Tucked along 74th Street West in Lakewood, Washington, Mt. Tahoma Baptist Church gathers each week to teach the Bible, lift up the name of Jesus, and walk alongside neighbors in Pierce County. The congregation is led by Pastor Alvin Malave, a combat veteran and graduate of Faith International University who anchors the church's ministry in expository preaching, heartfelt worship, and a deep commitment to making disciples across generations.
A Congregation Built on Three Priorities
Mt. Tahoma Baptist Church has stated its purpose plainly: to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, remain true to the Bible, and make disciples. The church pursues that calling through three commitments that shape everything from Sunday gatherings to midweek programs.
The first is exalting the Savior through corporate worship. Services are intentionally Christ-centered rather than style-driven, and the church family joins together in unity across different worship preferences to focus on who God is.
The second is edifying the saints. The church seeks to build up believers of every age through biblical preaching, Sunday School, Bible studies, youth and children's ministries, small groups, prayer, and fellowship. The goal is mature, faithful men and women equipped to teach the next generation.
The third is evangelizing the lost. The church sees its primary mission field in Lakewood and the surrounding communities of University Place, Fircrest, Steilacoom, Tacoma, Parkland, Spanaway, Puyallup, Tillicum, DuPont, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and it also extends its reach through partnerships with missionaries around the world.
Sunday Mornings at Mt. Tahoma
Sunday School opens the morning at 9:30 AM with classes for every age. Adults and youth work through the Dr. David Jeremiah Overcomer Series, a study that walks through Scripture with a focus on rising above challenges by the power of Christ. Older elementary kids and preschoolers meet for The Gospel Project, a chronological walk through the Bible designed to make the big story of redemption come alive for young hearts.
Worship begins at 10:30 AM and runs through noon. The service follows a blended style that draws from a range of musical and liturgical expressions, all oriented around the person and work of Jesus Christ. Children are dismissed for Children's Church after the opening time of praise and worship. The church maintains the following breakdown for its children's programming during the service:
- Nursery care for infants up to 36 months
- Children's Church for ages 3 through kindergarten
- Junior Church for 2nd through 6th grade
The worship gathering is also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, so members and friends who are traveling, homebound, or simply unable to attend in person can join alongside the in-person congregation.
Wednesday Nights with Awana
Wednesday evenings belong to the kids. At 6:00 PM, the church building fills with the energy of Awana, a globally recognized club that helps children know the Bible, memorize Scripture, and grow in faith alongside caring leaders. The acronym stands for "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed," taken from 2 Timothy 2:15.
Awana at Mt. Tahoma is organized into three age-based groups:
- Cubbies (ages 3 to 5): Preschoolers learn respect for God, His Son, and His Word through hands-on lessons and play.
- Sparks (kindergarten through 2nd grade): Early elementary kids explore the people and events of the Bible and build a foundation of wisdom for knowing Christ.
- T and T (4th through 6th grade): Older elementary students work through a three-year curriculum that teaches the doctrines of Christianity and trains them to follow Christ and practice His grace.
Each Wednesday features games, Bible-centered stories, verse memorization, and themed nights that keep the program engaging throughout the year. The church family actively recruits volunteers for Awana because the program runs on the hands and hearts of the congregation.
Tuesdays at the Intercession Hour
Prayer is a central rhythm at Mt. Tahoma. Every Tuesday at 4:00 PM, the church gathers for the Intercession Hour, a focused hour of corporate prayer. The leadership has described this weekly time as something that has been "refined and refocused," a deliberate space for the church family to lift one another, the community, and the work of the gospel before the Lord.
Beyond the Tuesday gathering, the church fosters a wider culture of prayer through a Prayer Partners program that pairs people up across the congregation to pray, connect, and grow together. A Facebook Prayer and Fellowship group also serves as a place for members and friends to share prayer requests, give updates, and encourage one another between Sundays.
Men, Women, Youth, and Children
Discipleship at Mt. Tahoma is generational, and the church has structured ministries to walk with every stage of life.
The Men's Ministry gathers men around 2 Timothy 2:15, calling them to be diligent, approved workers who rightly handle the Word of Truth. Regular Bible study and fellowship anchor this ministry.
The Women's Ministry Leadership Team is led by women who shepherd the women of the church. Their stated purpose is to support the church's overall mission while encouraging women to grow in their relationships with Christ, their families, and the broader church family. The team creates opportunities for women to discover and use their gifts, both inside the body of Christ and in the surrounding community, through Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and outreach.
The Youth Ministry is currently serving in the Awana program, channeling its energy into the Wednesday-night children's outreach while still gathering youth during Sunday School at 9:30 AM for the Overcomer Series alongside adults. Parents and students looking for more information are encouraged to reach out to Pastor Alvin directly.
The Children's Ministry ensures that even the youngest members of the church family are taught the Word of God. The phrase "Out of the Mouth of Babes" is taken from Matthew 21:16 and reflects the church's conviction that children can and do praise God in meaningful ways. During the Sunday School hour, children at every age engage The Gospel Project, and they are then dismissed to age-appropriate rooms after the musical portion of the worship service.
