Evergreen In Action

At a retreat with Eric Law in February, Evergreen Association leaders (Executive Committee, TEAM and Caucus leaders) developed two specific goals for the coming year.

The first was conceived as the group shared that Evergreen is a well kept secret even in our own churches. All leaders attending were excited about Evergreen, but felt that the Leader group had become the same faces for too long. The goal reads: The Leader Group will each have told why he/she is excited about Evergreen so that at least one person per leader is added to the faithful (participating body). Some of the action plans to accomplish this goal are testimonies in each newsletter and the development of an Evergreen video that will be ready for a first viewing by the Annual Meeting and further refined to show at the ABC/USA Biennial convention in Pasadena in June 2009.

The second group realized that even our churches that are in Seattle sometimes feel isolated about their ministry and mission. They were concerned that we could help one another in various ways. Their goal statement: In the most culturally appropriate way, each caucus will identify a church with a need, and the people of the association will rally around to help address that need by the 2008 Annual Meeting. Caucuses have begun meeting to determine needs. Each church should hear more from its caucus.

We were represented by two able young adults: Thomas Davis and Monique Ramirez of New Beginnings Christian Fellowship. And Janice Spinks and April Braxton accepted the award for the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship as the congregation was honored at the plenary session for the African American Church with the highest increase in United Mission Giving.

Meanwhile, Pastor Stephen Jones and Lora-Ellen McKinney (daughter of Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney) both did book signings at the convention.

Pastor Greg Ledbetter was honored with the Edward H. Rhoades Urban Ministry Award for his work in reaching out to the lost, lonely and left behind during the Children in Poverty breakfast. Yosh Nakagawa was honored with the Jitsuo Morikawa Evangelism Award at the 2010 breakfast (which had 250 in attendance).