A Family on St. John's Road
First Evangelical Church sits on the north side of Vancouver, Washington, along NE St. John's Road in the 98661 ZIP code, where it has grown into a multigenerational congregation shaped around a simple calling: Love God. Love People. Serve the World. The church is best known for its deep investment in children and youth, its AWANA clubs, and a wide menu of small groups that meet throughout the week on the campus and in homes.
Love God, Love People, Serve the World
That motto is more than a slogan at First Evangelical. The congregation describes itself as a sending church with a heart for children, and its stated mission is to grow passionate followers of Christ in response to the Great Commission. The Pastoral Eldership includes Senior Pastor and Pastoral Elder Steve Briner, Executive Pastor David Briner, and Pastor of Children and Pastoral Elder Justin Thoreson. Matt Perez serves as Pastor of Spiritual Formation, Tyler Howe as Pastor of Young Adults and Elder, and Kaleb VanAllen as Pastor of Youth. A team of additional elders - Dan Matthews, Dave Crawford, Craig Bertsch, Kevin Staples, and Steve Owen - share in the pastoral oversight of the body.
Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday morning is the heartbeat of the church. Worship services are described as a time for singing, teaching, prayer, and opening the Word of God, with room for greeting and welcoming one another. The congregation notes a habit of listening for the Holy Spirit to speak during services and encouraging personal time with the Lord outside of them. All ages are welcome, and child care and children's church are available during the gathering.
A prayer time takes place between services or in the hour before a one-service Sunday, and a Reading Through the Bible Class meets in the Fireside Room. The Bible reading plan is coordinated with the sermon series preached on Sundays, so families and small groups can study the same passage together throughout the week.
Children and Youth at the Heart of the Church
Children and students are central to First Evangelical's identity, and several programs are designed around the next generation.
On Sundays during worship, age-graded classrooms cover infants through sixth grade:
- Infants - Nursery, Room 221
- 2 to 3 years - Rooms 222/224
- 4 years to 1st grade - Rooms 226/228
- 2nd to 6th grade
This children's ministry is called Ohana, and it is described as a fun and safe environment where kids can learn about Jesus in classrooms marked by learning and laughter.
For middle schoolers, Refuge serves 7th and 8th grade students, while Endeavor serves high school students on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. in the high school portable on the upper southwest corner of the main building. The church's vision for Endeavor is that students understand how much they are loved, who they are in Christ, and that their lives have purpose - becoming passionate followers of Jesus Christ.
Peer Groups round out the discipleship picture, connecting youth through retirees in classes organized around stages of life.
AWANA on Wednesday Evenings
AWANA is one of the church's signature ministries. The acronym stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, drawn from 2 Timothy 2:15. The vision of First E Awana is to provide a safe place for children and youth to have fun and to know they are loved by both God and caring adults, to engage the Bible, to gain a sense of belonging to the family of God, and to learn faith-based living.
AWANA clubs meet Wednesday evenings on the First E campus and serve children from 3 years old through 12th grade:
- Pre-K (3 to 4 year olds): 6:20 to 8:00 p.m.
- Kindergarten to 2nd grade: 6:20 to 8:00 p.m.
- 3rd to 5th grade: 6:20 to 8:00 p.m. (separate clubs for boys and girls)
- 6th to 8th grade: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by junior high youth activities
- 9th to 12th grade: 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by senior high youth activities
Volunteer inquiries are welcomed through Lance Long and Betsy Long.
A Weekday Rhythm of Small Groups
Beyond Sunday morning, First Evangelical maintains an active weekly calendar of small groups that meet across the campus and in homes.
On Tuesdays, a women's small group gathers on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 6 p.m., usually at someone's house. On the 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 6 p.m., a men's group meets in the youth portable behind the church. A men's fellowship group also meets on Monday mornings. On the occasional 5th Tuesday, an open worship night is held at 6 p.m. for anyone in the community.
The Women's Ministry, anchored in Hebrews 10:24-25, exists to facilitate opportunities for women to grow together in faith and fellowship and to love each other as sisters in Christ. The Men's Ministry hosts special events such as a Men's Retreat and service days.
A Partnership with Hosanna Christian School
Children's ministry at First Evangelical extends into the school week through a partnership with Hosanna Christian School, a private Christian school in Vancouver, Washington that serves students from Pre-K through 12th grade. The school partners with families and students as part of the church's broader mission to love people, love God, and serve the world.
Prayer Across the Week
Prayer is woven throughout the life of the church. Sunday mornings include a prayer time between services or the hour before a one-service Sunday. On the first Saturday of every month at 7 p.m., a prayer night gathers those who want to pray together. A Prayer Walking Guide is offered for anyone who wants to walk and pray through their own neighborhood, and the church calendar carries additional prayer events throughout the year.
Stewardship and Giving
First Evangelical teaches that Christians are called to give a portion of their income back to the Lord as a way of giving thanks and practicing faith. The church views the tithe of 10 percent as a good starting goal for members to earnestly consider, drawing on Leviticus 27:30 and 2 Corinthians 9:7. Online giving is available through RebelGive and Pushpay, and givers may designate gifts to particular areas, with tithes kept undesignated to meet the church's financial obligations. Generosity funds pastoral staff, community outreach, and missionary partners beyond Clark County.
Becoming Part of the Family
While formal membership is not required to attend or serve at First Evangelical, the church sees committed membership in a local body as an important component of the Christian faith. Members are expected to participate in ministries when possible, to tithe, and to submit to the authority of pastoral leadership.
First Evangelical's campus on NE St. John's Road is also available for community use, member and attender use, and ministry use through a building request process handled by the church office. The annual Heart & Home Christmas Bazaar fills the campus each November with local handmade and artisan goods, free to the public.