The Cupboard of Grace and Local Outreach
Local compassion ministry is a tangible part of the church's life. Michelle Gerheim serves as the Table of Grace Coordinator, overseeing what the church calls the Cupboard of Grace, a food ministry associated with the deacons that provides groceries to neighbors in need. The church also hosts fellowship feasts and other hospitality events that bring the congregation together around shared tables throughout the year.
Mt. Tahoma takes seriously the call to be a light in its own community. Members serve as greeters, musicians, Awana leaders, children's ministry teachers, and Sunday School teachers, and the church maintains an ongoing sign-up process for people who want to step into new areas of service.
Missionaries Around the World
The church's vision is not limited to Lakewood. Mt. Tahoma partners with three missionary families who extend the church's reach to other countries.
Ethan and Melissa Molsee serve with ABWE in Togo, West Africa, as part of the Togo North Team. Ethan serves as the administrative and financial director of the Hospital of Hope, while Melissa works as a doctor in the hospital and clinic. Together they are raising their four sons, Aaron, Eli, Aden, and Ezra, and bringing the hope of the gospel to unreached peoples in northern Togo.
Tim and Barbara Lee Glessner are planting a church in a difficult area of Puebla, Mexico. Their church, Pueblo de Esperanza, runs alongside a community outreach called Goto de Esperanza, "Drop of Hope." The Glessners are raising their three children, Drew, Gavin, and Fiona, in the city where they serve.
Nathan and Azusa Stratton have served in Japan for more than 20 years. After pastoring a Japanese church for about 12 years while working other full-time jobs, they returned to Japan as full-time missionaries. They also maintain a connection to the Siloam Home for Orphans and Widows in Sathupally, India, a ministry founded in the 1980s by their Japanese church. The Strattons share updates through their own prayer letter and Facebook page, and supporters can give directly through ABWE's giving pages.
What Mt. Tahoma Believes
The church has published a detailed statement of faith that runs through the central doctrines of the Christian faith. In summary, Mt. Tahoma Baptist Church teaches that:
- The sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired Word of God, given through holy men moved by the Holy Spirit, and serve as the supreme authority for faith and life.
- There is one true God, infinite and holy, existing eternally in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - equal in every divine perfection.
- Jesus Christ is God the Creator in the flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, died as a substitutionary sacrifice for sin, was buried, rose again literally, ascended to the Father, and will return in power and glory.
- The Holy Spirit is a divine person of the Trinity who convicts the world of sin, regenerates believers, indwells and seals them, and empowers them for service.
- Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by personal works, and results in justification and progressive sanctification.
- Those who are saved by faith are preserved by the power of God and will never permanently fall away from the grace of Jesus Christ.
- The church is the body of Christ, composed of regenerate, baptized believers, and is called to practice two ordinances: baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper.
- The Bible describes a future, physical, imminent return of Christ in two stages - the rapture of the church and the return with the saints at the end of the tribulation - followed by the resurrection of the dead, final judgment, and the eternal state of heaven for believers and hell for the lost.
This statement of faith shapes everything from the pulpit to the small group, anchoring the congregation in historic, Bible-centered Christianity.
Worship Through Song, Prayer, and the Word
Pastor Alvin is also a worshipper at heart. He has worked with youth in ministry, taught online courses at the seminary level, and leads the congregation in worship through song, prayer, and praise. The church's blended worship style draws from a range of expressions, all oriented around the centrality of Christ and the authority of Scripture. The pastor holds a Master's in theology from Faith International University, and his teaching is consistently described as centered on the Holy Scriptures and the person and work of Jesus Christ.
The church's own description captures the spirit of the gathering: "It is wonderful to see how the church is growing and following Christ. We love to worship together, study the Word together, and become more like Jesus. Mt. Tahoma Baptist Church is a great place to experience a church family who loves each other."
Getting Connected
Visitors and newcomers are welcomed warmly at Mt. Tahoma. Pastor Alvin is the first point of contact for many who walk through the doors, and the church's leadership - including Deacons Les Hulbert and Micah Hulbert - is approachable and eager to help people find their place.
A weekly newsletter is sent out to keep the church family informed about services, programs, Bible studies, ministries, and devotional encouragement. People can subscribe through the church's email list. The church also maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where sermons are posted regularly.
Online giving is available through Tithe.ly, allowing members and friends to support the church's ministries with one-time or recurring gifts. Giving is described by the church as an act of worship, gratitude, and obedience to the Lord.
Whether someone has followed Christ for a lifetime, is just beginning to explore faith, or is simply curious about what church is all about, Mt. Tahoma Baptist Church extends a sincere welcome. The congregation gathers each week at 5220 74th Street West in Lakewood to study the Word, worship the Lord, pray for one another, and send the good news of Jesus into their neighborhoods and the nations.