“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” – Jeremiah 29:7
Downtown Cornerstone,
We’re about three weeks away from our Serve the Cityevent! If you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to register and invite two or three neighbors, friends, family, or co-workers to join in as well!
If you’re new or haven’t been around for a while, you may be wondering, “Why are we serving the city in this way?”As a church, we want to proclaim the Gospel in word and demonstrate it in deed. Because of that, here are three reasons why we are serving the city this summer, and why you should consider joining us:
1. WE’VE BEEN SERVED AND LOVED
Romans 5:8 says that even while we were enemies of God, Christ died for us. As a church, we believe that we’ve been infinitely loved and served by God, through the person and work of Jesus. Because of that, we believe that the good news of the Gospel is not only shared in word, but demonstrated in deed. Serving is not just “giving back do-goodism”, but a tangible expression of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – serving as we’ve been served; loving as we’ve been loved, in Christ.
2. THERE’S A NEED
The Seattle School District has only 5 groundskeepers to maintain 34 schools in the South Seattle school district. This leaves many of the schools without adequate funding and manpower to maintain the properties. As such, these schools heavily rely on volunteer efforts to come alongside and help maintain their properties and facilities. We asked Seattle Schools where their greatest need is, and they told us Gatewood Elementary. We desire to be humble, responsive, loving, service partners with the school district.
3. WE’RE A FAMILY ON MISSION
Often when we think of the church, we think of it as a family, and it is (Eph 2:19, Gal 6:10), but more importantly, the church (us!) is God’s primary vehicle for the spread of the Gospel (Eph 3:8-11). We call that mission, or the “great commission” (Matt 28:18-20). God sent His son to seek and save the lost, and He sends us as His people, across the street and around the world – with the good news that Jesus offers forgiveness of sin and new life with Him, beginning now. The whole purpose of doing events like this is to not only love and serve the city, but create space to invite others to participate with us, and love and serve others as Christ has loved and served us.
Practically…
1. Who can you reach out to this week and invite them to serve with you?
Be praying now for good conversation, open doors, and that the Spirit of God would use something as simple as serving the city together to change the hearts and lives of our not-yet-believing friends for all eternity!
2. How might you weave this into the rhythm of your community’s summer schedule?
It would be cool to see whole communities serving together, extending their connecting beyond just their regular meeting times. Talk with folks in your community about making this a summer priority!
That our joy in Jesus would be tangible to our city,
Pastor Craig
Here’s the video from a few years ago to help whet your appetite!
“The Stories of Grace series is intended to capture snapshots of God’s grace and glory amidst our every day lives. They are real stories of real people who have seen the fingerprints of God amidst the ordinary—God’s favorite canvas. Each story is personal, unique and, often, unfinished. Through it all we get glimpses of God’s steadfast love, sufficient grace, and ongoing presence with his people.”
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We’re playing Bingo, and the caller announces “B 4” into the microphone. I’m tempted to crack a lame joke and respond, “Before what?” But I resist.
It’s Friday afternoon and we’re at a session of Bingo at Bayview Retirement Community. Three gals in their twenties, two baby boys in their onesies, and a table of aging seniors with varying, but mostly limited, communication abilities—really, a table of adopted grandmothers for our sons. Oh, how they love our boys.
It started off pretty easy: two mamas with a sleeping baby in each stroller, helping seniors through the game of Bingo. Perhaps there was an occasional nursing session or a wheeling of the makeshift crib to calm the cries. But there was always a guarantee of adult conversation and the biggie: a reason to get out of the house.
As our babies grew, our Bingo play cards reduced from two, to one, to none. Our ability to help residents through the game followed a similar drop, though we are somehow able to improvise a tag team dance of kid-watch along with the help of the Activities Coordinator and a friend who joins us monthly. What started as a relaxing, adult-focused outing while our babies snoozed has morphed into a monthly rhythm that requires a determined and patient heart. I get out of my house to perform a workout of sorts that requires entertaining a curious toddler for two hours amidst Bingo calls, wheelchairs, and so many things he can’t touch. I am no longer just helping residents complete a game of Bingo, for the person sitting next to me actually has a complete Four Corner Cluster and we both forgot to call it.
But I’ve realized: the game is not the point.
