We are all so overjoyed to celebrate the 10th baptism this year into our growing campus ministry. Chandler Kelly has been a part of the church her entire life and has wrestled with her faith and landed on her feet with deep love for God and deep convictions about the truth.

The short video of her baptism is below…

On Tuesday, November 26th, Jacob Tacher played his senior recital at Cornish’s Kerry Hall.   Amid beautiful vocals, flawless drum solo’s and professional musical compositions, we saw Jake Tacher performing in front of a packed house.   Watching him entertain us with all his passion and soul, I got the opportunity to think about Jake and reflect on all his accomplishments since he’s been a part of the campus ministry.

Jake has always been an open and humble soul.  Some of our first meetings together involved the two of us, up late, sharing opportunities to be truthful and honest about our lives.   From the day he came into campus, Jake has always been open and humble about his struggles and trials.  It’s funny that many people believe Christianity is a test to see how good we can fake it, you know, convince other people that we have it all together.  Not Jake.   His openness with me, his small group and his peers has been nothing short of experiencing someone who wants to be known.  I can honestly say that I know Jake and so do those who have been privileged enough to be called his friends.

When Jake began performing his own compositions, I reflected on how creative he is spiritually.  Yes, he is published worldwide in our new songbooks, and yes, he is part of our worship team both in Seattle and on the Eastside; but those are only glimpses into his amazing ability to take music and help it set moods and tones in our lives.   Jake has and always will be emotionally available and engaging.   It makes being his friend an exciting journey as he lets you in on his life.  This creative passion transfers over into the kind of leader he is, compassionate, thoughtful and inspiring.   Watching his senior recital was indeed a reflection of his ability to change moods and bring the best out of those around him.   His original composition, Pink Sun, was one of many original works that showcased this ability and made us all proud of the hard work and energy that he has poured into his program.

As the night settled down, I looked around and saw an auditorium full of people that Jake has touched;  many of them students he has reached out to in an effort to help them know God and the Gospel.   There were two or three rows of students from SPU, Seattle Central and Cornish and it was easy to see what a difference Jake has made in the lives of those around him and in the Church.   He has left behind a legacy of men he has mentored in the faith and a ministry that he has helped build and lead.   My prayer is that Jake will continue to touch the lives of others the way he has in his time on campus; and that he would continue to bless the Seattle Church with his talent, creativity and love for others for as long as he is here with us.

Thank you Jake for your friendship, hard work and love.   We can’t wait to see what  the upcoming years will bring for all of us that have grown to know you.

Jake currently serves as a Bible Talk Leader for the City Campus Bible Talk as well as a song leader and worship coordinator for the both the West and East regions of the Seattle Church Christ.  

A dynamic group of 70 college students from all around the Northwest met at Camp Casey on Whidbey Island for an unforgettable weekend of building friendship and faith. The students searched themselves and God’s Word for what it means to them to be DEVOTED. All this while enjoying good food, fun and fellowship. We’ll be posting some pictures and stories soon.

DEVOTED Campus Retreat
Camp Casey Conference Center
Whidbey Island
November 16-18
Registration begins at 8pm on Nov 16th
$85 includes all meals and lodging.

Directions:
I-5 North, exit #182 to Highway 525,
Take the Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry,
Hwy 525 North 22 miles,
Turn left on Wanamaker Rd. (State Road 20)
Continue left on State Road 20,
Continue past Keystone Ferry
Camp Casey Conference Center is at
1276 South Engle Road, Coupeville, WA 98239

For more information, email Alex Whitaker at alexpblues@gmail.com

This last week on Monday, October 15^ththe Campus went on our legendary trip to Bob’s Corn Maze up in Snohomish. Starting at 7:15 pm it looked to be a particularly stormy evening but the rain chose to let up. However what was left behind was a layer of mud at times a whole shoe or more deep. Bob himself warned us just how messy it would get as if that could stop us crazy kids instead it was a challenge.

Halfway through was a bonfire to warm up and have some campfire worship before continuing the adventure as we slipped, sloshed and stormed ahead. We battled dead ends, wrong turns, misplaced signs, and brothers jumping out of the corn for a quick scare to complete the maze in one piece. In fact we took more away with us afterwards in the form of mud both on, and in, our shoes, pants, and for those who fell or practiced their very best penguin slide on our shirts as well.

It ended up being another fantastic evening of laughter, shouts, and camaraderie. It really got me to thinking about the parallels between a corn maze and our spiritual lives. We will face dead ends, messy decisions, confusing choices, and long circular paths that end up taking us back to where we began but in the end we will emerge from the maze. But just like the Bible says we need each other, it is the people we have beside us who can encourage, push and help us as we charge ahead through every obstacle, rejoicing in the experience of living.  

By Devin Hackett Sr. University of Washington

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed,”

1 Peter 1: 6-7.

This past weekend, over 100 disciples from the Seattle Church traveled to San Antonio for the first ever World Discipleship Summit!  We witnessed God move in incredible ways – there is so much to share in the weeks ahead.  For video highlights CLICK HERE!

