As I continue our story. Our second stop takes us to Tacoma, Washington where we worked with the Lakeview Church of Christ. This congregation was started as an outreach to the military. As was our custom we stayed with members of the congregation for three weeks. I stayed with Sandy and Dave Newman and their two little girls. The church was in the prep stage for building a new building. They shared with us the new design which we thought was pretty exciting. The pulpit was to be in the middle. Floyd Brazil was in charge of our group. Obert Henderson preached a meeting while we were there. He “taught” us a new song to go with one of his lessons, His Grace Reaches Me, which is still one of my favorites. We went door to door sharing the scriptures. This meant we had to do a lot of Bible study on our own too! Morning quiet times and devotionals stand out in my memory of my time in Tacoma. Again we studied with old and young alike. This will not be the end of the story of my connection with Lakeview.
My third stop was to Seattle, Washington. Our team all met up at Mountlake Terrace Church of Christ. Six of us were chosen to work with a new congregation just getting started. West Seattle Church of Christ. We again stayed in the homes of church families. I stayed with Roy and Jo Vaughn. The church shared the building with another church. Roy had an old VW Van which he put a sandwich board sign on top of to tell the church was meeting. Most of our work was knocking on stranger’s doors and asking if they would like to study the Bible. We also helped conduct services of the church. I met many wonderful people some that would remain a part of my life to this day. One dear lady, Betty Coleman, agreed to a Bible study and I went every day with my door knocking partner and we studied through the book of John together. This sweet lady became a Christian while we were there. My life would also reconnect with this congregation a few years down the road. It was time for our group to leave but I was allowed to stay a couple of days longer. Madge Boubonik (I am sure the spelling is butchered) taught me to make communion bread. http://www.redaredding.com/communion-bread/ Les and Mildred’s daughter Mary, took me on my first trip to the Pike Place Market in Seattle where we bought fresh crab for my first taste! It was wonderful of course!
My love for the Pacific Northwest began in 1979 and still impacts me today.
And a little bit of the continuing story………..
Fast forward to 1985 when we move our family from Reedsport, Oregon to Burien, Washington to start a house church. The nearest congregation was West Seattle and of course, we reconnected with many of those same people I had met in 1979 and that connection remains to this day. Also, new family members were added to our friends list and the ripples continue. And I am sad to add that West Seattle closed its doors last year.
Fast forward to 2007. We move to Spanaway, Washington near Tacoma! Only 7 miles from the Lakeview congregation. I walk into Lakeview as a grandma now. The building was completed several years before. Many of the same people I met in 1979 were still at Lakeview when I arrived. It was a wonderful reunion. Friendships continue. Floyd Brazil was still busy about the Lord’s work when we arrived and driving us around on a new door knocking adventure. And a few more years down the road his sweet grand-daughter Stephanie would move to Aberdeen, Washington where we were working with the church there. And the ripples continue.
http://www.redaredding.com/campaigns-northwest-part-2/