Churchome 33rd Anniversary | Chelsea & Judah Smith

Hey, it's Judah and Chelsea from Church Home. And here's the deal. We are 33 years old as a community. >> It's our anniversary. >> It's our anniversary. >> It's not our anniversary, but it's our >> Yeah. The communities. A lot of people um I've talked to a lot of people and they don't even know that we've been around for 33 years.

My dad started this church in 1992 with my mom and I was 13, my sister was 15. And here we are. We are originally called city >> the city church. >> That's right. The city church. >> The city church. That was very important to your dad. >> I remember one time we got an email from him.

Please stop saying city church. It is the city. >> That is so detailed to go into this right now. But he wanted to be to be the city church. But um >> but we're excited. We're excited to celebrate today on this very unique weekly service that we're doing and realizing that there's something very beautiful about looking back.

I don't know if you ever pull out >> your your kids' baby photos or maybe your wedding album or maybe your own kids photos and it just does something for the inside of us to look and realize, you know, I came from somewhere and that someplace that I came from actually matters today. >> It does.

It does. And it's a connection. Uh and it helps you kind of understand scale and scope, who we are, where we're headed. Um we had some friends over last night. We were talking about the early 90s, the late 90s, early 2000s, and just kind of the spiritual journey that we've been on.

So, we got some videos. We're going to show some old videos. >> Some old video, you know, like it's like when you pull out home videos and you're like, "Oh gosh, I don't know if I liked that haircut." And the uh the the the quality is a little different. >> Yeah.

I mean, I've been wearing beanies the whole time, but >> Oh, Jesus. >> All right. Literally, your attitude. >> Check your attitude at the door, young lady. I our 26th wedding anniversary is coming up and I'm just going to throw this out there for all of Churchill. My what I would love for my 26th wedding anniversary present is no more beanies.

How do you feel? >> I had to get a haircut. Babe, sue me. Like I'm getting a haircut like in a couple of days. >> You're going to find out if he gave me what I wanted for our 26th wedding anniversary. >> All right, guys. Listen, I am really um happy to announce that I have forgiven my wife and we're going to stay together and we're going to stick it out for another 25 years. >> Take these moments and enjoy enjoy these videos, laugh through us with us.

Please laugh at the There was a moment that I have one of my biggest regrets of fashion. >> Yeah, our son was we we watched some of this video this morning >> and she is very blonde. I thought it was pretty. I liked it. >> It's a short platinum hair.

You you did you loved it. It's also like very post pregnancy and you're just you know hormones. Um >> like everyone knows like oh totally hormones. >> Yeah I guess they don't >> we all have them. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well look here's the deal guys. We're 33.

Here's some videos from the past that I hope you'll enjoy and then we're going to still be here at the end and talk a little bit about the future and where we're headed as a community. Love you. >> Since the doors have opened, thousands of lives have been impacted.

Community has been built with every generation and the tradition continues to this day. But how did it all start? Where did it all begin? It was back in 1972 when two love birds, Wendell Eugene Smith and Virginia Renee Melton, met in Nampa, Idaho. It was a love story for the decade.

Following their marriage, two children, Wendy and Judah, were added to the mix. After serving as pastors for 20 years in the Stumptown city of Oregon, a new dream was put in the heart of Wendell. Packing their belongings, they moved to the Emerald City of Seattle. The first city church service was held in Marriott Courtyard.

It was clear to everyone in the room, history was being made. God was with him, and his church began to grow. This was a church for the city, and to better serve the people, they would need more square footage. Gathering together, the city church community increased their faith and prayed.

Like always, God provided. It was 1997 and a time referred to as the Parade of Miracles. Families were restored and people found a place where they belonged. It was then that the church moved from the Kelsey Creek Center to what is now the Kirkland campus. >> I never thought we would own our own building.

We thank the Lord for his miraculous provision of how God brought in the finances for us to be able to purchase this building. By the year 2000, over 2500 people called the city church home. It was only the beginning. Wendell and Jenny believed there were more people to reach and they heard the Lord say, "Cast your net to the other side."

Thus began multiple campuses being opened all around the greater Seattle area. Belltown in the heart of Seattle was first UD and then Alderwood. It was during this time the church expanded their influence into the world of television. The story of Jesus was now reaching thousands through the airwaves of modern technology.

City Church TV. >> We need to encourage one another. You're going to make it. You're going to be all right. >> And GCTV were born. >> L E say that's the book for me. Uh I stand alone on the word of God. The B I B L E the Bible.

