The Impact of a Church Family

God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

1 Corinthians 1:9

Today, Jackie and I had a wonderful time having lunch with Chris and Bree Davis. They shared stories about their children Madison and Brady. Chris and I discussed fishing and work. Bree told Jackie about the great experiences she’s had being a Martial Arts Instructor in our Martial Arts Ministry. Jackie was able to share with Bree about a recent conversation she had with Melissa Tyksinski over coffee and how highly they valued their friendship with the Davis’. They were so excited about their new home in the neighborhood with the Horner family and we prayed together. As Jackie and I drove away from that lunch we both felt so uplifted and encouraged. What a gift it is to have such a wonderful family of friends.

If we want to fellowship with Jesus – then we need faith-filled fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

Sometimes we wonder why our faith is struggling and the answer is actually simpler than we can imagine or maybe, even want to hear. All we need is faith-filled (positive) fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We came to an even better understanding of that fact the other night when Jackie and I had a dinner at the Prosch’s home. We felt our spirits being restored by the experience of just being with such great people. We enjoyed the drive to Monroe and meeting their neighbor when he stuck his head over the backyard fence. Tyler was excited to show us his car collection. Brianna made us both use stickers and loved playing lots of jokes on Jackie. I told Brian and Carla that someday Brianna was going to be a great counselor. We thoroughly enjoyed the backyard barbecue complete with some Minnesotan food celebrating the Prosch’s homeland.

Jackie was really touched when Brianna showed her the two purses she uses to save her money in. I was moved by their family tradition of prayer for the meal – they go around the table, just like our Small Group TLC’s, and let anyone pray who wants to. Then, instead of saying “Amen” the kids say, “Now let’s eat the food!” Brian, just like a father would, made a little speech about what Christ has done in their lives and family since coming to Washington Cathedral. We heard about their camping trips with the Roth family and others. Jackie and I drove home rejuvenated at the presence of Jesus in our fellowship.


“As they talked and discussed these things with each to other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them.” Luke 24:32

Years ago my brother Jim and his family joined our church while he was working as a carpenter building commercial buildings. We asked him and his wife out to dinner and when we sat down he said, “Okay, what do you want?” I asked what he meant and he said, “I am a preacher’s kid too. I know that people in church always want something when they get together.” I responded, “Can’t I take my brother and his wife out to dinner without him suspecting that I am going to ask him to be a Sunday school teacher or something?”

Today, I am not asking you to get involved in a ministry. Rather, just to be intentional about getting involved in your brother and sisters lives. It is better if there is no agenda -- simply life long friends walking together with God in a healthy relationship. You will be surprised at how God will bless you if you take a little time to get to know some of the family of God.

A Celebration of Cultures

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:43

The other day Michelle Mendoza interviewed Pastor Ricardo and myself for a program on KCIS Radio. During that interview we had the opportunity to share with her how we feel the favor of God in our new bilingual worship service at 12:30 on Sundays - Esperanza. We were able to share that one of the great advantages of a “bilingual” format is that English speaking people could begin to learn Spanish and Spanish speaking people could begin to learn English. We explained that the worship songs are done in Spanish and English. (It is amazing to hear the blending of both languages in tune to the music.) When someone like Ricardo preaches, Pastor Rey or our intern pastor, McKenzie, translates. We shared that one of the highlights is after the service when we have a delicious Hispanic meal and the incredible bilingual fellowship.

It was exciting to have the opportunity to share with our community through KCIS what is happening here at Washington Cathedral. In building a great caring network, God has called us to reach through cultural barriers and be a diverse community in the name of Jesus.

Dr. Daniel Shaw a noted Christian Anthropologist says in his book Folk Religions “since God is beyond human culture the only way we can rightly interpret the Word of God is with Christians from more than one cultural context.” The discussion is inspired and allows us to see God from beyond our personal cultural biases. We have all known that God is beyond culture. When Jesus taught, he addressed cultural mores using the formula – “You have heard it said, but I tell you ……” He was not putting down culture but he was fulfilling the deepest expectations and highest ideals with the profundity that one would expect from an interview with God.

Another of our new services is Catalyst Redux, which represents a new post modern culture. Many from that culture question much what has been associated with Christianity and expressed by the culture of Modernity. Their Saturday night 8 pm service is very creative. The service encourages multiple voices sharing the message, rather than just one. The participants mix art, poetry, discussion and candle light with open interaction of the class of cultures often representing religion in the 21st century. What a joy it is for me to see those who have been completely turned off by the Christian religion to find a new fresh faith in Jesus Christ at this service. Our intern pastor, Ben McCary, is working diligently on this Catalyst Redux project under the close directorship of Pastor Scott Burnett and it is having much success.

Recently, I attended 11 different worship services at Washington Cathedral not counting weddings and memorial services. Every service was different. In every service I could feel the presence of God and I was deeply touched. What an adventure! It is going to be so exciting to see what God has in store for us in the next year.

