Two Congregations, Two Cultures Combine to Further the Gospel
However, there were two hurdles that many might have seen as insurmountable. The first was Calvary Christian was 15 miles from the Charisma facility, so would the Charisma congregation travel? The second hurdle was significantly more challenging: culture.
Northwest Ministry Network Superintendent Don Ross explains that Calvary Christian, a massive 82,000-square-foot facility, rich in tradition and history — being the original home of Northwest University (AG) — was now home to an aging and mostly Scandinavian (Norwegian) congregation and culture of about 80 people. On the other hand, Charisma Christian Center, founded and led by James Reyes in 1999, was largely a Filipino church and culture of about 500, which offered three services in order to fit its growing congregation into their modest facilities.
Two churches. Two vastly different cultures.
One Jesus.
JAMES REYES
Reyes, who grew up in the Philippines, emigrated to the United States to marry his wife, Sharon, in 1994. For the next five years, he served as youth pastor at the church Sharon’s parents attended, then known as Pomona Assembly of God in California.
In 1999, the couple moved to Seattle to plant Charisma Christian Center in nearby Lynnwood. They envisioned their ministry reaching people from many cultures and backgrounds, not just Filipino.
Yet, even though the Filipino population wasn’t close to the numbers in the Pomona area and the church grew to have more than 20 nations represented in the congregation, Filipinos were drawn to the church and made up a strong percentage of the members.
As the number of services being held continued to increase to accommodate church growth, Reyes recognized the church facilities and staff were approaching — if not already beyond — their limits.
Enter Network Superintendent Don Ross.
ROSS’ REVELATION
When the board of Calvary Christian approached Ross about needing a new pastor, Ross wanted to understand the needs and direction of the church, so he started doing some research.
He was surprised to find that the church had been on an attendance decline for the past 40 years, despite quality ministers in the pulpit. He also noted that over those years, the demographics of the surrounding community had greatly changed as well.
“The church is located in the heart of the city’s university district,” Ross says. “The church had made some bridges into the ethnic community, but most of the members were in their 70s . . . I challenged them to consider the possibility of a merger.”
At the same time, Ross has been a long-time mentor of Reyes.
“He always calls me ‘coach,’” Ross says with a bit of a laugh. “But when he calls me with a question or an issue, he listens very intently. Fifteen minutes with him is like two hours of coaching someone else — he just gets it!”
Ross was well-acquainted with the need for Charisma Christian Center to find a larger facility — Reyes has a standing invitation for him to speak at the church on its anniversary every year, so Ross knew all about the three services.
When Ross brought forward the idea of Calvary Christian and Charisma merging, the idea was initially met with some resistance as the Scandinavian congregation faced the fear of its current culture being lost among the huge influx of an unfamiliar church body and culture.
However, hearts softened and hope arose as Calvary Christian members began watching sermons and services led by Reyes — they liked what they saw.
“A major turning point took place when a knowledgeable board member (Master of Divinity degree) took strong exception to something James had said in one of the services,” Ross recalls. “I urged the board member to ask James about it, which he did. His response was genuine and humble: ‘If I made a mistake, please show me, brother, where I did, as I want to know.’ That response and openness won the board member over, and he became one of the most ardent supporters of the merger . . . James just has a way of turning resistance into alliance.”
THE PROCESS
When Ross first suggested Calvary Christian merge in order to resolve its need for a pastor and declining congregation, he laid the plan: first Calvary Christian needed to select a pastor/church, then visit the church privately and observe, then invite the pastor to come speak at Calvary Christian, followed by the pastor bringing some of his or her members to a church service. As Charisma was the only church in the position to merge, it made it easier to begin the process.
When Reyes was approached by Ross with the possibility of the merger, he immediately saw the potential — though the travel distance was concerning.
“We really prayed about this,” Reyes says. “Then we got to the point where once a month for six months we had a combined worship service.”
Ross says that as the merger progressed, plans were made to dissolve both of the churches' boards and rename the church. As the heart of the Reyeses had always been to reach all nations, All Nations Church fit the church and the congregation — which currently has more than 40 nations represented in the church body — perfectly. In addition, the facility in Lynnwood would also be sold to help further the ministries of All Nations Church.
“We have different cultures and different ways of doing things,” Reyes says, “but we were able to blend in together. I believe God wants us to use our differences to make a difference. It may well be the first time a predominantly white congregation has partnered with a mostly Filipino ethnic church — I call it a miracle merger!”
In addition to the miraculous and nearly seamless merger of the two congregations, Reyes says that the Charisma church facilities sold within just weeks of being listed to an Egyptian Coptic church.
Of course, when bringing two cultures together, wisdom needs to prevail. Reyes shares a fun story about the first time the churches met together on Mother’s Day in 2025.
“We were having a potluck after the service to help people get to know one another,” Reyes says, then adds with a laugh, “but I asked people from the Charisma congregation to please not bring any ‘Fear Factor’ foods.” Reyes notes that some Filipino foods may not be (shall we say) fully appreciated by those from a Scandinavian background.
RESULTS
Reyes says that roughly 90% of the Charisma congregation is now a part of the All Nations Church, with some even moving to the area or renting apartments to remain with the church. He says a similar percentage of the Calvary Christian congregation continues to attend. However, the church has already begun to grow as even the church name has begun to attract university students and others in the community.
“We held our first official membership class on Sunday (Feb. 22),” Reyes says. “We are seeing a lot of new converts — we’ve already held three baptism services. And our parking lot is packed every week, with more people walking in from the community.”
Reyes says that the church is well established in the community through school-time backpack and school supply giveaways and annually partnering with Convoy of Hope to provide groceries to those community members in need.
Even the Seattle Seahawks’ recent Super Bowl victory gave the church an opportunity to connect and celebrate with the local community. And plans are already underway for an outreach during the playing of World Cup matches in Seattle this summer along with free movie nights hosted in the church’s parking lot.
Yet two long-time efforts stand apart. The church, in addition to having about 30 classrooms, has two commercial kitchens. Seattle is also home to Verlon Fosner, the founder of the dinner church church planting model.
“Almost every one of our dinner churches in Seattle, which there are at least 20 dinner churches, have their weekly dinners prepared in a fully remodeled All Nations Church’s kitchen in partnership with the dinner churches,” Ross shares.
The church has another unique ministry — it has a room set aside specifically for Seattle police officers.
“It’s a rest stop for officers — kind of like a hotel room,” Reyes says. “It has a bed, a couch, microwave, free wi-fi, television . . . Seattle is a very stressful city for police officers and sometimes they just need a quiet place to be. And, you know, there are some good things about always having officers in the building and a police car in the parking lot.”
Although no church is perfect and challenges are a part of church life, Ross is confident in the continued success of All Nations Church. He believes Reyes is God’s choice to lead the church as his servant leadership and humble, yet passionate, approach to ministry resonates with people.
“I’m so humbled and honored to be included in what God is doing,” Reyes says. “We are in a big mission field — Seattle is known as being unchurched — and we are believing God will use us to connect people to Him.”
