Six years ago, it looked as though St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood would have to close its doors. Many left due to disagreements with the Episcopal Church, leaving behind a small but faithful remnant. Those parishioners who stayed worked tirelessly to hold on to St. Luke’s ministry, beginning a process that would revitalize this small community.
It started with maintaining the Meals Ministry they had operated for nearly 30 years. It began with a Friday lunch for Ballard’s homeless population and expanded into a daily breakfast nearly a decade ago. For those facing housing insecurity, having a warm place to come in from the cold can be one of the main predictors of survival. Now, the St. Luke’s community serves over 130 breakfasts every weekday. This past summer, they renamed their meal program “Edible Hope” after a young man who has been both a guest and a volunteer told them, “You serve so much more than food. What you offer is hope, edible hope.”
In 2010, the faithful members of St. Luke took notice of the empty lot on their property next to the church and realized they could make better use of the space. Cleaning out the area and tilling the ground, they started the St. Luke’s Urban Garden (SLUG) with participation from neighbors who maintain plots. The SLUG now produces food for Edible Hope and the Ballard Food Bank.
The ministry of St. Luke continues to grow. Half of the portables on their property are now used as an evening shelter and the other half are used by the Bridge Care Center, a ministry of Quest Church. Their attendance continues to grow, with nearly twenty percent of their congregation coming from the homeless community they serve on a regular basis.
It’s been an incredible turnout for this small community. The Rev. Canon Britt Olson describes the members of her congregation as fighters, constantly “punch[ing] above their weight.” It’s this tenacity and determination to serve their neighborhood that has transformed a dwindling congregation into a vibrant and growing community.
I was there at St. Luke’s 50 years ago. I received the baptism of the Spirit, and it changed my life. I had a few years ago re-met Rita Bennett in Lynwood. Sad for us, and glad for her that God called her home.
Anyway, I am a full time missionary. (I will be in the Seattle area Sept 13-23. I would love to come by during the day Sept 14. Would anyone be there to open the building so I can enjoy my memories?