On Saturday, March 1, I had the privilege of attending the Western Washington British Columbia Conference (WWBC) annual meeting at the West Valley Advent Christian Church in Federal Way, Washington. With more than 20 delegates in attendance, it was a meaningful and encouraging gathering.
Pastor Philmont Bostic of West Valley kicked off the meeting with a brief devotional and prayer. From there, representatives from each of the conference’s four churches shared updates on their ministries, each highlighting how God is working in their communities.
One of the most inspiring updates came from Pastor Bostic, who spoke about the church’s “Loads of Love” ministry. This innovative initiative involves church members paying for the laundry of community members at a local laundromat. There’s no catch — just a simple, practical way to show the love of Christ.
R.J. Qualls then shared how Fountain Community Church in Bellingham continues to experience God’s blessings and growth. It’s been incredible to see how the Lord has been maturing their congregation.
Pastor Schad Russell of Nooksack Community Church reflected on a prayer he prayed years ago: “Lord, give the people that no one else wants.” God answered that prayer, and the church now has the opportunity to minister to people struggling with addiction. They’re also expanding their outreach to a nearby homeless camp, where several individuals have begun attending services.
Pastor Chad Hammond from Sumas Advent Christian Church shared about how his church serves the community through a clothing bank and helps rebuild homes that were destroyed by floods.
After these uplifting reports, Rev. Rick Qualls, the conference president, called the meeting to order. Dr. Nate Hettinga, the WWBC church planting consultant, gave a report and I presented a report on the various ministries of ACGC. I also had the privilege to thank the conference for a very generous gift it made to Advent Christian International Missions last year. I was able to give a brief overview of the various ways the conference’s gift was used in several of our Asia-Pacific fields.
The meeting wrapped up with elections for conference officers. The newly elected leaders are: Rick Qualls as president, Felicia Pike as vice president, Lisa Russell as secretary and Brad Neil as treasurer.
West Valley was a wonderful host, offering refreshments before the meeting and providing a hearty soup-and-salad lunch afterward. I left the meeting feeling encouraged and thankful for the work God is doing through the WWBC churches.
On Sunday, Rev. Rick Qualls, pastor of Fountain Community Church, gave me the opportunity to preach at their morning worship service. This marked the end of a 10-day trip for Rick and me. We started the previous Friday in Southern California and worked our way north. The trip was great, and I was able to visit several of our WACA churches and almost all our pastors in the region. It was very encouraging to hear stories of the Lord’s faithfulness to our West Coast churches and to get to know our dedicated pastors a little better. I’m thankful for the time they took to meet with us and their dedication to Christ and his church.
