Deeper with God

by Pastor Mike Kurtz

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY 2026-27

by Kenji Kumai

WOK (WASABI & ROCK – YOUTH MINISTRY)

by Will Tong

CYC (COLLEGE & YOUNG CAREER)

by Lulu Kao

THIRD ANNUAL SENIORS & CYC SPRING SOCIAL

by Kevin Chan

If we went back 25 years, we had three young families (in our 30’s) that were involved with the Seniors Ministry: the Kumais (Kenji and Jeanne), the Sprays (Kimo and Janice), and the Chans (Kevin and Sheila) with all our children tagging along to help. Well, we all grew up and grew older! So, it is such a blessing to be able to team up with the CYC Ministry once again this year for our Spring Social!

The luncheon social was set for Saturday, May 16^th. However, the food preparations had started the day before with Sue and Matthew Machida baking for hours in the FBC kitchen and then they seasoned and rubbed down the many racks of prime beef before letting them sit overnight! At 9am the next morning, our Seniors team met up in the FBC kitchen to do what we do best, and that’s cooking in the kitchen!

The fellowship hall had been set up with tables and seating readied for 90+ guests. Lulu Kao and Karissa Tu led their team in decorating all the tables and throughout the room beautifully. Kenji was pulling double-duties, as he was helping in the kitchen and quickly ran out to make fresh coffee for everyone, as our young helpers started making the tasty punch.

As our guests arrived, they were welcomed at the door by our many CYC members, who also helped everyone with their name tags. Believe it or not, some people came long ways to join in the festivities! Craig and Lois Swanson came over from Leavenworth, while Craig and Lisa Inouye came over from Honolulu. The two Craigs being such jokesters, just couldn’t help introducing themselves to each other! Well, everyone was ready to have some fun!

Lulu greeted all our guests and introduced them to the ice breaker game of “Human Bingo.” She asked people to pair up (preferably a senior with a CYC member) with one game sheet per pair. The pairs would compete to be first in filling up their game sheet (containing 25 squares). They would go around the room to find out who meets the criteria to each square and fill in a name, but it must be a different name in each square and it cannot be their partner’s name. Lulu said there would be prizes for the winning pair. And the people got so excited that they didn’t even wait for Lulu’s okay to start! With Jon Jiang’s help going over all the answers, we’ve learned that: Jo Valberg is a veteran; Patty Mayeda loves Hallmark movies; Takae Maezawa speaks three languages; Tyler Omoto likes to play golf; Lulu Kao is from the Midwest; Carrie Ishimitsu knows how to play Rumikub, Howie Kimura works a non-engineering job, and much more…

Pastor Marty came up and prayed for us, asking for the Lord’s blessing upon our food and time together. As we’ve done previously, honoring our guests who are 80 years old and up, they were the first to go through the buffet line. Our luncheon menu included: steak and au jus, mashed potatoes with gravy, chicken katsu, sesame noodles, roasted vegetables, cabbage salad, fruit platter, strawberry chiffon cake with whipped cream, punch, coffee and tea.

After lunch, Dr. Gary Kato touched upon “Biblical Menopause.” He referenced Isaiah 46:4, where it says, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime.”, as words of encouragement for everyone. Dr. Gary emphasized that the subject of menopause is equally important for all the men and women in the audience! The drop in estrogen and increase of inflammation leads to the #1 cause of disability in menopausal women, which is osteoarthritis and #2 being osteoporosis. This is also when tissues shrink, atrophy occurs, kidney failure and UTI are common occurrences. Menopause causes sleep deprivation and often brain fog. The loss of fat in places, maybe in the wrong places, for example your feet may hurt more because of the loss of fat at the balls of your feet. Sound interesting or relatable?

Dr. Gary continued by emphasizing that exercise and sleep is extremely important at this stage in life. Anti-inflammatory diets such as the Keto or the Okinawa diets are key! Supplements like Sue Machida’s strawberry chiffon cake is great, but also omega, turmeric, krill oil are all good. It’s important to keep tabs on your blood pressure and routinely screen for diabetes. Get your mammograms annually and get your colonoscopies on time. Remember to use sunscreen and wear your hats. And use moisture for down below. Dr. Gary joked that may be TMI and it’s the only time you’d hear that preached at FBC. He closed by sharing from Psalms 92:12-15.

