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The last 10 and a half months have been a whirlwind, and now the countdown is officially on. On January 19th, we launch ConnectDinners Dinner Church. 

Time has seemingly crept by and flown by all at once. Our team has taken huge strides, made hundreds of decisions, and overcome significant obstacles to get here. As we approach the starting line, I am feeling the pressure of the call God has placed on my life. It isn’t a bad pressure; rather, it is a deep understanding of the importance of this mission—to reach the least, the last, the lost, and the overlooked. We are ready. 

Here are the key updates as we head into launch: 

Ministry Update: The Final Preview & Outreach Our final FREE Community Dinner in December was well attended, with 47 neighbors sharing a meal around the tables. We saw a mix of new faces and families who haven't missed a meal yet. 

  • Street Outreach: After the dinner, I took 22 take-away meals out to the streets of Spokane to feed the homeless. I found multiple small pockets of men and women who were overjoyed not just for "breakfast for dinner," but specifically that I had brought condiments like ketchup, syrup, and hot sauce. It was a small detail that meant a lot to them. 

Facilities & Operations 

  • Kitchen Remodel: The NWConnect Board has met with the district representative regarding the kitchen plan. A draft has been submitted, including input from our team, with an estimated cost of $88,000 for a full commercial kitchen. I have asked to be kept advised of how we can assist, but for now, we are in a holding pattern on the construction.
  • Equipment Upgrade: In the meantime, Pastor Preston has given us permission to use the large display refrigerator as our primary unit. We need to move it from the outside storage area into the church basement to create a dedicated space for our use.
  • Volunteer Management: We have transitioned from Tithe.ly to SignUp.com to manage our serve teams. This new system allows volunteers to sign up directly via our app, website, text, or email. Crucially, it lets team members see who else is serving and identify open positions, which helps the team self-manage more effectively. 

Funding & Development 

  • Restaurant Sponsorship Plan: The Walmart grant is currently closed until March 10th, so I am pivoting our strategy. I have drafted a sponsorship proposal to distribute to local restaurants asking them to sponsor weekly meals. I have created a tiered recognition system, ranging from a listing on our donor page to full media coverage events. All sponsors will receive an update of how their sponsorship made an impact within our neighborhood each month. My plan is to have business leaders review the letter for feedback before I hit the streets to meet with restaurant management.

  • Summer Intern: Gracie Ayers attended our December dinner and is eager to join us as a summer intern. The only hurdle is funding. My goal is that by securing restaurant sponsorships to offset our weekly food costs, we can redirect those funds to cover her internship. 

Dinner Church School of Leadership (DCSL) 

  • Enrollment: District funding for my audit of the DCSL has been approved. With the Board's approval, Frank Carrasco has also started the class, and ConnectDinners will be reimbursing half of his tuition. 

  • Key Insights: Our first class on Tuesday was eye-opening. We reviewed statistics showing that 1/3 of US churches have closed since 2000 and only 17% of citizens currently attend church. Perhaps most shocking was a US government study revealing that 1/3 of all dog and cat food purchased is consumed by seniors who cannot afford human food.  
  • The Model: We studied Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. A typical "proclamation church" usually starts at the level of Belonging & Love. However, people cannot focus on belonging or spiritual matters if their physiological/safety needs aren't met. Dinner Church is designed to address those bottom-tier needs—food, water, safety—first, earning the right to speak into the spiritual. Frank and I are both eager to apply what we are learning. 

Thank you for your continued partnership and prayers as we cross this threshold on January 19th. Showering our new church in prayer over the next few months is paramount.  We will be destroying the grip Satan has on the lives of some of our neighbors and he will attack.  Be ready and close to God and together we will reach one more for Christ. 

Until the whole world hears, 

Pastor Vic