Home in the City

Frequently Asked Questions

We're excited to share more about the opportunity to purchase a permanent ministry home for Every Nation Church Seattle. Below you'll find answers to many of the questions we've received as we've shared this opportunity with our church family.
As this process continues, we'll keep this page updated with new information and answers to additional questions.

Return to campaign home

Vision & Mission

Why are we considering this opportunity?

For more than twenty-five years, Every Nation Church Seattle has existed to honor God and make disciples of Jesus Christ who love well.

As our church has grown and matured, leadership has continued asking what kind of environment would best support that calling—not only for today, but for the years ahead. We've reached a point where our current space limits several areas of ministry, particularly children's ministry, opportunities to gather as one church family, leadership development, and ministry throughout the week.

We are deeply grateful for God's provision in every season, while also praying that He might provide a place that allows us to serve more effectively. We believe this possibility aligns closely with those prayers and could help us continue loving people, making disciples, and serving Seattle for many years to come.

Why this building?

When we first walked through the building, we were struck by how naturally it supports many of the things that are already central to who we are as a church.

It includes areas for worship, children's ministry, discipleship, hospitality, church operations, and gathering together. Rather than investing significant time and resources adapting another type of property, we could focus more quickly on using the space to serve people well.

Just as meaningful has been Hallows' desire to see another gospel-centered church continue the ministry already taking place here. Their hope is that worship continues, disciples continue to be made, and the surrounding neighborhood continues to be loved well. That shared heart has made this feel less like acquiring property and more like receiving the opportunity to carry forward a legacy of faithful ministry.

Why this location?

No location is perfect, and every location comes with both opportunities and tradeoffs.

As leadership evaluated this possibility, we considered not only the space itself but also how its location would support the future of Every Nation Church Seattle. We recognize that moving from the Hub means the building is no longer within walking distance of the U District light rail station, and we know that may create additional challenges for some members and students.

At the same time, the property remains just a few minutes from our current location, keeps us connected to the University of Washington, brings us closer to Seattle Pacific University, and places us in a neighborhood with families, schools, parks, and opportunities to build relationships throughout the week.

Ultimately, we believe this location provides a strong foundation for continuing to serve the people God has called us to reach.

Why now?

If this announcement feels like it came out of nowhere, you're probably not alone. In many ways, it did.

We first learned about this possibility in early June through trusted relationships. Because it was never publicly listed, there was a relatively short window to prayerfully evaluate whether it was something we should pursue. Since then, leadership has spent significant time praying, seeking counsel, exploring financing, evaluating the property, and discerning whether this is the right next step for our church.

We're sharing it now because we've reached a point where we want to take the next steps together as a church. While important work still remains—including due diligence, inspections, financing, and final agreements—we believe this is the right time to invite our church family into the process through prayer, questions, and participation.

How does this support our mission?

Our mission hasn't changed—we exist to honor God and make disciples of Jesus Christ who love well.

This isn't primarily about acquiring a place to meet. It's about creating an environment that helps us live out that calling more effectively. Additional space would allow us to welcome more people, strengthen ministry to children, students, and families, invest in discipleship and leadership development, gather more regularly as one church, and extend greater hospitality to our neighbors.

We pray this becomes another tool God uses to help us faithfully love people, make disciples of Jesus, and serve Seattle.

What excites leadership most about this opportunity?

More than anything else, we are looking ahead to what God might do through our church in the years to come.

Throughout the building tours, one comment kept coming up: "It feels like home." While we know the church is ultimately the people of God—not a place—we've been grateful to see our church family begin imagining what life together could look like in a space that supports worship, hospitality, discipleship, and community throughout the week.

We picture children growing up in the faith, college students encountering Jesus, families finding community, leaders being developed, and people from every stage of life taking their next step with Him. That's what gives us the greatest sense of anticipation as we prayerfully consider this next chapter.

Finances

Can we afford this?

Yes—we believe this is financially achievable, and we wouldn't be pursuing it if we didn't.

Over the past several weeks, we've carefully evaluated the financial implications of this purchase alongside trusted advisors, lenders, and our elder team. We've considered both the upfront costs and the long-term responsibility of owning and maintaining a property, and we've been encouraged that this is a realistic and sustainable path for our church.

Like purchasing a home, owning a building changes how we budget. Instead of primarily paying rent, we'll steward resources toward a mortgage, utilities, insurance, maintenance, and future repairs. While those expenses look different, we believe they're a faithful investment in creating a stable home for ministry for many years to come.

Why do we believe this is a wise financial decision?

Opportunities like this don't come along very often. It's uncommon for an existing church facility to become available in a way that aligns so closely with our ministry needs, long-term vision, and financial capacity.