Jim Spray came up and joked around a bit before leading everyone in the osteoporosis aerobics. Joke: Two old men sitting. One old man complaining about all his aches and pains of growing old. The other old man says he feels just like a baby, because he has no hair, no teeth and he just wet his pants! Jim asked everyone to stand up and take some deep breaths. Kicks forward and back, and side to side. Punching a bit and arms up 1-2-3-4-cha-cha-cha. Deep breaths and relax!

Our seniors always love having the group singing time in the program! We were blessed to have Josh Kwok and Yusuke Maruo sharing in their musical talents and leading in singing of the two songs: “Give Thanks” and “As The Deer.”

We were delighted to have two young CYC speakers share today! Tyler Omoto wanted to share first because he wanted to warm up the audience for the next speaker! All his years growing up at FBC, he didn’t really like going to church with his parents! But when he went off to college, Justin Kumai asked him to go to small group with him. Tyler said that was the greatest motivation for him going forward. After he graduated from college, he continued going to their small group. He shared that he had learned so much from Justin Kumai and Brian Watanabe. In closing, Tyler referenced Ephesians 1:5…‘God chose the right time for him to accept the Lord!’

Matthew Machida shared that growing up at FBC had a major impact on him. (Matthew has been serving with the Seniors Ministry since he was in elementary school.) He just graduated from UW this year and looking forward to starting his technical career. He was on the core leadership team with JEMS at UW. He admits that it’s not easy to be following Jesus all the time, it’s not easy to always be loving, and it’s not easy to serve sometimes. He truly believes that God equips people with whatever they need. FBC has served him while growing up here and now he feels that it’s time to give back, as he serves others at FBC. He says, it totally feels like home here at FBC! And he prays that the younger people of FBC continues to serve the elderly here!

In closing, Kevin Chan shared a bit about how he has seen FBC changed over the past 30 years. Pastor Mike in his closing comments reiterated that FBC has changed a lot over the past 30 years and it would be very exciting to see what the next 30 years will bring! All glory to God!

– Kevin Chan

SUMMER CONNECT

by Marty Dong

2026 Summer Connect was a lot of fun and very special as the summer ministry replaced the morning Sunday School program that was on a break. During the 10:00 – 10:45 fellowship time, doughnuts, fruit, egg dishes, yogurt and juice was served. Erik Lee’s specialty coffee team provided terrific hot and cold coffee themed drinks. It was a great joy to see people from various groups in the church intermingle and fellowship. It was especially fun to see Eric teach the rotating coffee team members how to make the delicious drinks. A big shout out to all the people pitched in with setup and cleanup.

– Marty Dong

*Editor’s Note: A big shout-out to Marty for preparing a wonderful variety of protein-rich foods (including his famous egg bites), yogurt, fresh fruits, and more!

MERRILL GARDENS MINISTRY

by Marty Dong

The summer season for Merrill Gardens was very encouraging. This summer, the ministry was especially blessed to have several guest speakers – FBC Elder Gary Kato and FBC missionaries Naomi and J-D. Attendance was especially strong for August with over 30 attendees as Naomi shared about the her ministry and J-D gave a special performance with the clarinet. The Merrill Gardens team of Jeff, Sherry, Chloe, Elliot and Zariah Lin, Nancy Mayeno, Betty Inouye, Phyllis Solem and Marty, Lynn and Sammy Dong are blessed to serve the Merrill Gardens community that has a good number of FBC members and friends.

– Marty Dong

HOMELESS MINISTRY TRAINING

by Daniel Mar

Faith Bible Church was able to participate in Homeless 101 and 102 trainings led by Weston Foucher of Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission. These sessions helped equip our congregation with practical knowledge and skills for effective ministry that cover the complexities of homelessness, trauma-informed care, safety practices, relationship-building, mental health awareness, and community resources. It was really encouraging to see the church gratefully embrace this opportunity to make a more significant impact.

Our homeless ministry continues to serve our neighbors through a consistent presence, faithful prayer, and building meaningful relationships. It is inspiring to see how this ministry strengthens both our volunteers and those we serve. Through reflection, prayer, and guidance, we support one another and grow together. We are also grateful for the involvement of new and returning volunteers across generations.

As homelessness continues to evolve in Seattle, the church’s continued prayers and support are more important than ever as we serve our homeless neighbors.

