PASTOR’S LETTER

BE A SOURCE

On one trip to Israel, Leslie and I were able to spend twenty minutes alone in the Upper Room in Jerusalem.  It’s a medium-sized space that would comfortably seat about 120 people.  There the world’s first church met.  There is no parking lot.  There are no brightly decorated kids rooms.  There are no colored lights or subwoofers. 

In that plain room, Leslie and I were reminded that it is not the size of a church building that matters.  What does matter is how open the people are to being a SOURCE of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus started his church with a vision to be a SOURCE.  “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18).  Jesus announced his Church from the very spot where the headwaters of the Jordan River burst out from snowy mountains.  This spot in Israel looks like an Instagram moment from the Pacific Northwest, with clear snowmelt rushing into the crystal waters of the Sea of Galilee.  

A SOURCE church has an intake and an outflow too!  GALILEE feels a lot like Lake Chelan.  The waters are pure because the Jordan River overflows from the other end of the lake.  

Unfortunately, some churches can exist only for the benefit of their own members.   The Jordan River is sucked into a salty desert lake with no outlet.  THE DEAD SEA is toxic because it hoards every drop of water to itself and gives nothing away. 

Jesus announced his vision of a church with both a flow IN as well as an overflow OUT to keep it fresh.  Evergreen Church has a dream to be the kind of SOURCE CHURCH that Jesus envisioned.  We exist for the benefit of 96% of Seattle people who don’t yet attend a church.

The SOURCE vision will happen through RESOURCE-FULL people.  This magazine is designed to introduce you to our passion for Evergreen Church to be a SOURCE church.  To include you, we’ve added nine Bible studies to help you grow to become a RESOURCE-FULL partner of this church. 

May Evergreen Church serve as the headwaters of a river that refreshes this city, this region, our world. 

Much love,

Phil McCallum

<Lead Pastor>

ONE GUIDING CHAPTER

The imagery from Isaiah chapter 35 has inspired Evergreen leaders to become a SOURCE CHURCH. Read Isaiah like a painting of a life-giving church.

MAY EVERGREEN CHURCH BE A SOURCE!

Like a CROCUS, may we break out of cold, winter ground into brilliant color. Be evangelistic and multicultural!

Like soaring CEDARS of the Pacific Northwest, may we grow influential leaders, rooted together. Become the leader the world is waiting for to find Jesus.

Like the MIRACLES of sight, hearing, mobility, and speech, expect AMAZEMENT UNPRECEDENTED.

Let the GUSH of the Holy Spirit wash all enemies away and make this desert LIVE. Be a church to reach the 96% who do not attend church!

Like a broad, elevated freeway, make a clear, safe HIGHWAY to help thousands to Jesus. Can you see the evangelical awakening in Bothell and beyond?

 THE NEED

Be a SOURCE

One fact moves Evergreen: 96% of people living in Seattle don’t go to church.

And yet…
94% of churches still focus on the 4% of people who already go to church. 96% of Millennial Christians claim “the BEST THING that could happen for someone is to come to know Jesus.” And yet, 47% of Millennial Christians say it is WRONG to evangelize.
2 out of 5 Christians have no non-Christian friends.

That’s crazy!
Evergreen Church asks, “How can we serve people who haven’t come to church yet?”

“Washington has never been as secular as it is right now,” asserts The Seattle Times. 
47% of  Washingtonians are the “nones,” who claim no religion.
The lowest rate of church attendance in the USA is in the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle ranks #10 most unchurched city.

According to Forbes, magazine, among US cities, Seattle ranks:

# 4 fewest Christians
# 4 most lustful city
# 3 most envious city
# 3 most greedy city

Seattle is pivotel in reaching the world.
America’s fastest growing city for a decade is Seattle.
When people move, God is moving. Seattle is subtly influential.
The world thinks with Microsoft, buys with Amazon, stocks up with Costco, backs up with Oracle, flys out with Boeing, goes out with Expedia, and meets at the Seattle embassy called Starbucks.

From Seattle, Jesus can influence the globe!
Bothell schools are now 48% non-caucasian.
90 languages are spoken in our streets.
The world is next door.
The church can showcase affinity in diversity.

IT’S TIME TO SHINE YOUR LIGHT, SO RUN TO THE DARK.

Be a SOURCE.

THE PURPOSE

Evergreen Church is… JESUS CHANGING LIVES THROUGH YOU.

Jesus spoke just over 31,000 words on how to be a SOURCE CHURCH. Here are just a few of his best lines.

“The kingdom is here. Repent and believe the good news.” “Follow me. I will make you fishers of men.” “Love God. Love your neighbor.” “Go and make disciples.”

We picked just 5 of Jesus’ words to make his mission for Evergreen Church memorable.

JESUS
King Jesus calls you to bring heaven here.
CHANGING
The greatest miracle is forgiveness.
LIVES
Jesus notices people and so must we.
THROUGH
Everything Jesus did, you can do too.
YOU
Every disciple is in full-time ministry.