In 2004, the city church was met with the news of Pastor Wendle's diagnosis of multiple myoma. The announcement came with great sorrow, but was met once again with great faith. And the church continued to grow. People found Jesus and healing for their own bodies. What was meant for harm, God turned to good.

Everyone knew no matter what happens, we win. 5 years later, Judah and his wife Chelsea became the lead pastors of the city church. The passing of the torch from father to son was a night that would never be forgotten. Judah, the scripture says Judah will go up first.

You are called to lead with authority as a chosen apostle of these times. Your ministry will become known for the spirit of grace. Chelsea, you will have strong gifts of words of wisdom and leadership. We admonish you both to speak with all authority. Let no man hinder or forbid you.

Speak courageously. Preach the word to Seattle, to the Northwest, to the United States of America, and to the world through every means possible. >> 18 years had come and gone. A new chapter was starting, and the message was clear. Grace grows the church, and this would be a home where everyone belongs.

((music playing)) Are you ready ((music playing)) ((applause)) through some very difficult times? For the next 30 years, if you don't mind, I'm just going to preach about Jesus. I'm going to preach about his grace. I'm going to preach about his goodness. >> Well, the message of grace is, ((music playing)) if you can catch this is he is doing a work in you.

Jesus is the object of our obsession and our belief. It's got to be always grace first. Come on. You can do this. And and what you have to do is you got to rest in his grace. Enjoy his grace. Quit trying so hard. Literally, it's a church that majors on grace.

A church that emphasizes Jesus and his amazing gift will be a church where anyone and everyone can belong. Lord, I don't want to rush on ahead in my own strength when you're right here. Lord, I don't want to rush on ahead in my own strength when you're right here.

And I honestly believe that for each one of you, if you've come to know Jesus, that there is something deep down on the inside of you too that says, "Yes, I want to live a life that makes a difference. I want to do something that helps other people.

I want to live this adventurously expectant life." ((music playing)) >> I want to love. >> I want to feel what you feel. Feel what you feel. >> See what you see. >> Lord, I want to love life. >> I want to love. >> I want to feel what you feel.

See what you see. >> Oh, not in a hurry. When it comes to your spirit, when it comes to your presence, when it comes to your voice, are you worthy to listen just to rest in your nearness? I'm starting to notice you are speaking. >> I'm not in a hurry when it comes to your spirit.

When it comes to your presence, when it comes to your voice, I'm learning to listen. Just rest in your nearness. I'm starting to notice you are speaking. I'm not in a hurry. Just stay right here. Stay right here, Lord. If you look at the first seven years we've been together, we spent so much time and we will continue to spend time on a right relationship with God that only comes through the gift of grace and Jesus.

But you know when you have a right relationship with God, do you know what the next step always is? A right relationship with each other and with your world and with your city. I want to live, love, and look like Jesus. Thanks for coming out. Love you guys. >> I am so passionate about this. >> I'm not going to keep the sight for myself.

I'm going to let it go. I'm going to go down the mountain. And you have to ask yourself this question. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) How big of a church does Jesus want? Well, you know, pastor, that's not fair. You know, some churches get too big. >> Why? Why can't it be big?

Why? ((music playing)) It's almost too big. We're not going to stop. We're going to build a church that is full of millions of people. And we're going to do it together. this platform of having church home all over the place and having people be real and authentic about just what is church, who is Jesus.

This this is what church is. We're doing this so that we can take the message of Jesus to every corner, to every bario, to every alley, to every street, to every community, to every cult. God desires all men to be saved. Everybody, that's what he wants. These are your people. >> Talk to them the way you talk to them on a regular. >> We're building a church that isn't limited by physical places and spaces. >> This is just the beginning.

Church is not a building. It's people. >> God is leading us. >> The harvest is not in the strength of the farmer, it's in the power of the seed. >> Thank you for walking down memory lane with us at City Church Home. Actually, the videos you just watched were the videos that we showed at our 25th anniversary celebration. >> And that was the night we actually announced right after that video that we were changing the name from the city church to church. >> The church home.

I'm kidding. Church home. >> You know, really with a with a vision that church should be like a home and church could be in your home and really leading to so much of what we've experienced now. But there is a bit of a eightyear gap in that history from our >> Yeah.

