Everson Opens Family Learning Center The sign in front of the Everson (Wash.) Church welcomes guests and members alike with the words, "The Neighborhood Church That Cares About You.” It’s written in English in a largely Hispanic community. The Holy Spirit inspired the small Everson congregation to ask some hard questions about the purpose of the church in that neighborhood. Byron Dulan of Adventist Community Services (ACS) had encouraged the Everson Church to expand its vision to meet the greater needs of the community. One of the church members who worked for the public school learned there was a need for adult education in this Hispanic community that the school district could not meet. After seeking God's will, the congregation eagerly voted to open the church and offer classes in these programs as staff and funds became available. The name of the program came from Isaiah 58:11: “And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought…and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” “A Watered Garden” fit the ministry that had already begun in the community through the Children’s Ministry Garden, in which the children of the neighborhood had learned about temporal and spiritual seed planting, watering, weeding and fruit bearing for the past four summers. Jazmina and Ivan Marin from Canada heard that the Everson Church was exploring the education possibilities for the Hispanic community. Jazmina was excited to share her expertise through Spanish literacy training and English as a second language (ESL) classes. Shortly thereafter, Kathleen O’Connor, a Methodist minister with ESL and Spanish training, also volunteered to help the fledgling program. Louis and Debra Turner conducted non-profit organization program development training on the business as well as spiritual aspects of community service projects. The Mexican Consulate offered their services also. Later, the church board applied for the Hope for Humanity grant through the Washington Conference and ACS. The grant was soon written with seed money from the Washington Federation of ACS. The first classes opened on Nov. 16, 2003, with 45 adult students registered. Through the efforts of committed staff and devoted students, class levels were quickly established, friendships were developed, and each student began to find confidence in his or her learning level. God's most recent miracle was a larger grant from the North American Division and Adventist Development and Relief Agency, which came on April 29. These funds will open doors to larger facilities for even more educational courses.
Everson Opens Family Learning Center
The sign in front of the Everson (Wash.) Church welcomes guests and members alike with the words, "The Neighborhood Church That Cares About You.”
It’s written in English in a largely Hispanic community. The Holy Spirit inspired the small Everson congregation to ask some hard questions about the purpose of the church in that neighborhood. Byron Dulan of Adventist Community Services (ACS) had encouraged the Everson Church to expand its vision to meet the greater needs of the community.
One of the church members who worked for the public school learned there was a need for adult education in this Hispanic community that the school district could not meet. After seeking God's will, the congregation eagerly voted to open the church and offer classes in these programs as staff and funds became available.
The name of the program came from Isaiah 58:11: “And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought…and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”
“A Watered Garden” fit the ministry that had already begun in the community through the Children’s Ministry Garden, in which the children of the neighborhood had learned about temporal and spiritual seed planting, watering, weeding and fruit bearing for the past four summers.
Jazmina and Ivan Marin from Canada heard that the Everson Church was exploring the education possibilities for the Hispanic community. Jazmina was excited to share her expertise through Spanish literacy training and English as a second language (ESL) classes. Shortly thereafter, Kathleen O’Connor, a Methodist minister with ESL and Spanish training, also volunteered to help the fledgling program.
Louis and Debra Turner conducted non-profit organization program development training on the business as well as spiritual aspects of community service projects. The Mexican Consulate offered their services also.
Later, the church board applied for the Hope for Humanity grant through the Washington Conference and ACS. The grant was soon written with seed money from the Washington Federation of ACS.
The first classes opened on Nov. 16, 2003, with 45 adult students registered. Through the efforts of committed staff and devoted students, class levels were quickly established, friendships were developed, and each student began to find confidence in his or her learning level.
God's most recent miracle was a larger grant from the North American Division and Adventist Development and Relief Agency, which came on April 29. These funds will open doors to larger facilities for even more educational courses.
For the last four summers, kids in the Everson Church neighborhood worked in the Childrens Ministry Garden where they learned about temporal and spiritual seed planting, watering, weeding and fruit bearing.
Students in the Spanish literacy program received library cards from the McBeath Community Library in Everson and took home armloads of materials to read.
Jazmina Marin from Canada tutors a student in the Spanish literacy classes sponsored by the Everson Church.