– Daniel Mar

SACRED ROAD SUMMER MISSION

by Doreen Chin

Hi FBC family,

This past trip was my third time going with Sacred Road Ministries. People sometimes ask if going back to the exact same place starts feeling repetitive, but honestly, it never gets old.

A big reason for that is seeing how deeply Sacred Road invests in these kids for the long haul. During my first year, I met a little girl named Ruby at Kids Club. I’ve gotten to see her every time I’ve returned since, and Amy has kept me updated on how she’s been doing throughout the years. Building relationships like that is proof of the genuine, long-term impact this ministry has on the community.

This year, I got to hang out with Kehlani, and through her, I met her sister Brady and her brother Isaiah. Kehlani and I bonded quickly over a whole lot of stealing hats, playing tag, and jump-roping… all while I was giving her a piggyback ride. A week after we got back to Seattle, Amy texted me that Kehlani was asking about “Amy’s friend,” but luckily had recruited another friend to give her endless piggyback rides. The following week, Amy texted that Kehlani found another piggyback friend! But the best news came a few weeks after that when Amy texted to say Kehlani and Isaiah made it to church for the very first time!

It’s easy to wonder if short-term trips actually matter. But stepping into a ministry that runs year-round, even if I’m only there maybe once a year, showed me that God uses every single piggyback ride to build something lasting.

Another highlight of the trip was getting to serve with this year’s team. Every year has a different dynamic, but I can honestly say this was one of the most genuinely thankful and optimistic groups of people I’ve ever served with. Everyone brought so much energy and hard work into both the work site and Kids Club, and it was awesome to watch them build relationships with the kids, staff, and other church teams there.

Most importantly, please keep the community in your prayers. Recent wildfires have deeply affected many families on the reservation, forcing evacuations and damaging homes. Please pray for strength, comfort, and support as they navigate rebuilding.

Thanks so much for praying for us and always coming alongside us!

– Doreen Chin

*Editor’s Note: Amy served with Sacred Road for the past year and a half.

SACRED ROAD SUMMER INTERN

by Yukimi Kuge

I had the privilege these last two months of going to the Yakama Reservation through Sacred Road to serve the community there. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support!

This year, as an intern, I got to work with the children’s ministry crew and help prepare for Kids Club, whether that was packing the vans, preparing crafts, or tying water balloons.
At first, it felt weird not being on a worksite painting or roofing, as I had done the last two years as a team member. While prepping crafts was fun, cleaning and doing some of the other behind the scene work was not quite as exciting. However, God humbled me quickly and helped me realize that my role here was not always going to be as satisfying as painting or roofing, especially when there was no visible progress to show for my work. He reminded me that I was there to serve Him and others rather than feed my own ego or take pride in what I had accomplished.  As I began to understand the importance of these roles, I started to realize that even though I may not be doing anything that seems big, God can and will use it all for His greater plan. I was blessed to be able to watch and experience that.  Working in kids ministry, I loved seeing the kids have so much fun with all of the crafts we prepared.

I think one big theme God gave me for this summer was the mystery of how God works in broken places. I witnessed several different aspects of this.

One was the brokenness of the community. I had the opportunity this year to be a rider for the vans that pick up the children from their homes, as well as go around knocking on children’s doors to pass out flyers for Water Day.  Usually, we see the kids at church or at Kids Club, but seeing where they come from. the homes they live in, the people they live with, and hearing about some of their backgrounds was a bit of an eye opener.  Some kids were coming from homes with generations of drug abuse. I also heard from some of the kids that they were not being fed well. Some said they hadn’t eaten all day, and one girl said she had only had potato salad that week until her aunt finally showed up to cook something else.  It was heartbreaking to see how these cute, beautiful kids could be left in situations like that and not be properly cared for.

Another thing was the brokenness in the church, including myself. I’m not trying to take anyone down or point fingers. It was an amazing time working with everyone, don’t get me wrong. But there was still human drama, and little things could easily turn into small frustrations toward each other, which could then build into a wall between us. I also found myself noticing and pointing out other people’s flaws more easily than I noticed my own flaws and weaknesses.  That was when I realized that in places where God is working so greatly, and where you can see such amazing fruit, Satan is going to try to stop that. An easy way to do this is to break us apart and keep us from being united.  Some of you might have seen this in Amy’s email, but there was a fire going around the White Swan area, where many of the kids live. It was a very, very difficult and stressful time for everyone. Houses burned down, and so many people had to evacuate. Many, however, stayed behind for as long as possible to try to keep the fire away from their houses, standing on their roofs with hoses and spraying down as much as they could while watching the fire approach.  It was so hard to see and understand what kind of good God could actually be doing in the middle of such a huge tragedy. But one thing I did realize was that when bigger things like this happen, we all unite more strongly to try to overcome these hardships together, forgetting about the minor frustrations we may have with one another.
And the darker it is, the brighter a light will shine.

