Ezra 3 Project funds church improvements

By Mary Stamp

Soon after Alyssa Bell began as half-time minister at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in February 2023, the church joined the Ezra 3 Project of the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest (PIN), as part of a multi-year $800,000 Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations Initiative grant.

Emmanuel, a 31-member church that considers itself "small but mighty" brought confidence from that belief into participating in an Ezra 3 Project cohort with four other Presbyterian churches of fewer than 50 members. Those churches are Lidgerwood, Spirit Lake, Reardan and Korean Presbyterian.

Committed to serving its neighbors in the Emerson Garfield and West Central neighborhoods and committed to continuing as a church, Emmanuel Presbyterian joined the other small churches in their cohort who share those commitments. They explored how to use $10,000 seed money from the Ezra Project to make improvements in their building to meet community needs.

They engaged in a study on the theme, "Rooted Good," to discern ways to steward their spaces for the good of the community, such as finding other people and groups to use their buildings to gain an additional stream of income without losing their identity as a church.

"We have learned from each other. Despite differences in our buildings and congregations, we have commonalities. We have talked about what works and what does not work. We have learned that we are not alone and God is working in our places," said Alyssa.

The process also includes churches meeting with neighbors to help them as a church discover new uses for their properties both to have an impact in their community and to help their churches thrive as they do that.

"I have been drawn to love the community and humanity of the local church," said Alyssa, whose ability to serve half-time and support her family frees her to lead the church to solidify its income so it can continue to be a sacred space and to serve their neighbors.

She also works as a certified spiritual director and as an adjunct instructor at Portland Seminary and Whitworth University. Her husband, Matthew Bell, teaches computer science at Whitworth.

Alyssa's journey to this ministry began when she grew up in Shadle Park Presbyterian Church two miles north of Emmanuel. She studied theology and music at Whitworth, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 2005. While serving next as director of music at Mountain View Presbyterian in Marysville, Wash., she confirmed her call to ministry and began seminary at Fuller Northwest Extension at Seattle Pacific University.

In 2009, she started at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, earning a master of divinity degree in 2011 before moving back to Spokane.

Alyssa started as music director at Community Presbyterian in Post Falls and then she and Matthew served as co-associate ministers at Shadle Park and Community Presbyterian. Working part-time, she completed a doctor of ministry in leadership and spiritual formation online with Portland Seminary in 2021.

Those studies not only provided the path to teaching but also give her insights needed in the ministry at Emmanuel Presbyterian.

"It matters to be in community in a local church. It's what we are to be as disciples of Christ," she said.

For Alyssa, the key strengths of Emmanuel Presbyterian is its mix of theological and political beliefs, and the commitment of members to be a faith community that is journeying together through their lives.

"At Emmanuel, I see people who love each other and take pride in their shared history," she added.

There were 27 members when Alyssa came and there are now four more, with some joining when Westminster Presbyterian closed in the West Central Spokane neighborhood.

It's mostly older adults with several middle-aged adults and three children. The oldest member is 99.

"In the 1960s it was one of the area's biggest Presbyterian churches," she explained. "When I came, they were concerned they might have to close but were committed to staying open. It's a faithful congregation who give their time and resources."

Most members once lived in and continue to have roots in the neighborhood, which has a mix of renters and homeowners, but many have moved to other parts of town.

"We discerned about our space and what God had for us by listening to the community and making updates to the building for new uses," said Alyssa.

For 35 years, the Northwest Parent Co-op Preschool has rented the basement as a long-term, continuing tenant that provides a much-needed service to the community.

In 2024, Emmanuel rented the sanctuary to Christ the King, a church plant from Life Center, which has since moved to a new location. Now Foundation Church, an Open Bible Church, uses the fellowship hall.

"We used part of our funds to make the fellowship hall, which has a spacious stage, more usable for that church and the preschool. We painted the walls and replaced the carpeting," she said. "We also plan to upgrade the side entrance into the fellowship hall so more people use that entrance rather than going through the sanctuary.

"It's good to have a dedicated entry to the community space," Alyssa said.

Foundation Church's 70 members and children use the fellowship hall for worship at 9:30 a.m. Sundays. Emmanuel's worship is at 10:30 a.m., while Foundation has their coffee hour. After its service, Foundation has left and Emmanuel members have a coffee hour.

Emmanuel also plans to improve the fellowship hall and its stage so that groups like the Spokane Alliance will come for meetings and performances. It will upgrade the tech and AV system in the sanctuary for its own and others' use in worship and giving presentations.

"Regardless of how the building is used, we are committed to having it be a sacred space for music and worship," she said. "We are unapologetically a church opening our door to the community."

Alyssa said she, her husband and daughters are members of the choir, which sings classical to contemporary songs.

"I love music. It's how I express faith. I love the way music makes me feel and relax," she said. "Choir practice is often emotionally uplifting. As we practice, the music becomes part of us, so through practice a piece becomes a beautiful song to share.

"The theological impact of music is not just in lyrics but also in how music makes us feel," she explained.

Alyssa also listed several other ways Emmanuel Presbyterian is active in the neighborhood and world.

• It donates to Our Place neighborhood ministry and has a member on the board.

• Three times a year, it collects gifts for Audubon Elementary School—school supplies in the fall, hats, gloves, leggings and sweatpants in the winter, and gifts to give children at Christmas. Foundation Church now joins in this effort.

• After Westminster Food Bank closed, the church began giving the food it collects to the Caritas Food Bank.

• Emmanuel also connects with national and world outreach through four offerings to the Presbyterian Church (USA): One Great Hour of Sharing for hunger and disaster relief, the Peace and Global Witness offering for peacemaking and reconciliation work, the Pentecost Offering for children and youth at risk, and the Christmas Joy offering to support past, present and future church leaders.

"It helps us feel connected to wider needs," said Alyssa.

For information, call 326-1252, email office@emmanuelpres-spokane.org or visit emmanuelpres-spokane.org