Region 1 team fostering urban focus

By Ron Shepard
Team Leader, NWBC Region 1

Prayer and training events are forming new partner­ships in NWBC Region 1. When people within a church, or churches in a local area, join in united, prayerful and biblical ministry, God resources that ministry. His­tory reveals God can be counted on when his people, the church, do their part.

As a result of “Great Commission Initiative” training, we have surveyed about 30 communities in the Puget Sound metro area. Our regional staff continue going with pastors and church members in to communi­ties where we have not been before.

As a result of Natural Church Development training, 14 coaches have been trained to work with churches to improve church health. Gifts to the Cooperative Program and to associations are making this possible.

Changes are coming in the area of young adult/collegiate ministry. The Purple Door (a ministry facility near UW Seattle) will be used as a launching point to develop a network of campus based groups designed to become young adult-focused church­es, on multiple college cam­puses.

We are beginning to see new momentum in the larger cities. Church planting efforts are taking place in Tacoma and Seattle. Several regional staff members are making radical missionary commitments to become catalysts in the cities, not just around the cities.

Contrary to what some believe, the people in Seattle and Tacoma are open to and hungry for true spiritual­ity. The lean economy and uncertain national political climate have opened the eyes of many urban residents. Cities are known for many things, in­cluding their ability to meet needs without much divine consultation. It appears that more are realizing that they cannot trust in the cities alone. A clear gospel witness is needed and, in my opinion, wanted.