When we enter the activity room on these Friday afternoons, the residents do not light up and smile because they think they might win a round of Bingo with our help. No, the game is not their joy; rather, seeing our boys is their joy (and sometimes they like hanging out with us, too). There is a lady who smiles, lips closed but eyes bright, every time she sees my son, Oliver. We always introduce ourselves. He waves, and she looks at him with adoration. After roughly eight visits, I was sitting at the table with Oliver in my lap. He had a toy and was seconds from squirming out of my hold and onto the floor to grab the microphone cord when from across the table she said it: “Oh, I know him!”
It was the first time I had heard her speak. She remembered us. She knew us.
God, could you work in her heart to know You, too? Could we aid in that introduction?
The hope was that this would be missional somehow. Since our community visits monthly, we ladies with weekday availability thought it would be helpful to also attend these Friday Bingo sessions. Another chance to get to know the residents, to deepen relationships, to be a help, and ultimately to share the love of Christ. While I’ve yet to navigate how to craft simple (and loud!) truth statements about God to seniors who have sadly lost much of their ability to hold a conversation, I hold out hope that something we are doing here is speaking of God’s love for them. I do know that we are helping to love and recognize a group of individuals often overlooked in our city. For God instructs us to love the widows and orphans, the vulnerable and down-trodden.
If an opportunity did arise where I could speak of Christ, perhaps the connections would be more quickly made. As they have seen us enter into their lives, they could see how Christ, the holy and eternal God, has entered into our human, mortal lives on earth. As we listen and play and assist, drawing near to them, perhaps they could know that God draws near to us. He is always present, ready to welcome and re-welcome sinners into His care.
So we continue with these Friday Bingo sessions at Bayview, two toddlers in tow. We have no idea what we’re doing, but we desire to love those that Christ has placed around us. We know God is continually shaping our hearts to love others more—especially those unlike us—and to depend on Him for all those awkward and inconvenient moments of service. Amazingly, he might use us to bring the good news of Christ to those in this nursing home. He may yet bring salvation to an old sinner.
It is not easy to love and serve the oppressed and the downtrodden. It can be hard, awkward, uncomfortable, and inconvenient. But there are so many groups of people in our city who need to experience the love of Christ. What would it look like for you to serve as He has served us? Who is in your life that may be overlooked or unloved, and how can you begin to look and love on them? May we be an encouragement to one another as we draw near, pray, assist, serve, and yes, play Bingo.
One crucial element of our church’s DNA that we’re aiming to re-create this year is a missional culture. That is, a culture in which relational evangelism is the norm. From our earliest days as a church our goal has always been to cultivate a culture in which everyone sought to build meaningful relationships with not-yet-believers in order to love them to Jesus. Yet, over the last six years, amidst growth, pastoral care issues, personal emergencies, changing venues, local mega-church implosions, and more, a bit of that DNA was lost. By God’s grace, we are seeking to change that this year.
When we talk about creating a “missional culture” we are not talking about a program that is run by leaders of the church. Rather, we are talking about a reality in which we are personally cultivating relationships with unbelievers, while seeking opportunities to graciously share the good news of Jesus. The vast majority of people do not trust Christ on Sunday-alone but through meaningful personal relationships with real-life followers of Jesus. That means we must think about this relationally. So, in light of that, I offer the following six ways for us to go about re-creating a missional culture among us:
#1 Pray
It is easy to underestimate the importance of prayer because we are, by nature, self-reliant. That is why, I believe, God chose prayer to be one of the primary ways by which we relate to him. Prayer requires humility. Prayer requires dependence. Prayer requires relinquishing self-trust. That’s the point. This is particularly true when it comes to sharing the gospel with our not-yet-believing family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. God alone opens hearts to see his glory (2 Cor. 4:6). We don’t do that. So, do not underestimate what God can do with your prayers for the lost—in your heart and in theirs. Ask God to give you a heart for the lost around you. Pray for unbelievers by name. Ask for opportunities to build meaningful relationships with others. Above all, pray.
#2 Think glory
The single greatest motivating reality for evangelism is the sheer glory of God. God’s glory refers to his incomparable beauty, or inexpressible excellencies, or unsearchable greatness. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable” (Ps. 145:3). Our lives are driven and fueled by what we, deep down, glory in. Central to heartfelt, sincere, loving evangelism is a heart gripped by the unsurpassed glory of God. We love to share what we find beautiful, don’t we? “Have you read this book?” “Have you heard that song?” “Did you see the sun going down last night?” Glory is meant to be shared. How much more the One who is the source of all glory? Cultivate a heart that revels in the glory of God and you’ll have ample motivation to share the good news of Jesus.
