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Multiethnic Ministry Seeks to Reach 'Whole Person'
By Don Meyer TACOMA, WA (May 1, 2001) - Convinced that the church is perhaps the most segregated institution in America, Darryl and Lisa Hutcherson intend to accomplish what some have suggested is impossible.
They are going to plant a multi-ethnic Evangelical Covenant church in a place they describe as one of the most unchurched areas of the United States - Tacoma. As an African-American couple, they understand the challenges awaiting them in a community that is approximately 60 percent white and only 12 percent African-American. A mixture of Asians, Croatians and a bi-racial mix of Asian-Americans make up the balance of the population, with a small community of Hispanics in outlying areas.
Their formula is found in the Gospel of John where Jesus gives His disciples a new command to love one another as He has loved them, "not the old command to love others as yourself," Darryl said.
"God calls us to love one another," he continued. "What allows us to worship together, despite our differences, is love. However, the manifestation of love needs to be tangible. As others see that, they will be drawn to Jesus Christ."
The vision Darryl and Lisa bring is that of ministering to the whole person, expressing concern that goes beyond that of winning the soul. They see the role of the church also addressing a wide spectrum of human needs - encouraging education, economic development, low-income housing, care for seniors, job creation and outreach efforts to youth of the community.
It is this whole-person approach to ministry that the Hutchersons believe will set their ministry apart and win support from the community. "As we minister and demonstrate the love of God, the whole world will take notice," Darryl said. His sights are set closer to home on more immediate objectives, however. "I expect at some point the City of Tacoma will come to us and ask us to help them, realizing that here (the church) is a place that offers hope to people" and is making a difference.
The couple has established a good foundation with a dedicated multi-ethnic core group of Tacoma residents already formally committed to help build the ministry. They also enjoy the support of the North Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, which not only was instrumental in attracting them to this ministry opportunity, but also has nurtured and encouraged their vision.
"Understand that we are trying to live out the Kingdom," conference Supt. Mark Novak said with respect to the multi-ethnic focus of the Tacoma effort. "We want that same experience when people come to church. When is the church going to look like the Kingdom?" he asks. "We're taking a stab at it."
The Hutchersons bring considerable experience to this new area of ministry. Darryl was on the pastoral staff of a large suburban Chicago Baptist church for eight years. As director of programs, he supervised 52 ministries for the 3,600-member congregation. His wife, Lisa, is a professional financial planner who is as excited and engaged in the new ministry effort as her husband.
Feeling a strong sense of God's leading, the couple ended their ministry with the church and embarked on an 18-month self-described "Sabbath break" to discern God's direction for their future.
"One morning, about two or three months after leaving the position, I was moved by the spirit to read the passage of scripture where Christ was talking with the Samaritan woman at the well," Darryl explained. "God spoke and said it was time for me to begin the work He had called me to 15 years ago - the vision for multi-ethnic ministry that serves the whole person - body, soul and spirit." He said he also felt that he was to help address the economic needs of people.
The Hutchersons met with Craig Anderson, associate superintendent of the Central Conference. Opportunities in the Chicago area were explored. "Most people thought we would plant a new ministry in Chicago," Darryl said. God, however, had other ideas, saying "no" to a church plant at that time, but directing instead that the couple begin a Bible study in their home. And they did. It would prove to be a time of reflection and rekindling of a desire within Darryl for a preaching and teaching ministry, something he had missed during his years as an administrative pastor in the large suburban church.
Last October, the couple traveled to Kent, Washington, to participate in one of the Covenant's church planter assessment centers, conducted at the Kent Covenant church. "The assessment evaluation determined we have the skills, and they said 'start now'," Darryl said.
They returned to Chicago and waited. And waited. "We were about to give up when I received a call in February," Lisa recalled. "Dave Olson (of the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism) was leaving a message on our answering machine. I heard it and picked up the phone. He said he was at Midwinter (February) with Henry Greenidge and Don Robinson and asked if we would come out and touch base."
It was that phrase "touch base" that raised concern. The couple's expectations had been raised before with no results. She worried her husband might be reluctant to engage in yet "another one of those nice talks that would go nowhere." But, she said yes.
They went to the meeting location and talked with Robinson and Mark Novak, North Pacific Conference superintendent. Darryl once again shared his vision - and passion - for a ministry based on love, "bound by the spirit of love" as he phrased it. Novak said the conference shares that same vision. From that point forward, God was moving the Hutchersons in a westerly direction.
During this roughly two-year period, God was moving on the hearts of a group of Christians in Tacoma who had been meeting for Bible study. They were praying for a leader. Their prayers were about to be answered.
Three weeks following the meeting with Novak and Robinson, the Hutchersons were in Tacoma where a series of events affirmed God's call to that area. "God moved from the time we stepped off the plane to the time we left to go back home," Lisa said. Perhaps the most significant sign came when they met the leader of the Bible study group, an Asian named Ran Owyang. The chemistry worked from the moment they met - "we embraced each other immediately," Lisa recalled.
Two open houses followed during two visits to Tacoma. The first drew 16 people. But, the second and more decisive drew more than 40 people, including some from the Korean community. Seventeen committed to help establish a new church. Others agreed to pray. The several existing Covenant churches in the Tacoma area pledged enthusiastic support.
What's next? "We need to get on site," Darryl responded. "We need to find a location. We need to start meeting with the core group." Hopefully all of that will begin no later than July 1, assuming the Hutchersons can quickly sell their home.
And, how will they measure the success of their efforts? "Numerical growth is important, of course," Darryl said. "But, that is not the only measure. We also need to be diverse." Lisa quickly added, "It is not just about growth in the number of bodies, but growth in the number of those who become actively engaged in ministry."
"It is important that all of the members are able to articulate the vision," Darryl continued. "We also must make a tangible impact in the community. A year from now, people in Tacoma will know where we are and will say, 'yeh, they're doing some good stuff over there.'"
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