On Sunday, October 18, 2026, nearly five years to the day we were commissioned to plant Anthem Church, we gathered to celebrate God’s faithfulness. We are deeply grateful for the church members and ministry partners who have prayed, served, given, and supported this ministry over the past five years.
look forward with one another: christ building his body
Sunday evening, more than 160 people gathered to celebrate five years of God's faithfulness to Anthem Church. Some have been with us from the beginning. Others joined us along the way. Still others faithfully prayed, gave, encouraged, and supported us as ministry partners in this work. As I stood on stage, looking out at everyone, I was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude to God. Every face represented a story, a relationship, and a sacrifice that helped make these five years possible. Five years ago, when we stepped out in faith to plant during a global pandemic, we had no idea what God would do. Yet there we were on Sunday night, surrounded by countless testimonies of people God brought together to celebrate only what He could have accomplished in and through us.
What encouraged me most was hearing testimonies of how God has been doing extraordinary ministry through ordinary people. We heard from Grey and Marisol (click here), whose story reminded us how hospitality and shared meals create meaningful relationships across cultures. We heard from Erica and Li (click here), whose friendship led to a life-changing decision about Jesus. And Carl and Dave (click here) shared how God develops people through simple, yet significant spiritual conversations that make a real difference in people's lives.
We also celebrated how God fulfilled our dreams. Five years ago, our hope was to identify one future church planter. Instead, God has already allowed us to help send out two couples who have planted two churches in Wyoming and Washington! First with Jeff and Beth Newcomer (click here) to plant in Upton, Wyoming. Then with Alvin and Juana Rebong (click here) to plant in Auburn, Washington. What began as one church is now a growing family of churches drawing together nearly 200 people each Sunday.
These stories remind us that Christ builds His church through people who love, serve, and help others follow Him. And the God who has worked through these people over the past five years is the same God we're trusting for the years ahead.
Look Up to god: trusting him for our next five years
As we celebrated what God has done, we also shared where we believe He's leading us. God’s vision for us remains unchanged, which is how we want every person from every language group on the Eastside of Seattle to hear the good news and to encounter the good life in Jesus. What is changing, however, is how we pursue that vision through the growing number of people God has brought and is bringing together as a church family.
So over the past year, we listened to our church family, prayed together, and sought God's direction as a church family. Two important realities emerged. First, our people genuinely love one another. Anthem feels like family so as we grow, we want to preserve that closeness while deepening our relationships. Second, our people are navigating full and challenging lives. We want to grow spiritually and make a difference, but we're balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. Rather than simply adding more, we want to come alongside to help one another follow Jesus right where God has placed us.
These realities have helped clarify three objectives for our next five years. First, we will develop leaders by helping every disciple make a disciple of Jesus. Second, we will form community by helping every person belong to a group where they grow spiritually to become more like Jesus. Third, we will reach our neighbors with the gospel by helping every disciple live on mission with Jesus in the places where they live, work, learn, and play.
As more people grow in Christlikeness and help others do the same, we’re trusting God to grow His church. Our prayer is that Anthem will grow from 75 to 150 adults over the next five years. But our goal isn't simply a larger church. It's a healthier one, where more people are becoming like Jesus and influencing others to follow Him. That's where we're headed: becoming more like Jesus in His life and mission as we grow in our love for God, one another, and our neighbors.
look to his word: defining success by obedience
At the end of our celebration, a friend shared something I'll remember for a long time: "I'm glad you didn't listen to me." I knew exactly what he meant. When we were preparing to plant Anthem during the pandemic, he had expressed serious and valid concerns. Knowing how many church plants struggle, he believed our efforts were "destined to fail" (his words), and he cared enough to tell me. But five years later, after seeing what God had done, he was glad we had continued forward. And once again, he cared enough to tell me.
His comment raises an important question: What does success look like for our future? I mean, “What if Anthem hadn't made it five years? Would that have meant we failed?” I don't believe so. Success in following Jesus isn't ultimately measured by longevity, attendance, or impressive accomplishments. We can live long lives without bearing much fruit. We can attend church without investing in others. And we can accomplish great things without growing closer to Christ in the process. Success isn't simply measured by what we accomplish, but by whether we faithfully trust and obey God as He works in and through our lives.
When God commissioned Joshua to lead His people, He called him to be courageous and careful to obey His Word (Joshua 1:7–8). God promised that through obedience, Joshua would be “prosperous and successful.” Joshua didn't know everything that lay ahead, but he knew the God who was leading him, and he followed. Likewise, we don't know what the next five years will bring for Anthem, but we do know the God who has brought us this far. And we're following Him into the future as He accomplishes His purposes through us, according to His will, His timing, and His definition of success.
Our responsibility is to faithfully plant seeds, water what grows, and trust God to give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Some of what we plant may bear fruit in our lifetime. Other seeds may grow long after we're gone. I think about the two churches we've helped plant. Perhaps God brought us together for that very purpose. Or someone who once hesitated to share their faith but is now leading others to Christ. Or someone who once simply attended church but is now investing in the spiritual growth of others. This is what success looks like: faithfully following Jesus, becoming more like Him in His life and mission, and helping others do the same. So, as we look back with gratitude and look up to God for our future, let's keep trusting Him, obeying His Word, and loving the people He's placed in our lives. The God who has been faithful will continue to be faithful.
To God be the glory!