For years, several people have been praying for Adventist work to grow in the affluent suburbs of the Seattle-Tacoma metro area.
Recently, a core group from HopeCity South Hill, an Adventist church plant in South Hill, Washington, has been meeting every Friday evening to pray, plan and share updates on their efforts to start spiritual conversations with their colleagues and neighbors.
Mitch was a neighbor who, through their efforts, was invited to attend a "preview" worship service at Hope City South Hill.
“I’ve never been to church before. I didn’t know what to expect, but a friend invited me," said Mitch after the service. “I’m glad I came. I think this is where I needed to be. Thank you for what you and the others are doing to provide this for us.”
HopeCity South Hill is one of 33 church planting projects currently underway in North Pacific Union. We are thankful for all of them, but we need 50 more church plants to reach the new and unreached communities in our territory.
Fifteen years ago, we had an Adventist presence in 546 communities to reach 13 million people. Today, we have an Adventist presence in 550 communities to reach 16 million people. We are clearly not keeping up with the population growth.
Most of that population growth is happening in our four biggest mission fields, where 8 million people live: Seattle-Tacoma, Portland-Vancouver, Boise-Treasure Valley and Spokane-Coeur d'Alene. This is where we must be very proactive.
How can we tell where to focus? Look wherever they are building a new Costco, Walmart, Target, public school, community or recreation center, because the experts already know where the population is growing.
We need "sending churches" to identify the territory, enlist a team and begin training so that we can move forward into these rapidly expanding communities with the Adventist message of hope and wholeness in preparation for the soon return of Jesus.
Is Jesus speaking to your heart to go or to help support in sending others? Talk to your church or conference leaders about how to get involved, or email dan.serns@nw.npuc.org. As Matt. 24:14 and Luke 10:1–3 remind us, the harvest is great, the workers are few, so let’s get going!