Esperanza Service

I recently received this letter from David Fox and I was so impressed by his passion for the Esperanza service that I just had to share it with our church family.

Today’s premier Esperanza service was fabulous. It was the beginning of a new era at Washington Cathedral – the day the church took an incredible step towards reaching not only the “unchurched,” but the “churched without a church.” In other words, Latinos in Redmond who have no church nearby with services in their own language. The level of energy in the sanctuary was apparent right from the first Praise Team song, when Alex Wolf strummed an incredible Flamenco-type solo on his guitar. Pastor Ricardo Uribe could no longer contain his enthusiasm and ran over to the congas. He slapped a beat that took the rhythm of both the song and the service to new heights.

When Mackenzie Debow opened the service with announcements in Spanish and English, and we all knew that this dream of a bilingual service at Washington Cathedral was now a reality. After she invited us to meet two new people during the snack break, the congregation took it several steps further and introduced themselves to anyone they didn’t recognize. There was so much excitement in the air; it made me want to meet every unfamiliar face there.

God was clearly present with us, encouraging fellowship across cultures. I have always been intrigued to know that there exists a country in West Africa where Spanish is spoken, but I had no idea that I would meet a couple from Equatorial Guinea right here in our own sanctuary! There were people from several other Spanish-speaking countries present, as well as North Americans who had learned Spanish both here and afar. And many people without any Spanish background attended the first Esperanza service, where they heard a powerful message and had a wonderful time!

The best part of the service was Pastor Rey’s sermon entitled “What is in your hands?” based on the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-28. With Pastor Ricardo translating into English, Pastor Rey drew parallels with the challenges faced by young King David, Moses, and his own experience of getting cut from an all-girl volleyball team. We all know how enthusiastic Rey gets when he’s at the pulpit, so having to pause every sentence for Ricardo to translate for him was truly a challenge! At times Rey couldn’t think of a word in Spanish and said it in English instead, so Ricardo said the word in Spanish for him. Next thing we knew we were hearing a sermon in English being translated into Spanish! Pastor Elise later remarked that hearing it twice really allowed the word of God to sink in.

I was so proud of everyone’s willingness to reach out across cultural and linguistic fences to share the Gospel of Jesus. Kelsey Robinson had just returned from the High School mission trip to Honduras and put her newly-acquired Spanish to the test as an usher. Kelly Glenn did a wonderful job of giving the offertory prayer in her best “Castellano.” Sara Clark led the Praise Team with songs in Spanish, English and a combination of both! There were plenty of people working hard behind the scenes as well. Gigi Bresolin and Josh Kildall missed this wonderful service so they could lead the first bilingual Esperanza service Sunday school class. Josh said it was a good start, as only two out of eight children left the classroom in tears!!

I encourage you all to step out of your comfort zone and attend the new Esperanza service at 12:30pm Sundays. Better yet, reach out and invite a friend to come experience God’s presence with you. Who among us does not know someone who speaks or has studied Spanish at one time (maybe even you?) There are mini-flyers available in the atrium that will make it easy for you. Pastor Roy Seymour was brave enough to attend, he can now say, “Que Diós te bendiga” (God bless you.)

Have you tried the Esperanza service yet? What did you think?

What Are You For?

When Paul saw them he thanked God and took courage. Acts 28:15b


I was so inspired by Colonel Erskine Austin’s part of the sermon last week. He talked about point #2 - “Freedom is Not Free.” It was a great moment for everyone in our church having our lives marked by such a wonderful man. He said something that really made the hair on the back of my neck raise up. His statement was, “Pastor Tim and I agree on the principle ‘it is not what you are against, but it is far more important what you are for!’”

It is easy to stand against almost everything. But, the more important issue is “what are we proposing for the future?” Pastor Scott gave me a book the other day entitled Presidential Courage. It tells the story of how brave leaders have changed America from 1789 to 1989. One thing I couldn’t help but notice is the diversity of philosophies -- George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan and others. They all have one thing in common -- in the complexity of their life challenges they found a vision to pursue. A vision they could stand by, and hang onto as they pounded out the practical issues. They were prepared to sacrifice because they knew in the final analysis the vision was bigger than they were.

Let me ask you a question. What do you stand for? What can you get behind? What will you be remembered for? And what in your life requires an enormous amount of courage just to continue? So much courage that you cannot possibly do it by yourself – God must help you.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every person who complains about our society or government, or community, or a business, or faith would instead propose a change to improve it? And what if they backed up that proposal for change with an offer to wade in and help until the change came about? Can you imagine what kind of world it would be if there was just this one attitude change?

I for one am tired of religious people being known for all the things that they are against. What are we for? What changes are we proposing and what are we doing to wade in and back up that proposal with an offer to help?

Tim White