The whiteboard slowly filled with clusters of colorful sticky notes after the fellowship meal. Several tables of service-hearted church members reflected and discussed the needs of their community and their own gifts and skills they were ready to share with their community.
From bimonthly fellowship meals to an after-school STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art, math — program; from a multi-church food bank and a clothing closet for kids to around 80 Bible study requests and several baptisms, Spokane Central Church is already engaged in their urban community.
Their compassion leads them to spring into action in caring for their neighbors in downtown central Spokane. This opened the door to their involvement with the Community Action and Relief Experience (CARE) Project and this weekend of visioning — and sticky notes.
CARE is a new program coordinated out of the Center for Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) at Walla Walla University (WWU) with a vision to increase involvement of young people in community service across the Pacific Northwest through comprehensive, assessment-based engagement plans.
The initiative has partial funding from Adventist Community Services (ACS) at the North American Division (NAD), with oversight from North Pacific Union (NPUC) ACS.
“This project encourages students to bring their unique backgrounds, interests and fields of study to partner with the local work of Adventist Community Service centers,” said David Lopez, executive director of the CHE. CARE student missionaries will learn best practices for community development and gain hands-on experience, working closely with passionate professionals, volunteers and expert community partners for three to nine months.
Four sites have been selected to be part of the pilot project, including Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Portland, Oregon; Nooksack, Washington; and Spokane, Washington. Spokane Central Church is the first of the four to launch with two student missionaries from WWU.
The student missionaries will serve over the summer months of 2023 in areas such as social work, communications and assisting with summer programming for kids in the community. Samantha Wawondatu, a graduating strategic communication major, is also using this experience for internship credit.
"As someone who has always been passionate about the idea of community development, I am looking forward to bringing my skills and talents into the field and using them to serve the people around me," said Wawondatu.
Several tables of service-hearted Spokane Central Church members reflected and discussed the needs of their community and their own gifts and skills they were ready to share with their community.
The May 19–20 weekend served as a kick-off for the pilot project at Spokane Central. A small team from WWU and representatives from NAD and Upper Columbia Conference ACS met with Pastor Greg Carter and other key leaders on Friday afternoon. Together they toured facilities and discussed various projects and needs.
On Sabbath, the visiting team joined the church service through informational videos, a children's story, a sermon and celebrating the baptisms of five new church family members. Afterward everyone enjoyed a fellowship meal together before Lopez led out in some activities and discussion to get to know the church members and their awareness and involvement in their community. Late in the afternoon, the weekend wrapped up with a final meeting of key church leaders to discuss ideas and start planning for their two summer student missionaries.
This project would not be possible without funding from NPUC, NAD ACS, an anonymous donor, WWU, and the most recent support from the Versacare Foundation. Being sensitive to the Spirit's leading and ownership of the local church, these CARE Project partners are excited to see dreams come to reality by involving young people in the expansion of Spokane Central's positive impact in the community and to continue welcoming more into their family of hope.