 THE VISION

We can see Evergreen as a SOURCE church to EVANGELIZE the nations, REVITALIZE the church, and to TRANSFORM society.

We can see Evergreen as a church of DISPROPORTIONAL INFLUENCE from San Francisco to Vancouver,  Spokane to Boise, and cultures of the world.

We can see SPIRITUAL AWAKENING coming to our city by making Jesus irresistible to people who do not yet follow him.

We can see EVERGREEN CHURCH AS A HEADWATERS beyond our city to start new churches and to renew established ones to evangelism.

 THE MISSION

Evergreen is a source church for searching people from many cultures across the Pacific Northwest, giving a clear path to discover their life purpose in Jesus, in a warm, hospitable place where people are listened to and loved.

 THE STRATEGY

To become a source church we Evangelize Cultures, Revitalize Churches, and Transform Communities.

THE CHURCH LOVES PEOPLE

“WE LOVE PEOPLE.”

Say that out loud:
WE LOVE PEOPLE.

That’s quite a claim.
Sometimes we don’t love well.

Say those words anyhow:
WE LOVE PEOPLE!
Confessing it changes the heart.

JESUS NOTICED PEOPLE.
Where religious leaders avoided people, Jesus sought them. Twelve ordinary men took a three year tour with Jesus to see people from God’s point of view. “Follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

JESUS FISHED WITH ATTENTION.
Jesus reached 5,000, then 4,000, so twelve men could reach 3,000 people in just one day. And that was only the beginning. Jesus has greater works for us, if we will love people.

JESUS NOTICED HEAVEN TOO.
“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Don’t complain about the absence of God. Embrace the activity of God in lost people around you. Jesus exegeted cities with the same diligence that rabbis studied scripture. “Where is the Father at work in this city,” Jesus asked? “How can I magnify the Father’s work?”

WE NEED TWO CONVERSIONS.
FOLLOW JESUS and no one else (Matthew 4:19). LOVE PEOPLE as we have been loved by Jesus (John 13:34).

Author Jan Johnson says, ”Many believers are ‘rabbit hole’ Christians. In the morning they pop out of their safe Christian homes, hold their breath at work, scurry home to their families, then off to their Bible studies, and finally end the day praying for the unbelievers they safely avoided all day.”

We DECHURCH the OVERCHURCHED to love the UNCHURCHED.

Evergreen Church exists for the BENEFIT of people who are not yet here.

We reach the UNCHURCHED by designing church through their eyes.   

WE LOVE PEOPLE!

PEOPLE LOVE THE CHURCH

It was the loving culture of home created by the father that brought the lost son home (read all of Luke 15). “WELCOME HOME,” is written in forty languages on our doors. People will love the church if we create the Father’s culture of home.

We talked to our Bothell neighbors who don’t attend a church.

60% of them have never walked into a church building.

We asked…

IN YOUR OPINION, WHY DON’T PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH? WHAT KIND OF CHURCH WOULD PEOPLE WANT TO ATTEND? HOW COULD A CHURCH THAT CARES, MAKE BOTHELL A BETTER PLACE?

We listened and created the culture that Jesus modeled and that people love.

INCLUDING... we love people
GRACIOUS... kindness changes lives
PASSIONATE... hearts on fire
SERVING... spirit of joy
CREATIVE... keep the news good
IMPROVING... excellence is attractive
INFLUENCING... inspiring a culture of leaders

EVANGELIZE CULTURES

We spread the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ to every culture in our city and beyond.

DEPENDENCE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH PRAYER IS HOW WE SEE JESUS CHANGE LIVES. Cultural diversity in the church shows Jesus best. We travel to learn from churches in other nations how better to reach the lost in Bothell.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

BE ALL IN!

• TRY ALPHA! Alpha is good food, a short film, and an open discussion to explore the Christian faith.

• Start the HABIT OF FOLLOWING.

• BE BAPTIZED. (talk to any Evergreen pastor to get started!)

• Start Your HABIT OF DEVOTION.

• Live ALPHA CULTURE where you are most by DEPENDENCE on the Holy Spirit, HOSPITALITY of seekers, LISTENING well, and SHARING your faith.

• LEARN FROM THE NATIONS by being part of a team visiting one of our partner ministries.

REVITALIZE CHURCHES

We aspire to love the church as Jesus does by being healthy, starting new churches, and revitalizing established congregations.

BUILDING THE CHURCH IS THE ONLY WORK JESUS IS DOING ON THE EARTH TODAY. Every Christian is gifted and included in his work. Everyone is in full-time ministry where are. Doing church as a team is Jesus’ plan for ministry. We launch new churches by raising up pastors as leaders and evangelists, sending out our best, and starting through outreach with Alpha.

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19

BE ALL IN!