The property is already well suited for church ministry, allowing us to focus our time and resources on serving people rather than making extensive renovations or adapting another type of building. Combined with the relational nature of this opportunity and the financial planning that's already taken place, we believe this is a faithful investment in the future ministry of Every Nation Church Seattle.

Throughout this process, we've asked not only whether we could pursue this opportunity, but whether we should. After much prayer, wise counsel, and careful evaluation, we believe the answer is yes.

How will we pay for it?

We've intentionally approached this opportunity with a balanced plan. Existing church resources, financing, and a phased generosity campaign each play an important role in making this possible.

Every Nation Church Seattle has been preparing responsibly for the future by maintaining financial reserves. Those reserves, together with financing and the generosity of our church family and ministry partners, create a balanced approach that allows us to pursue this opportunity without relying on any single source of funding.

Rather than approaching this as a one-time fundraising effort, we've chosen a phased campaign. Phase 1 is focused on helping us move toward purchasing the property, while Phase 2 will build on that foundation as we continue discerning the long-term needs and opportunities for this space. We'll share more details as those plans are finalized.

As we celebrate twenty-five years of God's faithfulness, we're inviting everyone who has been part of the ENCS story—our church family, alumni, ministry partners, and friends—to prayerfully consider how they might participate in this next chapter.

What changes financially if we own a building?

Like owning a home instead of renting, owning a building changes some of our expenses—but it doesn't change our commitment to wise financial planning.

Instead of primarily paying rent, we'll budget for a mortgage, utilities, insurance, maintenance, and future repairs. We've been evaluating those ongoing costs carefully throughout this process so we understand the long-term responsibilities that come with ownership.

While the categories in our budget will look different, our commitment to faithful stewardship remains the same. Our goal is to care well for the resources God has entrusted to us so this space can continue serving our church and our city for years to come.

Church Life

How will this change our Sunday gatherings?

One of the things we're most excited about is the possibility of gathering together as one church family again.

For the past two years, we've met in two Sunday gatherings because of the limitations of our current space. While we're grateful God has continued to grow our church, we've also experienced some of the challenges that come with being divided across multiple services. Gathering together again would allow more of our church to worship together, build relationships across generations, celebrate as one body, and simply know one another more deeply.

There's something deeply meaningful about seeing our whole church worship, pray, celebrate, and serve together in the same room again. Moving back to one gathering would also create a healthier rhythm for many of our volunteers, allowing more people to both worship and serve while strengthening the relationships that make our church feel like family.

Will we still gather around tables?

Absolutely. Gathering around tables has become an important part of how we worship, build relationships, and engage with God's Word together. We fully intend to continue making that a regular part of our Sunday gatherings.

In many ways, this space could make that even easier. With more room and the opportunity to gather as one church family, we'd have greater flexibility to share meals, discuss the sermon together, and continue growing as disciples in community.

The exact setup may look a little different, but the heart behind it won't change. We're excited about the opportunities this space creates to deepen the relationships and discipleship that have become such an important part of our church life.

How will this better serve families and children?

Few investments matter more than the next generation.

This space would allow us to create environments designed specifically for children while giving families more opportunities to grow together in the life of the church. Dedicated classrooms, family-friendly spaces, and room to gather throughout the week would help us care for children and support parents as they disciple them to know and follow Jesus.

One of the things that stood out to us as we talked with the Hallows staff was hearing stories of children growing up in this building. They shared memories of kids running through the halls, playing games together, and building friendships that lasted for years. We found ourselves thinking, "We'd love to have stories like that someday."

What becomes possible in a space like this?

This isn't simply about having more space—it's about having a place that better supports the way we believe God has called us to make disciples.

We're grateful for the Hub and all God has done there. At the same time, this space would give us greater flexibility to gather, pray, disciple, share meals, develop leaders, and care for people in ways that fit the life of our church. Rather than working around the limitations of our current layout, we'd have a space that more naturally supports the rhythms of ministry we already value.

Our hope isn't simply to fill a calendar with more activities. It's to faithfully steward a space that helps people encounter Jesus, grow in community, and take their next step in following Him.

Practical Questions

How will parking compare to the Hub?

Like The Hub, most people will continue to park on nearby neighborhood streets.

This building doesn't have a dedicated parking lot, and street parking will continue to be the primary option on Sunday mornings. If you have mobility needs or are dropping someone off, accessible parking and a designated drop-off area will be available.

We know parking matters. It's something we looked at carefully throughout this process, and after spending time in the neighborhood and learning from Hallows' experience, we felt good about what we found.

What if I rely on public transit?

This is one of the tradeoffs we've spent the most time talking and praying about.

One of the things we love about The Hub is how easy it is to get to by light rail, and we know this move will make Sunday mornings less convenient for some people. We didn't take that lightly.

While this location isn't as close to Link, it is still served by several bus routes and remains just minutes from the University of Washington and even closer to Seattle Pacific University. For many, getting to church by transit will still be very possible—it will just require a different route than it does today.