We haven't made a lot of videos since. Huh. Yeah. for for our 25th year to a >> busy staying married and raising kids. >> Well, and and a lot of the videos are are us in a studio. Um but but but you you ended that video on, you know, the first seven years that you and I took over the church were really about grace grows the church and the emphasis of our relationship between us and God, initiated by Jesus through grace and that >> gift of righteousness that we've been given, but also realizing that when we're right with God, that leads to being made right with humanity. was kind of your vision that you were leading on to with with church home and and home and reconciliation and all that.

Do you want to give a synopsis of kind of these last seven, eight years where you feel like kind of fill in the gap from where that video ended to now and then kind of let us know what you see? >> Yeah, I mean that's a little overwhelming.

I'm not sure I'm capable of doing all that. I think God's done a lot of amazing things in all of our heart and lives. Um we watched a documentary last night from the early 90s. So, we were kind of going down memory lane last night uh with some old friends. >> Um I think a lot has happened um in the life of the country we find ourselves in the USA and around the world.

Uh like you, I'm sure uh you go on your favorite news feed and it's a little overwhelming headlines and details and drama and trauma and stuff that's going on. uh we feel like we know more than we've ever known about each other, about parts of the world, about other continents and countries.

Uh and yet there seems to be a profound and acute isolation and a deep sense of disconnectedness, a deep sense of loneliness. And I I do think as I look in kind of the future of our community, I think there is a a further um incredible development and and perhaps a a portrait that's coming into view of uh people from all over the world, loving each other, caring for each other, um being there for each other.

I think you know the vision which started in a courtyard Marriott which is a hotel chain here in the US. I think the Marriott's around the world. Who am I kidding? um Bonboy points, but uh we started it in a little little Marriott hotel with like 50 60 people and then we would get multiple buildings and facilities and we'd have people gather in Seattle and LA and different locations and um those gatherings were awesome, but the church has never been about a building.

Church has never been about a production. Church has never been about a program. It's always been about people and those people connecting with the creator father and then connecting with each other. And of course the dream is that by being connected to God and each other the world itself would change. >> Yeah. >> That um there would be healing, there'd be forgiveness, there'd be love, there'd be justice, there'd be difference. um there would be less war, there would be um less hate, all these things that in some ways seem to proliferate all over the world.

So, as we sit here today celebrating 33 years, I think I dream hopefully like you dream and I know Chelsea dreams about uh a different world and a better world. Um, and I don't necessarily mean better fashion, although by watching those videos, we wish for that as well.

And maybe it's upon us. Um, you know, better tech. >> Not the beanie. >> Not the All right, baby. If you don't forgive me, God won't forgive you. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Relax. Um, >> but uh, you know, when I say dream of a better world, I don't mean just, you know, cooler cars, better homes, or man, I do hope that the cars fly soon.

I feel like the Jetsons ruined us for that. We grew up watching the cartoon the Jetsons. Anybody else? >> George Jetson. >> Yeah. >> And people are flying cars by like 2000, but we still have freeways in traffic. I love what you're saying. You're basically saying that, hey, what's the vision church home?

Oh, we're just going to try to change the world and make the world a better place now. I feel like I'm Michael I hear Michael Jackson song in my head. But I feel like changing the world can feel so daunting. But when we look at Jesus and that's what we've been doing all these years.

Jesus is the message. He has been the focus. He will be the focus. But when we look at Jesus, he changed the world by actually coming into the world and living in the world and serving the world. Yeah. And we just have this crazy vision of seeing people >> crazy vision >> of people who see Jesus and see his love and his forgiveness and his awe and his majesty and are so impacted like that that we become people who do what is opposite of our of our selfish human nature and that is living our lives to serve each other, to serve our spouses, to serve our children, to serve our communities, to serve our neighborhoods. and that through that the world really can be transformed.

We have some exciting things coming up um that we're going to uh seed throughout throughout this year and and really I'm more excited I'll be honest. I'm more excited about this year at Church Home than I think I have been in a long time. >> I am too.

I I think um you jumped in there and I love that and there's so much more to say. I think I look into the future and I think the idea um it's actually not an idea. The reality that God reveals himself primarily and mostly as father I think is going to be increasingly more important in the future.

I think there's a world uh that needs a loving father, a perfect father, a heavenly father. Um the moment uh we are instructed to pray, the most descriptive instruction we're ever given in all of scripture of how to talk to God is that >> call him dad, call him aba, call him father.

And so clearly there is this sense in the sacred scripture that uh when we realize that we are his children and quite literally he is our father. >> Yeah. >> I think that can heal nations. I think it can heal countries. I really mean it. I think it can heal governments um and change even some of the societal structures that are ailing, broken, and failing.

