Dear Friends and Family,

The cultural and religious landscape in America is rapidly changing from a country that once had a deeply rooted foundation of faith, into a country where there is deep-seated suspicion and even hostility towards the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In this respect, Seattle is a city that is ahead of the rest of the country.  Located in a cathedral of natural beauty on the northwestern shores of America, Seattle represents the cultural and religious future of our country.  Historically it has always been the least “churched” city in America.  Today some 2% of the 1.7 million population of the greater Seattle area attend a Mainline Protestant church, 4% attend a Catholic church, and 8% attend a broadly Evangelical church.  That is 86% of the population not involved in any type of Christian church!

Despite this lack of Christian presence in the city, Seattleites consider themselves to be quite “spiritual.”  Fewer than 2% of the population consider themselves to be an atheist or an agnostic!  This has created a culture where self-defined forms of spirituality outside the Christian faith have become the dominant expression of spirituality and devotion to some form of deity.

It is because of this that Grace Seattle Church  (www.graceseattle.org) has been planted in the middle of the city to reach its needy, broken people.  It is also because of this that they have offered me (Tom) a two-year apprenticeship position to train, equip and serve as a future Christian leader in a city that is leading the way for America’s cultural and religious future.

I will be serving alongside Grace Seattle’s staff to further my seminary training, learn how to effectively carry out ministry in an overtly “secular but spiritual” missions context, and ultimately bring the wonderful news of salvation through Jesus as the Christ into the hearts and lives of the people of Seattle.  For this I will need your diligent prayers and financial support.  Though Grace Seattle plans to support Ruth and I with relationship, mentoring, and care, they are unable to support financially.  Moreover, Seattle is not a cheap place to live!  Therefore, first and foremost we covet your diligent prayers and desire to be faithful in praying for Ruth and I as the Lord calls and moves us to Seattle.  Secondly, we need your financial support to enable us to follow the Lord’s call on our lives.  

In Christ,
Tom and Ruth Galpin