This Sunday I helped 15 middle school girls and two adult leaders get checked in to summer camp at Black Lake Bible Camp in Olympia. It got me thinking about my first experience as a camp counselor. I graduated high school in 2008. That summer I worked at a Christian summer camp as a middle […]
I Declared My Independence
On March 14 of this year, I declared my independence from the United Kingdom. Well… sort of. I took the Oath of Allegiance of the United States of America and became a U.S. citizen. It included the following words: “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and […]
It All Matters!
Do you ever feel discouraged even though you know what you do is important? Your heart is grateful to God and generous toward others, but you doubt it matters or is worth the effort? This week brought such a sweet, surprising reminder that the Spirit is working through us when we all can use encouragement. […]
We Found a Home!
Thirteen years ago almost exactly, Pastor Jeremy Vaccaro and I walked into Hope Church in Memphis, Tennessee to attend the General Assembly of a denomination not our own. We were in the process of leading Chapel Hill out of the PC(USA) because we were concerned about the direction it was moving theologically and socially. But […]
A Father’s Blessing
Several years ago, I taught a series of classes called Men’s Life: Authentic Manhood. Several things surprised me about that experience. First, the incredible turnout! There was a real hunger among men to understand God’s view, not the world’s view, of what a real man is supposed to be. Here’s another amazing realization: I was […]
Seeking the Kingdom
One of my intentional themes for this year is taken from Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” I decided that throughout the year, I wanted to focus on that command to seek first the kingdom of God. But what does […]
A Church Without Kids!?!
I never planned to be a pastor. Not at first. Not even in the middle. My journey into ministry began by just going to church with my family at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Yakima. Sunday School. Youth Group. (We called it “God Squad”…I know, gag!) Vacation Bible School and summer camp. A traveling high school […]
Becoming Faith Builders
I grew up in a loving “churchgoing” family. Our family’s Christian faith was primarily based on how regularly we attended church and how often we recited a memorized prayer before meals during my formative years. Looking back, I recognize that God was someone I learned about instead of someone that I could know and have […]
Welcome Our New Student Ministries Director!
I’m thrilled to announce a significant addition to our team that marks a new chapter in our commitment to youth formation and discipleship. We have just hired our new Student Ministries Director, Caleb Bagdanov, who brings a wealth of passion, experience, and dedication to our mission of nurturing the next generation of leaders to be […]
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Seamless Succession
It hardly seems possible that it was 13 years ago last January that I first laid eyes on him. I had just taken a red-eye flight to London and taxied into Oxford. Rich Jasper and I went right to a class being taught by our friend, John Lennox. Only one unoccupied seat remained, and I sat in it. […]