If you live in Arizona (or can get to Arizona) you are invited to join us for a gathering to share the vision of Pathways Church. We have put together four different gatherings. It is an open invitation so please come hang out and see where God is leading us as this church labors toward its birth.

Sunday, March 6, 3:00pm
At the home of Matt and Lindsay Johnson
3120 E. Lexington, Gilbert, AZ 85234
(From the 60, take Higley south past Guadalupe
Turn right on Park Ave., Right on Windmill Ln., and Right onto Lexington)
R.S.V.P. to Lindsay at 558-7153

Sunday, March 6, 7:00pm
At the home of Terry and Diana Lents
3648 N. Eagle Canyon, Mesa, AZ 85207
(From Central Christian, take Brown Rd. to Power Rd. Turn north on Power
Turn Right at Thomas/Eagle Crest Dr., 2nd Right is Saddleback St.
Right at Eagle Canyon – through gates and 3rd house on Right)
R.S.V.P. to Diana at 807-3200

Monday, March 7, 7:00pm
At the home of Stacy and Shellie LaCombe
3133 E. Hackamore, Mesa, AZ 85213
(From Central Christian head east on Brown, quick left onto Arco,
Turn right at T in the road, Left on 31st Pl., Quick Right and follow
onto Hackamore)
R.S.V.P. to Shellie at 325-0299

Tuesday, March 8, 7:00pm
At the home of Jeff and Debra Thomas
4345 N. Katmai Cir., Mesa, AZ 85215
(From Central Christian head east on Brown to Power Rd. Head north on
Power past Thomas, Left on Redmont, Right on Viewmont,
Katmai is 5th street on the Right – only completed home on street)
R.S.V.P. to Debra at 641-7492

We have a Tuesday night core group of people who are the very beginnings of Pathways Church. Kim, one of our core group members, is a student at Seattle Pacific University. Last time we were over there visiting her, one of her friends mentioned that their cafeteria is closed on Sunday nights and they have to fend for themselves. That was all that my wife needed to hear. Last night was the first Sunday Night Feast for college students. Eleven students from SPU showed up, along with 16 from our core group (counting kids) as well as Natasha, a girl from our student ministry in Mesa, who is up here to look at jobs and a possible move. She brought along two friends as well. That’s 30 people for a spaghetti and meatball dinner with homemade cheesecake and chocolate fondu with fruit to boot. Kudos to my wife and mother-in-law for hosting the event and to all from the group who contributed!

There was no agenda last night. Just an opportunity to serve some hungry students, connect with people, and build relationships. I think that I’ve concluded that if our church is to be missional in its mindset, then I must be missional in the way that I approach people about being a part of the core. Build relationships, cast a vision and allow God to direct them.

It is always humbling when you are in the presence of people who are not “in it” for themselves. I got to experience that today. I met with a friend of mine who planted a church near ours three years ago. He wanted to get together to show me something. I went down to the area where their church rents office space to connect and go get some coffee. I show up and he takes me to an office in their complex and says, “We want you to use this until you are able to get office space of your own.” It has wireless internet connection, a copier that costs .01 a page (Good-bye Kinko’s). Then he tells me that they want us to use their big equipment truck for us to haul around our sound system and church equipment since they are now in a semi-permanent space. Finally, he tells me that he and his wife want to support our church with part of their tithe at $100 a month. (Jaw hits floor)

This guy is still trying to get his church in a financially stable place and he is telling me that he wants to see us be able to get off to a good start. That is a Kinddom mindset. I hope and pray that I will reflect that as well.

So many churches have names that do not cause you to think about what they mean. They might simply describe an area or town that a church is in or take on a Christian-type name. As we thought through what was important for us in naming the church, we wanted it to be thought provoking as well as deep in meaning. We landed on Pathways Church. One question that has been asked is why plural? Does that imply multiple ways into heaven? We like to look at it this way - there are many ways in which people enter into heaven - they all simply go through Jesus. Some people are looking for meaning in life (perspective), others are looking for ways to become better people (personal growth), while others want to make the world a better place (social action). Each one of those is a reflection of the desire that God has placed within us to reflect His nature. Multiple pathways to one Savior.

We also desire to be a church that provides pathways out for people to serve the community and the world in which we live. Too often those pathways are clogged and the church begins to exist to serve itself. We desire to be a sending church rather than a gathering church only. Pathways in lead to Christ. Pathways out lead to a life of service as we reflect the character of God to the world.

Many of you have responded to our notes and letters asking how you can be a part of our team as we plant this church in the Seattle area. First, please pray for us on a regular basis. This area is known as the most unchurched area of the United States (along with Oregon). We have talked to many different church planters in the area who are struggling to make it. It is not an environment where churches thrive. Second, many of you have asked how you can give a one time gift or be a regular giver to our ministry. We are not yet incorporated as a church as of yet, that should come in this spring, so until that time, the Christian Evangelistic Association (the church planting organization that we are working with) is taking in our funding for us.

You can mail donations to:
Christian Evangelistic Association
Re: Pathways Church
P.O. Box 92
Edmonds, WA 98020

You can also make donations online at the Christian Evangelistic Association website.

Thank you for caring about what we do here in the Northwest!

Pathways Church is a new church located in Mill Creek, WA. We are currently gathering together a core of people for an official church launch in October of 2005. The lead pastor is Dean Kuest, and he is joined by associate pastor John Chandler. After serving at a church in Arizona together for the last eleven years, Dean and John heard the call of God to start a new work in Washington.

We hope this blog will be a way for our friends, family, and supporters to follow what is happening as the church develops. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of what is happening with Pathways, please send Dean an email.