#3 Think relationally
To “evangelize” literally means to be a “bringer of good news.” I love that imagery. Don’t think of evangelism as a formula or rote script that you read. Think relationally. Build meaningful relationships with not-yet-believers who are sinners, like you, in need of the same saving grace of God, in Jesus. Some may say, “Doesn’t that mean you have an ulterior motive in your relationships?” Yes, an ulterior motive of love. It is genuine, heartfelt, sincere love for others that moves us to build relationships and talk about Jesus. Get to know others. Be patient. Ask questions. Don’t be pushy or weird. There is no pressure. Jesus is on the throne. So, be yourself, don’t give up, keep praying, and seek to be a “bringer of good news.”
#4 Think practically
How will you make space in your schedule for building relationships with unbelievers in this season of life? I say “this season” because this is something we need to regularly revisit. For example, in this season, our family primarily does this by meeting other parents through our kids sports and neighbors within our condo building. What about you? Think through how to create space in your weekly and/or monthly calendar. For example, on a weekly basis, what if we made it our goal to spend just one meal a week with an unbeliever? Or, on a monthly basis, what if we planned a group dinner, poker night, or social event of some kind? The options are endless, but if we don’t make intentional space for it in our calendars, as with anything else, it just won’t happen.
#5 Think missionally
This might seem redundant, but it’s not. What I mean by “thinking missionally” is to think evangelistically about what you’re already doing, wherever you are—at work, home, school, neighborhood, etc. Don’t think about evangelism as adding something else to your plate, but as a lens through which you view everything that is already on your plate. Ask God, “Who are the not-yet-believers already around me in my everyday life?” If we want to be technical, pre-evangelism is everything that goes into developing a relationship with a non-believer. Evangelism is the actual act of explaining the gospel of Jesus to others with the desire to persuade them. Mission is the term used to capture the entire process. Both pre-evangelism and evangelism are integral to participating in God’s upholding mission that he is calling us to join him in.
#6 Think simply
Lastly, don’t over-complicate it. Our goal is simple, really: Talk with others about Jesus and his unique offer of forgiveness of sin and relationship with God. Keep in mind that this process is most likely going to involve more than one conversation with others. So, we need to have the long view in mind. You might ask, “What’s the first step I should take?” The simplest thing to do is to ask someone to read through one of the Gospels together (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John). Personally, I prefer the Gospel of Mark which is 16 chapters. Read four chapters and then get together to discuss. Then, repeat until you’re finished. Focus on who Jesus is, the claims he makes, and the response he calls for. So, don’t overcomplicate it. Think simply and keep praying.
“Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent for I am with you…I have many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:10). “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Rom. 10:15)
It can be hard to get plugged into a church. It raises all kinds of questions, “Where do I start? Who should I talk to? What does this church believe? Are there other people like me? What should I do? Can I use my gifts here? Will I be known?” If that’s you, this is for you. Over the last six years we have grown an average of 45% year-over-year as a church. That means we are continually welcoming new people that are believers, unbelievers, and I-don’t-know-what-I-believers. That, of course, is a great issue to have. But, it can make meaningfully connecting a real challenge. Therefore, I am writing to help those of you who are in that season and encourage you to take the next step with DCC. There are a lot of options, including:
#1 Newcomer’s Lunch
This is our starting point for anyone wanting to learn more about DCC. We provide lunch, share our story, introduce leaders, and answer questions. It’s an informal time of connecting in order to help you get to know us—and us, you. Our next lunch is on Sunday, June 11th at 1:00pm in the Multi-Purpose Room of our building. Whether you’re new or merely looking to take the next step, we hope you can join us. RSVP here.
#2 Get to Know Jesus
Nearly every week I meet someone who is not yet a Christian, but is interested in learning more about Jesus. Perhaps you grew up in an atheistic home and have questions. Or, maybe you grew up in a Christian home but walked away at some point. Or, maybe you’re not even sure what you believe but are intrigued by Jesus. One of our current projects is creating small, time-bound, groups that explore Jesus’ life and claims. We’re not quite ready to roll them out yet. But, if you’re interested in considering Jesus, please let us know. We would be more than happy to meet with you and walk through the most important study you will ever embark on. If you’re interested, email us at .