• Make Sunday GAMEDAY

• DOWNLOAD the Evergreen Church APP

• VOLUNTEER to serve through the Evergreen Church APP

• Attend the MY PURPOSE COURSE

• Take the STRENGTHSFINDER Assessment.

• Try the HABITS BIBLE STUDIES on your own. Scan the QR codes on each study to watch the video (see page 24-43).

TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES

We do good works, where life is NOT good, to open a way for the good news of Jesus in our city.

THIS CHURCH MUST BE SUCH A POSITIVE SOURCE OF GOOD IN OUR CITY, THAT OUR NEIGHBORS SHOULD BE GLAD THAT WE EXIST AND WOULD GRIEVE IF WE WERE GONE. The seven mountains of influence in our city are where we want to make a difference. We aspire to be known as a church by who we live for more than by what we stand against. We do good whether others receive Christ or not.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 23:37-40

BE ALL IN!

• HABIT OF CALLING.

• PURPOSE REVIEW with Friends.

• HABIT OF GOING. Be in a GROUP to do devotions, pray, eat together, enjoy each other and to make a difference in the world (see Acts 2:42-47).

• DISCOVER YOUR MOUNTAIN of Influence by reflecting over what influences our city and where the Holy Spirit is drawing you to make a difference.

• Serve at EVERGREEN CHRISTMAS Lights in December or at the BOTHELL FREEDOM PARADE ON JULY 4TH to love thousands in Bothell.

• HABITS AT HOME.

• The Seven Mountains of Influence
  ◊ SCHOOLS
  ◊ MARKETPLACE
  ◊ GOVERNMENT
  ◊ FAMILY
  ◊ SPORT
  ◊ MEDIA
  ◊ HEALTH

THIS YEAR’S VISION

“As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with WONDER and ran to greet him.”

Mark 9:15

WONDER // won·der 

Wonder is surprise, admiration, unexpected, unexplainable, miracle, astonishment, fascination, marvel, curiosity, childlike

1. Wonder Prayer

    - Seeking a Surprising God

2. Families of Wonder

    - From Generation to Generation

3. Tables for Wonder 

    - Seeing Jesus in Each Other

4. Bridge of Wonder

    - Stepping into Greater Influence

ACCOUNTABILITY

Evergreen Church is an autonomous church that is biblically governed by spiritual leaders.

EVERGREEN is an ELDER-governed PASTOR-led VOLUNTEER-driven BIBLICALLY-functioning LIFE-giving CHURCH

OVERSIGHT PASTORS are senior pastors of churches around the world who visit, teach, inspire and guide our Lead Pastor and elders.

ELDERS govern our church in vision, maintain biblical teaching, give financial accountability, and keep our pastors healthy. Our Lead Pastor serves with the elders and chairs the eldership.

PASTORS on staff oversee our leaders and volunteers in the day to day operation of the church. The church is a volunteer movement. Jesus is the first volunteer. So we follow him. Staff serve to equip volunteers to minister. Through the Lead Pastor, they report to the Elders.

DISCIPLES are the followers Jesus calls out of the crowd to be baptized and taught to obey him. Each disciple has a call and gifts to be equipped to influence the needs of people who don’t yet attend. Membership at Evergreen Church is whole-hearted involvement in the ministry.

THE CROWD contains the people in the city who do not yet attend Evergreen. They may come occasionally, or not at all. Jesus loves them. We structure Evergreen to influence their lives with pre-evangelism and evangelistic events.

OVERSIGHT PASTORS

Evergreen Church has Oversight Pastors who visit our church, support the health of our senior pastor, bring apostolic inspiration and prophetic encouragement, and offer guidance to the elders when needed.

PASTOR BRADY BOYD

Senior Pastor, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, CO

PASTOR PHILLIP MUTZELBURG

President Emeritus, A2A Association of Churches, Australia

PASTOR DANIEL GROTHE

Associate Senior Pastor, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, CO

PASTOR AARON CRIDER

Pastor of Worship Development, & Worship Studies Director, The Kings University, TX

MINISTRY PARTNERS

ESSENTIAL CHURCH LEARNING COMMUNITY

Essential Church Learning Community is led by Brady Boyd from New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Essential Church is a growing association of churches gathering around what matters most. This includes the church as home, Christ the center, a gospel for everyone, whole-life discipleship, grounding in a bigger story, and a Spirit-filled people. Twice a year our senior pastor attends a two-day, round-table leadership learning conversation with other senior pastors from around the USA. This challenges like-minded leaders to be challenged as iron sharpens iron. Check out their website. theessential.church 

ALPHA USA

The Alpha Course was birthed in 1977 from Holy Trinity Brompton, a Church of England parish church in central London. Over 34 million people have now taken Alpha worldwide in over 100 countries and 100 languages. There is an annual conference in Phoenix, AZ at the end of each January. Visit alphausa.org or watch highlights of the conference. evergreenchurch.tv/alpha-hightlights