk Time options as well.
From YFC to Casa Monarca: Last year Youth For Christ (YFC) as an organization ended in Bellevue, but their leadership asked us to help continue the work as “Casa Monarca.” Without a leader to oversee, we have been praying about this need and God answered with Vaughan Nelson. This September he will begin serving full-time as our new Youth Outreach Director. A “Top Three” need in the immigrant community is for parental support, and particularly in caring for their youth. We believe that God is leading our church to meet this need and towards starting a youth ministry in our church.
From one to potentially two daughter churches: Last February we learned from our church network, Converge, that a Filipino couple felt led by God to start a church in the northwest by reaching the Filipino community. Faced with visa challenges, the Rebong family has been waiting, that is, until now. God provided a visa for them, and so they will be moving to our area in early September. Similar to what God did with the Newcomers, we invited them to join us, and so we look forward to what God will do as we collaborate to pray for, care for and share the gospel with our neighbors.
From translating to interpreting the sermon: Last year we started translating the sermon transcript into Mandarin to help our ESL students better understand what they heard at church. We learned this only increased our ESL students desire to understand the sermon, resulting in us looking into live translation options for this fall. With the advice of Pastor Li from Mosaic Church, we hope to provide simultaneous interpretation of the sermon into Mandarin this fall. We are open to paying a “lay interpreter'“ if someone is competent in both English and Mandarin. If you know of someone, email Pastor Phil at phil@anthemeastside.com.
From not only Sunday to also Tuesday for Young Adults: Last year we worked with two of our young adults to co-create a small group on Sunday that would be a more hospitable community for post-college, career-oriented young adults. Because of their stage in life, there is a growing desire and need for more opportunities to grow deeper with God and one another. So starting this fall, Ligaya and I are opening our home for Vaughan, Albert, Kerry, Ben and others to help us create a place for young adults in their 20s and 30s to share life together on their journey of faith.
From CBC to Anthem Accounting: Since we began, our parent church, Crossroads Bible Church, has graciously supported us by processing our financial contributions. As God grows our church plant, we believe it’s important for us to set-up a financial system we manage on our own. Now we’re able to manage our own financial contributions through our new financial team, and so that people can continue to give here to the work God is doing in our church.
From Recruiting to Developing Leaders: Last fall I began a conversation with a few people, who were faithfully serving the church. As God grew our church, we agreed there was a need to more intentionally coordinate how we provided pastoral care for our church members. Starting this fall, six group leaders will start meeting with me to ensure each person of our church family is growing in spiritual maturity with God. My goals are to strengthen our bond in prayer, to align together through direction from me, and to grow in our spiritual confidence and capability as shepherds through a leader development training plan.
As God grows our church into our third year, we seek to be faithful in our love of God, one another, and our neighbor. Join us in praying for the adjustments we are seeking to make as a church. Praise God for the support of our community, how people are coming together to pray, to discuss and to hear from God. Pray that we are humble, wise, and discerning as we continue to step forward in faith towards God’s vision for His church.