We will be posting comments from people who attended…take a look at what Tony, a disciple on the eastside had to say:

For those who were not able to make it to the conference, here’s the next best thing – videos, particularly from Sunday’s service. I plan on re-watching this as well as many others that are available. I am not the type to listen to sermons online (though I want to be), so this should give you an idea how exceptional this was. Maybe we can make a Bibletalk out of this (we should). http://www.disciplestoday.org/content/view/3665/62/

I feel so homesick right now since I’ve been back home. Think about that for a moment. I had no idea what I was walking into – the single most impactful experience I’ve had since teen camp 14 years ago. I did not think as an adult I could ever have an experience such as that again. Before going, I admittedly viewed this as JAC (Just Another Conference). One that took up 4th of July weekend even. But I came away feeling like a different person with a different outlook on life. If it was just for the fellowship, it would have been well worth the time off work, the expense, the flights, the hotel stays, the heat.

If it was just for Sunday’s service, it would have been well worth it…

If it was just for the lessons (285 total over 4 days, obviously we could not personally attend most of them), it would have been well worth it…

If it was just for the book sale area which filled an entire exhibit area, which had every author I could hope for there personally recommending and signing books, helping me to desire to learn more about history, science, the bible and our God, it would have been worth the trip.

I didn’t even mention the singing yet. Ever wonder what men who dream sounds like with 17,800 people packed into a single room, many high from a combination of the spirit and delirious from sleep deprived exhaustion? We all lifted our arms in prayer. We all got on our knees in prayer. I’ve watched people cry after songs. This is not meant to make those who couldn’t make it feel bad (though now I do feel terrible for anyone who could not attend), but rather offer a glimpse so they can partake in the Event which had taken place. I personally had no idea, and could have easily skipped it myself. And honestly the videos are such a great resource – the environment cannot be reproduced but the teachings are readily accessible online thanks to technology.

And speaking of technology, I have a new found respect for Roger Lamb, who has tirelessly championed for sites such as DisciplesToday and DTHeartandSoul out of a pure desire to serve the church family. These sites persevered through support and a lack there of and overcame obstacles which should have sunk projects. Only working for the Lord could have sustained such motivation. In my heart I have been critical of these efforts in the past, but after this past week I feel ashamed for my attitude, repenting, and now have great admiration for those in our fellowship who are spearheading our push on the technology and social media front.

After this week, I want to sign up for these and really take advantage the wealth of content which connect us with our brothers and sisters from around the kingdom.

For those who did go, as you come off that Mountain (there’s no mountains in texas lol), do not revert back to the way you were before. Hold on to one thing. This email has been rather over the top even for me. But 1 Thess 5:19 says do not put out the Spirit’s fire so I’m clicking send…

- Tony

If I told you that 5 years ago, when we didn’t have a campus presence at SPU, that it wasn’t an ideal place to begin a campus ministry, many people would have agreed. I saw many efforts made to help start a ministry there in the past and there were times when I began to doubt whether we would ever see a campus presence of disciples.  It’s a small college that has deep religious traditions, which makes bringing in new ideas and approaches to Christianity difficult. Many thought it might take a full time intern on the campus to provide the students with daily leadership and direction.   And most obviously, there were many complexities of starting a campus ministry in a school where many students and faculty might feel threatened or offended by the differences in our perspectives on conversion, baptism and practical Christianity.

Today there are 13 brothers and sisters at SPU (and 16 in their two bible talks), thanks to a series of little miracles that helped us see a restoration of biblical relationships and faith lived out there.

The first miracle was that we had children that grew up in our group of churches, who decide to attend school there: Ali Winje, Audrey Hoffner and Fabricio Turcious were among the first.  Ali Winje was the first disciple to start attending classes at SPU.  With a scholarship to play soccer, she was all alone her Freshman year and really fought hard to stay faithful, having to attend a UW Bible Talk and be a part of a ministry on the other side of Montlake.  The next year, Audrey Hoffner enrolled at SPU.  Fabricio enrolled the folllowing year, and brought a lot of faith and a strong desire to start a ministry.   With Fabricio, Ali and Audrey together, the 3 of them formed a cohesive core group that made the Bible Talk attractive to other students.  Along with Jake Tacher and Hannah Templer, who attended different schools, we finally had enough students to start an SPU Bible Talk.  And if one of those pieces was missing, I doubt it would have worked.

The second miracle was the City Region purchasing the Queen Anne building.  Situated less than a half mile up the hill from SPU, the Queen Anne Church building provides a very inviting and welcoming place for SPU students to worship.  I think the stability and permanence of the building has made evangelism at that school a little easier because students come and see something familiar, a permanent place to worship and grow in their faith.  The Queen Anne building is a place where they can have events, watch movies, hold dances, pray all night and of course, worship on Sundays.  The city region of the Seattle Church sacrificed in dollars, and the SPU ministry is reaping in souls being saved.

The final miracle was the conversion of strong spiritual men: Aaron Badilla, Jens Brenestead and Brian Fisher were the first three brothers converted there, and they have all grown into faithful, spiritual leaders who have helped convert other strong men of character.  They use their talents by leading Bible talks and small groups on that campus, outreach, and even singing and performing on Sundays. Those brothers have provided a sense of stability and maturity beyond their years and have opened a door that has made it safe for other students to follow.

Fabricio, Josh and Jens

This past week, in sub freezing temperatures, Josh Heinke was baptized into Christ at Golden Gardens.  Josh was the 16th SPU baptism in the past 2 years!  The whole moment was pretty overwhelming for me, so I stayed afterward and prayed.  When I closed my eyes, all I could think of was Jesus’ words to his disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” Luke 1O. So many of us have longed to see something like this, a vibrant ministry at SPU. I believe that SPU is one of the largest campus ministries at a faith based school in our movement of churches. What an incredible blessing for us to see God working like this, and I pray that the miracles happening here can inspire faith in students on other difficult and hard to reach campuses.