We know this change will affect people differently. After a lot of prayer and conversation, we believe this is the right next step for our church family.

Will this change how we reach students and our city?

Will this help us continue reaching people with the gospel? That became one of the defining questions throughout this process.

Our location is changing, but our mission isn't. Reaching university students has always been one of the ways God has called ENCS to make disciples in Seattle, and that calling isn't changing. We'll continue investing in campus ministry, walking alongside students, and raising up the next generation of leaders. We're also still just minutes from the University of Washington and even closer to Seattle Pacific University.

We've also seen that God often works through relationships, personal invitations, and the faithful presence of His people. We believe this move allows us to continue reaching students while also becoming more deeply rooted in a neighborhood where we can love, serve, and disciple people for years to come.

Our Partnership with Hallows

What happened to the Hallows Church?

After years of faithfully serving the Wallingford community, the leadership of The Hallows Church prayerfully discerned that this chapter of their ministry was coming to a close.

As they looked toward the future, they weren't simply hoping to sell a building. Their hope was to see the ministry continue. They desired for the space to remain a place where the gospel is proclaimed, disciples are made, and the neighborhood is faithfully served.

Through relationships and many conversations, The Hallows Church invited Every Nation Church Seattle to consider stewarding the next chapter of what God is doing in this space. We have been deeply moved by their humility, generosity, and heart to see the gospel continue to be proclaimed in Wallingford.

What will happen to The Hallows congregation?

This has been one of the questions we've cared about most throughout this process.

The people of The Hallows Church are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We want to approach this opportunity with the same care, humility, and honor that has characterized the conversations between our churches from the very beginning.

As they prayerfully discern their next steps, our shared desire is that every person and family would continue growing as disciples of Jesus. We also hope each person finds a healthy local church where they can continue to grow, worship, and serve, wherever God leads them.

If this opportunity moves forward, our hope is that anyone from The Hallows Church who chooses to make ENCS their church home would find a church family committed to walking alongside them through this season. We want them to experience genuine love, patience, and hospitality every step of the way.

How have ENCS and Hallows been working together throughout this process?

One of the unexpected gifts of this journey has been the relationship God has built between our two churches.

From the very beginning, we've approached this opportunity with prayer, openness, and mutual trust. We've shared our stories, walked through the building together, asked honest questions, and sought God's wisdom each step of the way.

More than anything, those conversations have reminded us that this has always been about more than a building. Rather than feeling like a transaction, this has felt like two churches walking alongside one another, united by a shared desire to see the gospel continue to flourish in Seattle.

Whatever the outcome, we're deeply grateful for the relationships that have been built and for the hope that's grown throughout this journey.

Next Steps

What's next in this process?

Sharing this opportunity with our church is an important milestone, but it isn't the end of the process.

While we're hopeful about what God may be doing, we also want to move forward with wisdom and humility. We'll continue seeking the Lord together, faithfully stewarding this opportunity, and communicating openly as each new step unfolds.

As new information becomes available, we'll continue sharing updates and inviting our church family to celebrate, pray, ask questions, and participate together as God leads.

How can I be praying?

From the very beginning, we've wanted this process to be marked by prayer, humility, and a desire to follow God's leading.

One of the ways we've been praying together as a church is through Ephesians 3:20–21:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

As exciting as this opportunity is, our deepest prayer isn't simply for a building. It's that God would be glorified, His kingdom would continue to grow in Seattle, and that He would do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine through both ENCS and The Hallows.

How can I be involved?

It's been a gift to see our church walk through this season together. From attending tours and asking thoughtful questions to praying faithfully and celebrating what God may be doing, your engagement has been a gift.

As we continue moving forward, we'd encourage you to stay engaged, keep praying, and continue asking questions.

As God leads you, we'd invite you to consider making a financial commitment toward this opportunity. We know every person's response will look different, but we trust that God will provide through the faithful obedience of His people.

We're grateful that this isn't a journey our leadership team is taking alone. It's one we're walking together as a church family, trusting God to lead us every step of the way.

How can I stay updated?

We'll continue sharing updates as this process unfolds and new information becomes available. Our goal is to communicate openly and consistently through Sunday gatherings, email, the church app, and our other regular communication channels. We want our church family to feel informed, included, and invited to walk through this journey together.

Who can I talk to if I have more questions?

We know this opportunity raises thoughtful questions, and we'd love to continue the conversation.

If there's something you'd like to ask or talk through, please reach out to one of our elders or staff. We'd be happy to listen, answer questions, and continue the conversation as we seek God's leading together.

Thank you for walking through this season with us. We're grateful for the way our church has responded with prayer, thoughtful questions, and a shared desire to faithfully follow God's leading.

We look forward to seeing what God will continue to do in and through our church in the days ahead.