by Kirby Lindsay, posted 8 July 2013
This summer, The Hallows Church offers a low-cost camp option with the Play Dayz Sports & Rec Camp, to be held in the B.F. Day Upper Playfield on July 18th, 19th & 20th. The camp will cost families $10 each, for children ages 5 – 12.
The camp concludes July 20th, when from 11a – 2p the second 2013 Community Block Party takes place. Also hosted by Hallows Church, this picnic is free to enjoy by everyone. Our newest, community-based Christian church wants to offer some healthy, outdoor, community-based fun – for us, and for the children.
Providing To The Community
Based in Fremont, The Hallows Church deliberately ministers within this urban setting and to a seriously under-churched area. Wes Moore, as Pastor of Missional Ministries, works on several outreach projects. Up to now, “we haven’t really done a lot of public events,” Moore acknowledged, “All of our events have tried to be sensitive to the fact that our community is largely unchurched,” and that, sometimes, people resist the unknown.
With Play Dayz and the picnic, Hallows Church seeks to reach out to, meet and support our community in lively, positive ways. Rather than set up recruiting events, Hallows Church hopes to bring people together through enriching activities.
“I’d rather sit down with someone to have a conversation,” Moore said, to those who want to challenge – or learn about – the church, “than talk at someone about our beliefs.” Moore accepts the reluctance of some. After all, he and his wife Casey relocated to Seattle, after he graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in part due to the lack of religion, or even spirituality, here, “That was part of the draw,” he admitted.
According to Moore, he’s, “from the friendliest place on earth,” also known as Birmingham, Alabama, in “the Deep South bible belt.” Where he grew up, he explained, the first question asked of a new acquaintance is, ‘where do you go to church?’ Here in the Northwest, he’s observed, nobody cares.
“As a Christian in ministry, I would love to see our church full of people who don’t necessarily know the bible but are drawn by what they’ve seen,” Moore explained, “by what’s been provided to the community.”
‘Break Down Urban Isolation’
The Hallows Church held its first-ever Community Block Party in September 2012. This year they’ve schedule three – on June 15th, July 20th and Aug 17th. “We want to help break down that urban isolation,” Moore explained, “We want the community to own the event.”
They’ll serve hot dogs and beverages, they’ll organize games of volleyball and spike ball, and provide inflatables and face painting for the kids. Yet, Moore also hopes to see families, bringing potluck dishes to share, and getting actively involved – even if they are not and will not be Hallows Church members.
These block parties – like the camp – are about being active in the community. They allow the larger Fremont community to connect with the Hallows Church community. “We want to be contributors to the community,” Moore said.
‘To Meet Needs’
Their contributions within this community – specifically assisting at B.F. Day Elementary School over the last two years – led to the summer camp launch. As Moore described it, volunteers at the school became aware that “a lot of the families don’t have resources, or options.”
“We want to meet needs,” Moore explained, “We’ve had relationships spin out of the service to B.F. Day.” Beth Tesh, Volunteer Coordinator for the school, has matched some B.F. Day families with the church for assistance in moving, finding clothes, etc. Moore hopes some of these struggling families take the opportunity to send their kids to the camp, for fun, activity and a positive experience.
While pre-registration for the camp would be, of course, preferred, walk-up registrations will be accepted. Play Dayz starts at 4:30p on July 18th at the B.F. Day Upper Playfield. The kids will be taking part in games, sports and activity. “We’re going to break them up by age groups,” Moore explained, “depending on who we have show up.” Teams will have leaders, a chant and a color to encourage togetherness, with counselors trained in organized sports, and ready, along with Moore, to “get the kids active, and constantly moving.”
‘In A Good Fit’
Beyond organizing the Block Parties and Play Dayz, Moore explained that his title, “encompasses a lot of things.” He oversees the small faith sharing groups formed among church members. These meet in private homes for bible study and support. He helps with curriculums, and leadership, but also helping new people find a group to join. “Part of my role,” he explained, “is to make sure they are in a good fit.”
The Hallows Church currently has a significant number of college age members, many from Seattle Pacific University. Yet, they also have post-college, young married, older, and very married members. “The small groups are meant to facilitate that ‘get to know each other,’” explained Moore.
Moore facilitates visiting missionaries hosted by Hallows Church. They’ve had individual members of the church go on missions, and they strongly encourage all members to spend at least 2% of the year serving. Hallows Church has yet to send out a church-wide mission team, still the Church is growing, Moore observed, and may do so soon.
While many Hallows members attend local colleges and universities, as summer session begins they do see a decrease in their membership. Last year, however, Moore observed, membership still increased during the summer holiday. For Easter, Hallows Church had over 150 people at its service, and celebrated its first baptisms.
Currently, Hallows Church meets at the Fremont Baptist Church (although they are unaffiliated,) for Sunday worship (at 6p.) Moore acknowledged that the church leadership, “always talk of a more permanent space,” for Sunday services, and their increasing activities, yet, “we understand we are in a great spot!”
For more information – about Play Dayz, the Community Block Parties, or Hallows Church in general – contact Moore at wes@hallowschurch.org. Of course, you can also meet him at the B.F. Day Upper Playfield on July 18th, 19th or 20th…
See you there?
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