Um so I'm excited. I'm excited to be a part of something that is not limited to an app or limited to a building uh or limited to a program or limited to a preacher or or preachers. Um this is a this is a global movement. Yeah, >> God has been on the minds and hearts of people since the beginning of time.

So, I look into the future and I I dream of a world that knows there's a father and that we're all his kids and that we all are here for each other. And I do not think I said this the other day, but I don't think it's an accident that we're all here on the planet at the same time.

I think that's because um we're here to be with each other and like we got married so that's like obvious but like I think even the people in the vicinity of the part of the world that I live in that the fact that I'm in proximity to them is proof that like we we were meant to have some level of camaraderie and interaction whatever level that might be.

So, I know I I'm I'm I'm looking at your face and I know I might need to end soon, but >> No, my face. >> You sure? >> My My face is not >> I thought you were kind of giving me that look like, "Hello, you're going along."

Um >> Oh, you've ignored that look for many many we go. >> But I I am excited. I think I think the future is bright and not just I know we're talking about just our specific community, but Church Home exists for everybody. We want this app to be available to everyone.

Um, and we want to serve all of God's children and the whole world is populated and every single person in that population is one of the kids >> to the heavenly father. And the value of each person is incalculable. Is that a word? >> I think so. >> I think I said it right, too.

That was fun. Um, it's unfathomable how valuable and precious uh each and every one of us are. So, I'm excited to see more of that take shape in the world. Does that make sense? Like even for art and things to try to reveal that we're we're we're all in the same family and and uh we need each other. >> Um just one teaser.

We may or may not throughout the course of this year start looking through the Bible. >> Oh yeah. I'm so excited. We've been thinking about this and working for this for a long time. I interrupted. Keep going. >> No, no. I was just setting you up to take over cuz that's >> Yeah.

It's called the story of God, which I think is what we're living in right now. I think the whole world has a name and I think it's the story of God. I think you are the story of God. I think creation is the story of God. Art is the story of God. the sky story of God, the earth story.

I think it's all the story of God. And um so we're going to uh do a whole new take kind of a Bible perspective, not a translation or a paraphrase, but a Bible perspective and 33 chapters. I'm pretty excited. >> And as we look through those Bible stories that maybe even first person, how how we're pray for our creativity because we're believing to do it in a creative unique way.

We are um right right now we're just studying and and going through it, which is very fun. But as we see the story of God for who God is, I really believe that that father that you talked about is going to be revealed and we're going to see him in a new, beautiful, fresh way.

And we're excited. >> I love you. >> Here's to another 33 years. Am I right? >> My dad used to do that. >> It's your mom. >> The older I get. No, but like you know, as like endearing. >> Yeah. Your mom used to punch you all the time in the arm like >> That's right. >> Um church. >> What random things?

Happy 33rd anniversary. >> 33. Year of resurrection. 33. Uh Shaquille O'Neal wore 33. I digress. >> You do. >> Karim Abdul Jabar. >> Hey. Um if do you want to celebrate with us? There's so many great ways you can do this, but would you do this? Would you throw send out a picture of either yourself at your of the first time you came to the city church or the age that you were when you first started joining.

Send a picture. Tag us on Instagram. We would love to repost it and celebrate you. And please, a lot of our fashion choices are being laughed at this month as we celebrate. Please don't let us be the only one. Give us your crazy fashion choices that you were wearing when you came to City Church home.

We'd love to celebrate with you because really the church is you and we'd love to do that. Church, have a wonderful weekly service and we can't wait to see you later. >> Love you. ((music playing)) be more loved than I am right now. Wasn't holding you up. So there's nothing I can do to let you down.

Does it take a trophy to make you cry? I'll never be more loved than I am right now. Going through a storm, but I won't go down. I hear your voice carried in the rhythm of the wind to call me out. >> You would cross an ocean. >> So I wouldn't drown. >> You've never been closer than you are right now. >> Oh, you are.

You are enough. ((music playing)) You are enough and I will be content in every circumstance. You are enough. ((music playing)) Forever enough, always enough. More than enough. You are wherever it always know more than enough. ((music playing)) >> I don't want to forget how I feel right now in the mountain top down. I can see so clear what it's all about.

Stay by my side when the sun goes down. Don't want to forget how I feel right now. >> Hey, >> you are enough. >> Declare wherever you are. Say >> you are. >> You are enough. >> I will be >> I will be content >> in every circumstance.

