“What story will we tell?” That question echoes through the halls of Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church. It speaks to the heart of this community. Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church has a legacy approaching 80 years. It is a legacy of faithful gospel proclamation.
Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church has contributed to the welfare of the city. It has planted churches. The church has sent missionaries and discipled nations. God has been gracious here and His people have been faithful.
Multiple generations have lived and given beyond themselves at Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church. They possessed the foresight to build upon the gifts of the past. They expanded those foundations for the future. This too is from the Lord.
In 1960, a group bought land in Seattle’s Green Lake neighborhood. They built the facility that served as the church’s home until 2019. It was a gift that enabled decades of fruitful gospel ministry.
From 2013 to 2018, Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church matured. It grew from one service of 175 people to three services of nearly 450 people. A growing segment was children. From 2009 to 2018, approximately 125 children were born. That is nearly 1.25 a month.
As a result of this growth, the church outgrew its space. It lacked adequate worship and fellowship facilities. It needed more rooms for children and adult education. There was also a need for sufficient meeting and office spaces. These constraints made everyday living difficult. They also prohibited essential ministry initiatives. These initiatives were vital to fulfilling the church’s mission and core values.
God calls His people to consider the needs of their neighbors. Scripture exhorts us to seek the welfare of the city. We are told to pray to the Lord on its behalf. In its welfare, you will find your welfare.
Seattle is the fastest-growing big city in America. Many people moved into the city. Within this beauty and goodness, however, is staggering gospel need. Seattle represents a large unchurched and de-churched population. Many Seattleites self-identify as post-Christian. They possess no Christian memory or influence.
Despite these alarming statistics, the gospel addresses all human need. The heart is restless until it rests in God. Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church can be a place of welcome. It can be a place of hospitality and rest amid life’s chaos. Historically, churches have served this function. They offer a unique blessing of communal life. They provide pastoral activity, missionary work, and local focus. Churches offer educational functions and economic importance. A church building should be a community center with worship space.
Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church faced a similar opportunity as previous generations. It could build a home suitable for its needs. It could also build one for the life of the city.
The church believes it found such a place. Located not far from the previous facility. The former Trinity United Methodist Church building is a historic facility. It is situated in the heart of Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. The building itself is large. It boasts many classrooms, a full gym, and many additional amenities. These are suited for the growing congregation.
This allowed Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church to expand its ministry reach. The facility has historically housed a ministry to people experiencing homelessness. This included a weekly soup kitchen. It also offered a nightly men’s warming shelter. There is space for additional partnerships with the city. There could be partnerships with local schools and arts endeavors. There are also income-generating relationships with private preschools. There could be schools, counseling centers, and summer camps.
The ultimate goal of Trinity Christ Memorial Baptist Church is not a new building. That’s merely a by-product of the true goal. The true goal is to change our hearts. A legacy is learning to live and give beyond ourselves. The hope is that God will use this season to cultivate hearts. These hearts will love the gospel. They will desire to establish the work of the kingdom in our city.