Our Leadership

blog

One of the things that we highly value is listening to one another's stories. In particular, we love to hear about how people are encountering Jesus in their day-to-day lives. This might be in big ways...but it also happens most often in smaller ways (sometimes in ways that are really easy to miss.)

On this page you will find a treasure trove of such stories! May your own walk with Jesus be deeply encouraged and nourished by what you read here.

If you are interested in sharing some of your story here, please email us to let us know!

Beth Soderlund

Aug 17, 20232 min read

Broken Kind of Beauty

A broken kind of beauty A hopeful kind of wait A forgiven kind of sinner A repentant kind of saint You were broken on the cross for me...

Jani James

Aug 10, 20232 min read

Look Up

Kent and I found a hidden treasure on a favorite walk at Farrel McWhirter in Redmond a year ago May. How blind we can be to glorious...

Reid Watson

Aug 2, 20233 min read

God and the Rice Krispies Treat

My twin brother, Keaton, and I played T-ball for a couple years when we were 5 or 6 years old. We played at the old Redmond schoolhouse...

Bob Witty

Jul 26, 20233 min read

Nameless

During a meeting at church, the pastor was commenting on our various strengths. He looked at me and said, “Bob, you’re the kind of guy...

Jani James

Jul 19, 20233 min read

Secret Trail

Over July 4th weekend, Kent and I camped at Deception Pass State Park with our daughter’s family. Our two families set up tents in...

Miel Formantes

Jul 13, 20233 min read

My Prayers

In my pursuit to cultivate the daily discipline of spending an hour or so with God (see my last blog post!), I have come to re-examine...

Bob Witty

Jul 6, 20233 min read

Think Before You Speak

In our small group, one of the prayer requests was “for God to teach me to think before I speak.” For some reason that really struck me,...

Steve Colwell

Jun 29, 20233 min read

Doubting Your Doubts

Do you ever have moments or even days of doubt about your faith or lack of one? Doubting is normal because we are human with all our...

Jani James

Jun 22, 20233 min read

Wedding Toast

When a close friend marries, do you lose a friend or gain a friend? It probably depends. But the friendship is going to change some way,...

Grandma Charlotte and My Walk with Christ, Part 3

Bob Witty

Jun 15, 20233 min read

Grandma Charlotte and My Walk with Christ, Part 3

I owe much to Grandma Charlotte who got me started in my walk with God. In time, I learned that God could be close and personal, as well...

Linda Sakamoto

Jun 6, 20233 min read

I Choose To Believe

I grew up on the big island of Hawaii and attended a Congregational Church with my family. We kids were dropped off early for Sunday...

Grandma Charlotte Part 2 - My Walk With Christ

Bob Witty

May 31, 20234 min read

Grandma Charlotte Part 2 - My Walk With Christ

Grandma Charlotte taught me unconditional love, and by example, modeled a Christian way of living. However, my relationship with God was...

Bob Witty

May 24, 20233 min read

Grandma Charlotte

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in...

Daniel Starr

May 17, 20234 min read

Finding Peace and Purpose

Throughout my childhood and well into my young adult life, I struggled with physical and social difficulties, which caused a lot of...

Jani James

May 9, 20233 min read

God Visited Me

My faith in Jesus began when I was small, attending Immanuel Lutheran Church in Los Altos, California, with my father, mother and older...

Bob Witty

May 4, 20233 min read

Fear of Help

While we were in Palm Springs, Carol and I decided to attend an eight week Bible study at a local neighborhood church. The topic was...

Miel Formantes

Apr 26, 20232 min read

Calm My Anxious Heart

Some days I feel like I play hookie from work. Nursing is hard and as many of you know, this viral season has hit the kiddos and the...

Courtney Hjelmervik

Apr 18, 20233 min read

Blue Car

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After...

Steve Colwell

Apr 13, 20232 min read

Broken

This past month two people I know, one a friend and the other an extended family member, took their own lives. And I just heard that the...

Bob Witty

Apr 4, 20233 min read

Least of These

I have had the privilege of going on several short term mission trips; a couple times to the Dominican Republic and a couple times to an...