After the fire, when we were finally able to resume Kids Club normally, many of the kids looked tired, like they hadn’t gotten much sleep. It was sad to see, but I was also happy that we were able to be a safe space for the kids.  I kept thinking, what if the people who started Sacred Road, the Granberrys, had never started it? These kids might not have a safe space where they can just be kids, have fun, and not worry about everything else for a little while.  I cannot do much for them. I don’t have the power to protect them from whatever they may be going through at home, but I know God does. I’m so glad that God is taking care of these children, and we can rest in that.

I’ve been blessed to experience all of this and be a tiny part of God’s big work happening, but I know none of the words I say here will be able to fully capture it all.  So I hope you all can come and see what it’s all about. But more importantly, please keep praying for the children, their families, and the entire community.  Thank you!

– Yukimi Kuge

SCHOOL OF PROMISE TRIP REFLECTION

by Jeff & Sherry Lin

To God be all the glory. We knew we wanted to serve Him on a short-term mission trip, but we didn’t know how. When the Bausons came on their sabbatical last year, we started praying about whether God would have us visit the School of Promise in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and how He would use us there. We wanted to serve but weren’t sure whether our family of five could be of help. At the same time, we knew God could use anyone according to His plan and purpose.

This past spring, God answered our prayers. At the encouragement of the Kennells and Katos, we reached out to the Bausons, who graciously welcomed us and offered to have us teach Akiko’s English class for a week. From then on, we set our hearts on praying and preparing for the trip. We prayed that any materials, supplies, and gifts we had gathered would be used to bless the students, teachers, and others we met.

We made flash cards to help us memorize the students’ faces and names, studied the class material, and brainstormed games to teach and play. We were uncertain whether we could truly connect with the students. We knew we needed to trust God and rely on Him, for He alone knows and can meet the needs of all people.

Nonetheless, we were excited and began sharing our plans with the FBC family. Immediately, we felt the love of the church through everyone’s love for the Bausons. As our departure neared, we were encouraged by many who came up to us and offered prayers and well wishes. We prayerfully looked forward to what God would show us in Thailand.

It was a privilege to serve at the School of Promise. We noticed how God had given each student a unique personality. As the week went on, it was a joy to see them become more at ease, confident, and full of laughter. We were touched by some of their stories of perseverance through various hardships and difficult circumstances. We praised God that, regardless of their family backgrounds, they were able to feel loved and cared for at the school.

We saw God use each of us according to what He had given us, as members of the body of Christ, and to Him be all the praise!

Jeff drove, took care of all the logistics, created some of the games on paper and on the computer, and led all the classes. Chloe, who was close in age to the students, took part on the girls’ teams. One of the boys in the class became friends with Elliot. Zariah went around passing out cards, prizes, and snacks.

God allowed us to take part in His plan to sow seeds in the students’ lives, and we are so grateful that we could be there and get to know them. God placed them in a special place in our hearts. We will continue to pray for them and seek how God would have us serve in the future.

The school blessed us with lunch every school day while we were there. We met many teachers, faculty members, and students during our visit and were shown much love and kindness.
Beyond that, our time with the Kennells and the Bausons was a blessing upon blessing. We were warmly welcomed and well cared for. We could not have imagined such generous hospitality and felt overwhelmingly loved and supported in Chiang Mai.

We are filled with gratitude to our God for how He blessed us and showed us what He can do when we follow Him. We pray that He will continue to grow our faith and enable us to trust and follow wherever He plans to lead us in the future.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:13

– Jeff & Sherry Lin

CHRISTIAN FOSTER FAMILIES RETREAT REFLECTION

by Kaleo Chan

The last week of July, I had the opportunity to serve with the Steve and Miku Inouye in Hokkaido at their annual Christian Foster Families retreat. We served alongside a team from Crossroads Community Church (California), a team from Asian American Baptist Church (Texas), JEMS Staff, a Japanese-Brazilian volunteer, and also members from the foster families. Thank you for all your prayers! The weather was cool (cold, even!), and the retreat was a great experience for the children/youth, the foster parents, and the volunteers alike.