You are >> you are enough. >> Forever enough, >> always enough. You are more than enough. >> I know you to be forever enough. Always enough. More than enough. >> I'm already loved. >> I'm already chosen. I know who I am. >> I know what you've spoken. I'm already loved.

More than I could imagine. And that is enough. Oh, I'm already love. I'm already chosen. >> I know who I am. I know who I am. >> I know what you >> I know what you spoken. >> I'm already more than I could imagine. ((applause)) ((music playing)) >> I'm already chosen. >> I'm already chosen. >> I know who I am. >> I know who I am.

Because you spoken. >> I know what you spoke. I've already done >> more than I could even fill. That is enough. ((applause)) ((music playing)) >> That is it. >> That is enough. Jesus says about me. It's true. That is it. >> That is enough. Your holy cross. That is enough. That is enough. >> That is enough.

Yeah. That is enough. >> That is enough. >> That is enough. >> That is enough. >> What he has spoken over you, >> that is enough. >> What he's called you >> is enough. >> What he said about you, >> that is enough. >> That is why you are enough. >> You are enough.

You are Lord. >> You are Jesus. You are >> You are You are >> You are >> You are Lord. >> You are Lord. >> I am. >> You are. >> You are. >> I am. >> I am. >> Sh. ((applause)) You are. You are enough ((music playing)) ((applause)) >> you are. >> You are enough. >> And I will be >> and I will be contained >> in every circumstance.

((music playing)) >> You are redone. >> Oh yeah. you was enough. I believe >> Jesus >> if he dresses the liies with beauty and splendor. How much more will he clothe you? How much more will he clothe you if he watches over every sparrow? How much more does he love you?

How much more does he love you? If he dresses beauty, how much more will >> how much more how much more will >> how much more will it be? He watches you everywhere. ((music playing)) ((applause)) ((music playing)) every how much more than you ever think or imagine according to his power. Smoking it all.

((music playing)) Hey, more than you ever imagined. according to his power. How much more ((music playing)) is more than you imaging to found ((music playing)) his power How much more does he How much more? How much more? How much more you more than you know? How much more? How much more? How much more does he know? >> How much more does he know? >> You are gyro.

((music playing)) >> You are enough. >> Oh yes, you are. ((music playing)) >> You are enough. I will be content in every circumstance. >> You are gyra. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. You are enough. >> Yeah. Yeah. You are >> You are >> You are >> You are >> more than enough. >> More than enough. >> You are >> You are >> You are >> You are >> more than enough. >> More than enough. >> You are. >> You are. >> You are. >> You are my portion.

You are more than enough. >> You are. >> You are. >> You are. >> You are. More than enough. You're more than enough. More than enough. >> You're more than enough. >> You're more than enough. >> You're more than enough. >> Oh God, you're more than enough. You're more than enough. >> Yes, I believe it.

You're more than enough. >> Oh, I receive it. >> More than enough. >> Oh, you're more than enough. >> More than enough. >> You're more than enough. More than enough. >> You're more than a more than enough. >> You're more than enough. >> More than enough. >> You're ((music playing)) more than enough. >> You keep on getting better. >> More than enough. >> You keep on getting better. >> You're more than enough.

Oh, you keep on getting it back. >> More than enough. >> You keep on doing >> more than enough. More than enough. >> You're more of me. >> Keep on getting better. Keep on getting better. >> Yeah. >> Keep on getting better. Keep on getting better. More. More.

You keep on getting better. You keep on getting better. Oh, you keep on getting better. Keep on getting better. You're the Almighty. You keep on getting better. Keep on getting better. You're the going. You keep on getting better. You keep on getting better. >> You're the one. You keep on getting better.

Keep on getting better. The undepressant. Keep on getting better. Keep on getting better. >> You are. ((music playing)) >> You are. >> Yeah. You are >> you are >> gyra ((music playing)) Jehovah Gyra. >> I will be content. Every circumstance I will be content. Every storm I face, I will be content.

Every trial I see, I will be content. Cuz I know that you are for me. Yeah, I will be contained. Whatever my Lord has taught me to say, I will be contained. It is well with my soul. I will be content. It is well with my soul. It is well.

Hallelujah. >> I will be content. It is well with my soul. >> It is well with my soul. >> It is well with my soul. >> It is well with my soul. >> It is well with my soul. >> It is well with my soul. >> It is well with my soul. >> It is well with my soul.

I will be contact every circumstance. ((music playing)) You are enough. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing))