This past weekend, as dozens of volunteers made their way to the forthcoming Downtown Campus to continue in the build-out efforts, I was again blown away with the overwhelming goodness and grace of our God. A few of us were painting downstairs in what will be a children’s classroom and my mind recalled back to the last image I had in my mind of that room; last October’s building dedication, when the club was still operating and I was looking for some extra seating and found this hidden room downstairs with couches in it. I asked the bar manager if we could use them for the night and he replied…”you’re not going to want to use those.”

As the hidden room now transforms before our eyes I envision all the little sons and daughters of our Lord Jesus laughing, loving, and learning about Jesus, including Lord willing, my own sons and daughters in the coming years.Most of us know the statistics; there are more dogs than children in Seattle. However I believe that Jesus is orchestrating families who have a burden and love for the city, who desire to raise a generation in the heart of the city to be a dynamic counterculture. It is exciting and humbling to think that we can raise up our families in the city and see our children grow and love Seattle. They will be a dynamic counterculture showing that sex, money and power can be used in nondestructive ways and point to the grace and mercy of Jesus.

I have spoken with many families who are on the precipice of investing totally into the life of the city and many who already have. This is just the beginning of the groundswell and my wife and I are preparing to do what we can to continue to make downtown a family-friendly, family-livable city.

” Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 9:13-14

Check out this article from the latest Puget Sound Business Journal. Let’s be a help to the city and do what we can to continue this momentum…