A Foursquare Congregation on Richards Road
Tucked into a stretch of Richards Road in Bellevue, Washington, just minutes from the I-405 corridor and the Overlake business district, Bellevue Church has welcomed neighbors from across the Eastside and the greater Seattle area for more than thirty years. The building sits in the heart of Bellevue with free parking and easy access, and the congregation has long described itself the same way to anyone who pulls into the lot for the first time: a friendly atmosphere, relevant Bible teaching, and worship for everyone.
What began as a single neighborhood gathering has grown into a multiethnic community with deep ties to Foursquare roots and an unusually wide footprint. Senior Pastors Peter and Gabriella van Breda have led Bellevue Church since 1996 and have also founded two global ministries that operate from the same network, World Impact Network and The New International University. The church's heartbeat is straightforward. It values a simple, genuine approach to Christian life built on biblical teaching, worship, prayer, and meaningful relationships, and it welcomes people from many different backgrounds to come as they are and grow in faith together.
Sunday Morning at Ten
Sunday is the church's anchor. A single worship service gathers the whole church at 10:00 a.m., and the service is livestreamed on the BC Livestream page and on the church's YouTube channel so that viewers across the region and around the world can join in. For those watching online, a chat window opens during the broadcast so participants can sign in with a social media account or join as a guest and talk with one another in real time. Sermon notes and a weekly bulletin are posted alongside the stream to help listeners follow along.
Those who attend in person can expect what the church calls a friendly atmosphere: contemporary music led by Worship Pastor Noel Bennett, teaching grounded in the Bible, and space for prayer. After the adult worship portion of the morning, the middle school and high school students step into their own teen service for biblical teaching and discussion while younger children head to BC Kids. The morning's theme changes with the sermon series, and recent weeks have featured guest speakers from other ministry backgrounds alongside the pastoral team.
What Bellevue Church Believes
Bellevue Church belongs to the Foursquare tradition, and its statement of faith lays out that identity in careful detail. Salvation is taught as an act of God's grace accessed through faith in Jesus Christ. The church holds to the Trinity, the full inspiration and authority of Scripture, water baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the regular observance of communion as a remembrance of Christ's death and resurrection.
The charismatic center of the church's teaching is its belief in the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Following the pattern described in the book of Acts, Bellevue Church teaches that Spirit-filled believers may speak in tongues, and it encourages believers to seek the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit in everyday life. The church also teaches divine healing as an ongoing provision of Jesus Christ, and it affirms the personal, imminent return of Christ, the bodily resurrection of believers, final judgment, heaven as the eternal home of the redeemed, and hell as eternal separation from God for those who reject Christ.
Beyond doctrine, the statement of faith shapes how members live. Evangelism and disciple-making are described as the primary business of the church. Tithing and offerings are taught as God's instruments for carrying on ministry and spreading the gospel. Christians are called to moderation, balance, and a life that reflects Christ's character, and believers are encouraged to commit themselves to a local congregation where they can worship, observe the ordinances, and encourage one another.
BC Kids, From Six Months to Fifth Grade
Children's ministry is one of the most developed areas of Bellevue Church, and it is built around three core values: safe, fun, and learn. The program serves children from six months old through fifth grade and meets during the Sunday worship hour.
Safety is taken seriously. Every child receives a name tag with a matching parent tag at check-in, and a parent tag must be presented before a child is released. All children's church volunteers, including every team member, must be cleared through a criminal background check process. Strict access measures keep the children's area contained, and if a parent needs to be reached during a service, the child's ID number is paged so that only the matching parent can respond.
The program is divided into two age groups. Littles, for children ages two through five, enjoy praise and worship, prayer, Bible stories told through a hands-on curriculum, games, and small group time where they learn to pray for one another. Each week parents take home an activity sheet that reinforces the Bible story and memory verse. Bigs, for children ages six through eleven, gather for their own energetic praise and worship, a live message taught at their level, and small group discussion that encourages boldness in faith. The elementary group also uses the church's playgrounds during the time they share together.
Teen Ministry on Fridays and Sundays
The teen ministry is built around a clear mission: creating a place where every teen belongs, grows in faith, discovers their purpose, and is empowered to make a difference for Jesus. The vision is to raise a generation of confident, Christ-centered young people who love God, love others, and impact their world.
Middle school and high school students meet in three rhythms. On Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m., teens begin in the adult worship service before moving to a dedicated teen service for biblical teaching and discussion. On Friday evenings at 6:00 p.m., the youth gather for a relaxed evening that includes a meal, community time, fun activities, and the chance to build friendships with peers. A separate Girls Group meets twice a month on Thursdays, designed for friendship-building and growing together outside of Sunday. The teen ministry is led by Wen Lee and Manuel Alejandro España, with Kaiya Magnuson and Cheryl Lee coordinating the Girls Group.
Pastors With a Global Story
The story of Bellevue Church is closely tied to the story of Peter and Gabriella van Breda. Originally from South Africa, the couple pioneered churches before coming to Bellevue, and Gabriella founded one of South Africa's first multiracial Christian schools. Their lifelong passion for equipping Christian leaders led them to found World Impact Network and The New International University, both of which remain connected to the church's work today.
Since 1996 the van Bredas have shaped Bellevue Church as a multiethnic community grounded in the truth of God's Word. Their teaching has carried the church through seasons of challenge and growth, and they continue to extend their ministry both locally and globally from Bellevue. Around them, a pastoral team carries the day-to-day ministry of the church. Cecilia Chamberlain oversees hospitality and women's ministry, Noel Bennett leads worship, Anna Lee coordinates the prayer group, Rodd Kippen directs care ministry, and Matt Coombs leads evangelism outreach.
Prayer, Care, and Community
Prayer is woven through the life of Bellevue Church. Anna Lee leads a prayer group that meets regularly, and the church maintains a standing prayer request form so that anyone in the community can ask the congregation to lift up a need. Care ministry under Rodd Kippen walks alongside people through illness, grief, and difficult seasons, while the evangelism outreach team helps members share the hope of Jesus with neighbors in Bellevue and beyond.
Giving and Legacy Planning
Bellevue Church supports its ministry through several giving channels. Worshippers can give in person during services, give online through the church's Easy Tithe page, or text any amount to 425-448-8411 to set up text-to-give. Appreciated stock can also be donated by contacting the church's accounts office.
The church has also invested in one of the more thorough legacy giving programs of any congregation in the area. A dedicated program walks potential donors through bequests, bank and brokerage accounts, IRAs and retirement plans, life insurance policies, donor advised funds, and commercial annuities. The aim is to help members who want their faith commitments to extend beyond their lifetime find simple, flexible ways to support the church's mission for years to come.
What to Expect on a First Visit
Visitors to Bellevue Church will find a building with free parking and easy access in the heart of Bellevue, friendly greeters, and a service that opens at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays. Children's ministry is available for children from six months through fifth grade, with secure check-in and a matching parent tag system. Teens meet during the Sunday service and again on Friday evenings at 6:00 p.m., and the Girls Group gathers twice a month on Thursdays. The service is livestreamed for those who prefer to join from home, with sermon notes, a weekly bulletin, and a live chat available online. Dress is casual, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the church's own invitation is simple: come as you are, grow in faith, and find meaningful connection.