ConnectDinners Newsletter

It is a privilege to present this report. We have officially crossed the threshold. After months of prayer, preparation, and anticipation, ConnectDinners Dinner Church is no longer a concept—it is a living, breathing reality. We have successfully launched! On January 19th, we held the Grand Opening of ConnectDinners, and the initial response has been very encouraging. We have successfully transitioned from a monthly "free meal” to a weekly worshipping community. While we navigate the natural challenges of a new schedule, the presence of the Holy Spirit at our tables is undeniable. We are not just feeding bodies; we are seeing spiritual hunger being met in real-time.

Ministry Highlights & Wins

The most significant victory of our launch was the success of Jesus Story conversations around our tables. A common struggle for many Dinner Churches is bridging the gap between the meal and the message, yet from our very first night, we witnessed genuine conversations taking place around the tables. This engagement has gone even deeper than anticipated, as we are already seeing tables actively pray for one another at the end of their discussion times. This is a massive win for discipleship and community building.

Our art ministry is also quickly becoming a central visual element of our worship. Tanisha has been painting live every Monday, and her first piece featured the powerful phrase, "No matter your background, Jesus will always meet you where you are." She has shared a beautiful vision for attendees to place painted handprints on this canvas to represent the diverse backgrounds represented at ConnectDinners, further solidifying the sense of belonging we hope to cultivate.

Key Metrics

We are tracking steady engagement. It is worth noting that while we have seated guests, we continue to maintain our commitment to the streets.

Challenges & Strategic Adjustments

One concern I have noted is that very few of the regular attendees from our previous monthly Free Community Dinners attended the launch. My best assessment is that the shift in rhythm is the primary factor, as we previously met on the last Monday of the month, whereas the launch occurred on the third Monday. To address this, I have increased communication via email and text sent the Friday prior to our gathering, and we are already seeing a return of some of these regulars following those reminders.

Financial & Administrative Updates

Building on our strategy to seek local business sponsorship, I have sent our support letter to several businessmen for review. Their feedback was insightful; they advised that we should not change our messaging, as recognizing donations remains an important element of gratitude and professionalism. However, they noted that the deciding factor for most donors will likely be a personal connection to our mission—specifically our desire to alleviate food insecurity and loneliness—rather than the commercial benefit of the advertising we offer. With this perspective in mind, I have sent the letter to two restaurant managers for their review and am awaiting their reply.

Regarding our facilities, we have received a generous donation of a two-door display refrigerator from Pastor Preston. While it does not function as a freezer, it will be incredibly beneficial for thawing our weekly meals and storing perishable items. I am currently coordinating with several men to help move it into the basement at NWConnect. Additionally, I plan to install shelving in that same area to organize our dry goods and non-refrigerated supplies.

Old Business & Ongoing Initiatives

Volunteer Systems & Training: In December, we transitioned to using SignUp.com as our volunteer management system. While we have not yet seen an increase in user participation, the switch has successfully reduced confusion regarding volunteer slots and has clarified our communication. Additionally, our second Serve Team training was held on January 5th. Currently, I estimate that about one-third of our active volunteers have completed this training. To bridge this gap, I believe it would be strategic to record a training session to host on our website. This will allow anyone who was unavailable—and any future team members—to view the material on demand.

Grant Opportunities: On February 1st, I applied for two specific grant opportunities to support our food budget. First, I applied for the maximum amount of $5,000 through the Walmart Spark Good grant. My rationale for this request was to fund one meal per month ($350 per meal) for a year, with the remaining $800 designated for our three major outreach dinners: Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Second, I applied for a $4,200 grant through Spokane Teachers Credit Union’s "Here For Good" campaign, which would also support the cost of one meal per month. Both grants are restricted to food costs only—not administrative or strictly religious activities—and we anticipate a response within 30 to 90 days.

Dinner Church School of Leadership (DCSL): Frank and I began the DCSL online course on January 6th. The weekly sessions have been profound, focusing on "the lower third"—those whom Jesus pursued throughout His ministry. We are learning that the US Church trails the English church culture by about 20 years; with England at only 4% attendance compared to our 17%, we must look to them to see our potential trajectory. As traditional buildings in England close, "Cafe churches" are rising. As Len Sweet noted, “The church building is on the way out; the church centered around the table is on the way in.” This confirms that we are ahead of the curve.

Even in these first four weeks, I am struck by how closely our model aligns with John Wesley’s theology. As Christine Pohl writes, "John Wesley deliberately recovered the practice of the Love Feast. The food was simple and it provided a context which allowed a close union of believers and strangers." I am excited for ConnectDinners to become a resource for our District. In fact, I have not only offered to host a breakout session on this topic at the upcoming District Assembly, but I have also been asked to participate in a discussion panel during the main session.

We have moved from "planning" to "being." The fact that we are already seeing neighbors praying for neighbors confirms that ConnectDinners is filling a spiritual hunger as much as a physical one. As we move into February, my focus will be on stabilizing our volunteer rhythms and continuing to invite our previous community dinner guests into this new, deeper expression of church.

Respectfully submitted,

Pastor Victor Morrison
Connect Nazarene