Story of God at Work in Spokane
Home to a metropolitan population of over 500,000, Spokane is the epicenter of an increasingly houseless population, a corporate world overcome with busyness, a multitude of universities, a hub for medical training, and a long history of churches needing new strategies. Similarly to Resonate Boise, many things draw one’s attention away from Jesus in a city like Spokane, and the brokenness is evident. Despite the history of churches and religion in the town, many people live apathetically to the reality of their sin, denying themselves the freedom found in Jesus. Being the second largest city in the state of Washington, there is a field ripe for the harvest, yet the chaos of growing families, city life, and long work weeks often leaves little time for interruption. Ministering to a people who appear to have little desire to make time for the things of the Lord can make the pursuit of them feel impossible, but to our sovereign and mighty God, there is nothing He can’t do.
In 2020, a group of people led by Stephen Ward and his wife moved from Cheney to Spokane, a mere 20-30 minute drive many had done countless times prior, with the desire to be used by God to impact the city and those who resided within the sprawled town in a new way. Not long after moving to Spokane and beginning to phase into planting a church, the pandemic hit, shutting doors and what felt like opportunities as well. It became evident that the collegiate church planting model Resonate had seen much fruit come from at previous church plants didn’t have the same effect in Spokane. There is an elevated sense of flexibility in the schedules of college students that most people the Spokane team engaged with did not have. No longer could the strategy be highly invitational to many events during all times of the day, but it had to shift into the team intentionally moving towards them. By the grace of God, a connection to the Kansas City Underground, a missional micro-church movement, was made. People from this ministry helped coach those who were a part of the team, like Stephen and another staff member, Tori. She describes the micro church model as a “connected group of people seeking the Lord together and challenging each other to grow their faith while pursuing their contexts, which can be things like hobbies, your workplace, or schooling”. Through this model, ministry becomes the everyday moments of your life. The hope is that this model would be easily replicable and that there would be a network of microchurch gatherings reaching every part of the city. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, every interaction is an opportunity for mission.
Joining the Spokane church plant team in 2021, Alyssa Silvernail recalls working 60-hour work weeks alongside people 10-30 years older than her. This new setting differs from her collegiate ministry experience; she often asked God to clarify how to reach these people despite their lack of interest or personal differences. The collegiate model of weekly villages and endless life-on-life doesn’t quite do the trick when trying to minister to the 40-year-old mom of three in your company’s highrise building. Still, the microchurch model appeared to break down those barriers slowly. As a result of their minimal free time, the Spokane team pursued people in their workplaces by asking good questions and intentionally being a consistent face amidst the demands of their jobs. Alyssa details that this model feels more “genuine,” “authentic,” and “relational” as they meet weekly over a shared meal, read scripture together, and discuss the implications of each passage in their lives. There is unique ownership for each team member pursuing Spokane, some of which people like Alyssa and Tori have been slowly evangelizing for the past three years.
Being equipped to minister doesn’t only apply to the church staff member or the lead pastor of a congregation, but to all people who call themselves Christians. The power of being interruptable and attentive to those near bore much fruit in the ministry of Jesus on Earth and Resonate Spokane. Ultimately all people desire to be loved, even the person who openly calls themselves an atheist. Believing in this truth turns your barber, nail tech, and barista from scenery to a mission field. Alyssa experienced that as she faithfully pursued a woman she frequently crossed paths with, bringing her flowers after passing a challenging exam. She told Alyssa that she had never been loved well by her family and, as a result, has a tough time celebrating anything good in her life. Listening closely to this, asking good questions, and showing up consistently have allowed Alyssa to reveal the affection of Christ to someone who hasn’t experienced genuine love prior. Moments like these are big wins in the life of the micro church in Spokane, as they faithfully show up to the spaces God has intricately placed them in, expectant for Him to move amidst obstacles. Planting the seeds of the gospel in the people of Spokane and praying fervently that God would produce new life through their acceptance of Jesus has become the new strategy.
“Being equipped to minister doesn’t only apply to the church staff member or the lead pastor of a congregation, but to all people who call themselves Christians.”
Leveraging her time outside of her work context, Tori joined a running club during the pandemic and has experienced God at work through this hobby. She has met people like Faith and Suzie, who are well-connected people of peace. Although they haven’t declared Jesus as Lord, Tori sees the beauty of Christ in these moments. Upon reflection, Tori says she “literally couldn’t have done any of this without remembering it’s all for and of God and not anything [she] did apart from showing up”. Making yourself available to God’s people is a timelessly effective ministry strategy and sets believers like Tori apart in a city where the culture is rooted in the elevating of oneself. Time and time again, God reveals that He is the divine orchestrator. Our God consistently uses ordinary people in ordinary spaces, blessing faithful obedience to show up wherever He leads.
In the coming and going of staff members and churchgoers and the tragic passing of a vital community member, Resonate Spokane has been through immense trials, but God has shown up for them time and time again. Deuteronomy 7:9 tells us that our God “is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments”. He alone brings purpose out of their pain and He has always been moving in their midst. The rethinking of strategies doesn’t indicate failure, not having rapid death-to-life stories occurring doesn’t indicate fruitless ministry, and slowly gaining footing in the city doesn’t make efforts to minister to its inhabitants a waste of time; victory is found in the name of Jesus, and that is the source of Resonate Spokane’s rejoicing. It doesn’t take a high-level production to reach the lost, but merely a group of people equipped with the Holy Spirit, the truth of the gospel, and open hands to the mission of God. Our Heavenly Father can reach those stuck in the climbing of the corporate ladder, the parents who never feel like they have enough time to slow down, the hairdresser who has never heard the gospel, or the grocery store attendant whose family didn’t want her to be born; there is no wall too tall or barrier too vast for the never-ending and entirely redemptive love of Christ. Our God is a faithful promise keeper, for He sees us in our trials and makes a way in our uncertainty, amplifying His strength in our weakness.