Each session began with worship as a large group, led by volunteers from the foster families starting as young as a 6th grader on the cajon. It was moving to see everyone so engaged in the worship, singing, dancing, and moving all over the room greeting one another.

Later in the sessions, we would break out into discussion groups for the youth and childcare groups for the children. I joined the California team who was leading the games and program contents for the teens and pre-teens, helping as the translator for the 5th/6th grade group. Thanks to your prayers and the grace of God, I was able to help bridge the language barriers (only receiving a couple instances of confused stares along the way!).

During this time, the foster parents were able to spend time together doing devotionals, hearing testimonies, and sharing their struggles and challenges with one another vulnerably without their children present. One of the foster parents shared that it’s difficult to share about fostering struggles with other Christian parents; they don’t understand because they aren’t foster parents. But it’s also difficult to share about fostering struggles with other foster parents; they don’t understand because they aren’t Christian. So this time where Christian foster parents could spend time together was a special time for them.

After the retreat, Uncle Steve sent us some of the comments the foster families had submitted. Here are a few:

• “We could feel safe at this place.” (6th grade foster son)
• “It was so great, because I made friends among fellow Christians and got to experience things I wouldn’t normally get to do.” (9th grade daughter)
• “Thank you so much for all the sacrifices you made—in planning, preparation, and communication—to make this happen. Thanks to all of you, we were able to experience such a wonderful and blessed time.  It was the first time we foster parents were able to talk at length without the children around, so it was a truly wonderful experience. It was also the first time our biological children met the other foster families, so thank you for providing this opportunity.” (Foster mother)
• “I was happy to see the children become friends and bond with one another.  I’m truly grateful that you created a safe and comfortable environment for the children, and that you ensured the foster parents had time to spend together without any worries! Thank you for your time, dedication, and abundant love.” (Foster mother)

Reflecting on the week, I felt loved by the other volunteers and foster families we served, as if they adopted/fostered me during our time at the retreat. Through this retreat, I was able to see just a small glimpse of the challenges that foster families endure and work through on a daily basis, and it was a powerful testament of their love, patience, and sacrifice.

We’re already looking forward to next year’s retreat, and I encourage anyone who is interested to strongly consider joining the team if we send one next summer!

– Kaleo Chan

BILL’S BOOK BLURB

by Bill Hamasaki

Recommended Book:

How Should Christians Think About Israel? By Michael Rydelnik

Since October 7, 2023 (and even before), there has been a shocking “rapid rise in hatred and antisemitism against both Jewish people and the Jewish state.”  The images and reports from many of today’s highly regarded universities and colleges were proof of this hatred.  Even several politicians in our federal government gave approval to this movement across our country.  Unfortunately, much of it still exists in our culture to this day.  People are still being targeted and attacked in public just for being of Jewish descent.  How should Christians view the current state of Israel?  More importantly, what does the Bible say on this vital subject?

In this book, the author (Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute) provides a great primer, “A Quick Guide to God’s Covenants, Biblical Prophecy, and the Jewish People.”  He answers many of the questions Christians today have regarding the modern State of Israel and contemporary Jewish people from a “scriptural lens rather than a political perspective.”  This is a much needed perspective in the midst of this hatred especially in light of the view being promoted among some Christian leaders and churches called Supersessionism or Replacement Theology.  This totally anti-biblical perspective promotes the view that the covenant promises made by God to Israel (because of her current unbelief, disobedience, and rejection by God)) have been transferred to the church.

In his chapter on “Why Christians Should Care About Israel and the Jewish People,” he gives four reasons:  Israel is distinct among the nations, God loves the Jewish people forever, God has compassion for Israel, and We can care for the Messiah Jesus Himself.  He also takes a look back in history at God’s covenant promises to Israel and “His plan for Jewish people at present, and His program for them in the future.”  In the end notes, he provides a much needed service by defining the many terms used in the discussion of the Jewish people.

This excellent primer would be a great choice in understanding much of the antisemitism we see today and how Christians should think and respond to the hatred.  Another book I highly recommend is entitled, What Should We Think About Israel? edited by Randall Price.