#3 Jump into a Community
Relationships are foundational to our lives. That is by God’s design. Therefore, we are not merely interested in holding events but helping foster relationships that are deeply rooted in the gospel of Jesus. To help facilitate this we have Cornerstone communities. These are communities of diverse imperfect people that are committed to living out the implications of the gospel in every sphere of life. These communities meet throughout the week, around the city, to eat together, pray together, laugh together, and open their Bibles together. We understand that certain jobs, circumstances, health issues, and life stages may hinder you’re ability to be in a community. But, whatever the case may be, we encourage you to participate to the extent you are able. There are few contexts that are as transformative as being in regular life-on-life relationships with others who are seeking Jesus with you. To find a community near you, or on a night that works for you, email us at or drop by the Connect desk on Sunday.
#4 Start or join a Discipleship Group
At the heart of the Christian faith is “discipleship” or, in other words, being a learner of Jesus (Matt. 28:18-20). Growing as a disciple of Jesus doesn’t happen on accident, intentionality is required. Therefore, we have created Discipleship Groups (affectionately known as DGs) which are small (2-5 people), gender-specific, biblical, and missional groups who regularly meet together for life-on-life intentional discipleship. The purpose of these groups is to cultivate trust in Jesus, growth in holiness and missional living. Typically these groups are formed by those who are already in community with one another, thus maximizing their impact, but there is a lot of flexibility. Some meet every week, others biweekly, and some monthly. Learn more here.
#5 Go deeper with an Equip Group
An Equip group is basically a Discipleship Group (see above) that is time-bound and guided by pre-selected reading. The purpose is to make disciples-who-make-disciples that are anchored in all that God is for them, in Jesus. This one year development track (roughly 52 weeks) is designed to help this happen in the context of small (4-6 people), covenanted, gender-specific groups. These groups meet regularly for discussion of reading, scripture, prayer, and sharpening. This is not intended to be a class, but a context for life-on-life missional discipleship. Membership is required for leadership of an Equip group, but anyone can participate. Learn more here.
#6 Start to Serve
The church is a family, not merely a service provider. That means we need all hands on deck. An important step towards investing in DCC is to consider serving in some capacity. In serving, you build relationships with those you are serving with. In serving, you get to use (and discover) your God-given gifts. In serving, you get the joy that inevitably comes from putting others before you. The benefits are nearly as numerous as the opportunities, which include: Kids, hospitality, greeting, music, productions, facilities, design, communications, Connect, and more. This doesn’t even include the many ways we are currently partnering with mercy and justice organizations in the community. If you have a specific gift that doesn’t fit into these categories, let us know that too. To sign up email us at or drop by the Connect desk on Sunday.
#7 Become a Member
We practice meaningful membership as a church. Church membership isn’t mainly about the benefits we receive, but mainly about the people to whom we belong. Membership is a tangible declaration that says, “I belong to Jesus and this particular expression of his people.” I am a member of his body here (1 Cor. 12:4-31; Rom. 12:3-8). I am a living stone here (2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:22; 1 Pet. 2:5). I am a citizen, along with these citizens, here (Eph. 2:19; Phil. 3:20). I am part of Jesus’ family here (Eph. 2:19; Gal. 6:10; Heb. 3:6). These metaphors point to realities that are both universal and local. That is why the Bible makes it clear that pastors are responsible for specific “sheep”, and that “sheep” follow specific leaders (1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:7; 1 Tim. 5:17). Membership is how we seek to embody these profound realities. If you’re interested in learning more, and we hope you are, our next membership class is this weekend. It’s not too late to jump in. RSVP here.
#8 Move towards others
It can be hard being in a church where so many people are new and unknown. We have 225 members but up to 700 in attendance on any given Sunday. That means there are up to 475 people in various states of connectedness with DCC on any given Sunday. That’s a lot of people. So, if you don’t feel welcomed it could be because you are surrounded by other new people who feel the same! I encourage you to be proactive. Introduce yourself. Invite someone out to lunch. Try to meet 3-5 new people every Sunday. Pray that God would direct your conversations. “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you” (Rom. 15:7).
Lastly, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns along the way. Being only six years old, we know that we don’t have everything figured out. We may even have the same questions that you do (!), but we are seeking to be faithful with what we have. Thanks for your grace along the way. We are grateful that you are considering calling DCC your church family and want to serve you in any way that we can. The local church is central to God’s glorious purposes in the world—and we get to be a part of that together. What is your next step?
One crucial element of our church’s 