CARE Project Launches First Site at Spokane Central Adventist Church

By Andrea Keele

Walla Walla University Associate Chaplain for Missions

The whiteboard slowly filled with clusters of colorful sticky-notes after the fellowship meal. Several tables of service-hearted church members reflected and discussed the needs of their community and their own gifts and skills they were ready to share with their community. From bi-monthly fellowship meals to an after-school STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) program, a multi-church food bank, a clothing closet for kids, around 80 Bible study requests, and several baptisms, Spokane Central Seventh-day Adventist Church is already engaged in their urban community. Their compassion leads them to spring into action in caring for their neighbors in downtown central Spokane. This opened the door to their involvement with the Community Action and Relief Experience (CARE) project and this weekend of visioning—and sticky-notes.

Originating in the Pacific Northwest, the CARE project is coordinated out of the Center for Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) at Walla Walla University with partial funding from Adventist Community Services (ACS) at North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists, with oversight from the North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) ACS. The CARE project has a vision to increase involvement of young people in community service through a comprehensive, assessment-based engagement plan, supported by a small team of CARE student missionaries and resident expert partners.

“This project encourages students to bring their unique backgrounds, interests, and fields of study to partner with the local work of Adventist Community Service centers,” said David Lopez, executive director of the CHE. CARE student missionaries will learn best practices for community development and gain hands-on experience, working closely with passionate professionals, volunteers, and community partners, serving for three to nine months.

Four sites have been selected to be a part of the pilot project, including Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Portland, Oregon; Nooksack, Washington; and Spokane, Washington. Spokane Central Church is the first of the four to launch with two student missionaries from Walla Walla University. The student missionaries will serve over the summer months of 2023 in areas such as social work, communications, and assisting with summer programming for kids in the community. Samantha Wawondatu, a graduating strategic communications major, is also using this experience for internship credit. “As someone who has always been passionate about the idea of community development, I am looking forward to bringing my skills and talents into the field and using them to serve the people around me,” explained Wawondatu.

The May 19-20 weekend served as a kick-off for the pilot project at Spokane Central. A small team from Walla Walla University, including Lopez, Wawondatu, and Andrea Keele, associate chaplain for missions, along with Colette Newer, associate director of NAD ACS, and Patty Marsh, Upper-Columbia Conference ACS director, met with Pastor Greg Carter and key leadership on Friday afternoon. Together they toured facilities and discussed various projects and needs. On Sabbath, the visiting team joined the church service through informational videos, a children’s story, a sermon, and celebrating the baptisms of five new church family members. Afterward, everyone enjoyed a fellowship meal together before Lopez led out in some activities and discussion to get to know the church members and their awareness and involvement in their community. Late in the afternoon, the weekend wrapped up with a final meeting of key church leaders to discuss ideas and start planning for their two summer student missionaries.

This project would not be possible without funding from NPUC, NAD ACS, an anonymous donor, Walla Walla University, and the most recent support from Versacare Foundation. Being sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and ownership of the local church, these CARE project partners are excited to see dreams come to reality to expand the positive impact in Spokane Central’s community and to continue welcoming more into their family of hope.