Quest Church,
When I reflect on Quest's story, certain years stand out, and 2024 was undoubtedly one of them. In October, Pastor Gail announced her resignation, stepping down as Lead Pastor in January 2025. Over her fifteen years at Quest, including five as Lead Pastor, Pastor Gail left an indelible mark on our mission and identity. Her legacy exemplifies who we are: a church committed to expanding the table, centering those on the margins, and embodying God's kin-dom of shalom and justice.
Quest continues to live into its identity as a "multi" church-a multiethnic, multigenerational, LGBTQ+ affirming, all-abilities, and justice-engaged community. This past year has been humbling as we've embodied this calling in profound ways:
these moments are just a glimpse of how we lived our mission to love people wholeheartedly, love God boldly, and make disciples faithfully, creating spaces of "HOME" at Quest. I'm deeply grateful for the many ways Questers have stepped into leadership, built community, and shared their unique gifts.
As we enter 2025, we recognize that transitions are hard. Change carries a mix of grief, excitement, anxiety, and hope. All valid feelings. Yet, the story of Quest, like God's story throughout scripture, is one of transformation and faithfulness in the midst of change. Though uncertainty may be present, it is not the only truth. God's unchanging presence and faithfulness have been with us at every turn.
Our theme for 2025, IMAGINE, invites us to lean on the Spirit and each other as we journey through the Book of Acts, asking:
-What does it mean to be a community in transition?
-What practices define and strengthen the church?
-How can we be faithful to the Holy Spirit's leading?
This year, we aim to deepen our community by creating intentional spaces for shared meals, spiritual growth, and leadership development. I'm excited for what lies ahead because even in change, Quest remains committed to being "the multi" as we ever more faithfully live our our mission and values together.
I thank God for God's steadfast love and faithfulness to Quest and trust that God will do it again.
With gratitude and hope,
Aaron Cho
Transitional Lead Pastor, on behalf of Quest Leadership
200+ weekly attendance in person and online
400+ visitors, guests, and newcomers
200+ volunteers
900+ hours of service
Quest aspires to be a hub for developing the next generation of leaders. We continue to embody the value of "the multi" by prioritizing a diverse team of teachers and leaders who reflect the multi-generational, LGBTQ+ affirming, multi-ethnic, and multi-life stage community we are building in Ballard. Our teaching team serves as possibility models, inviting every Quester to see the unique image of God in themselves and engage deeper in God's story.
In 2024, our theme of "Home" invited us to explore how our unique experiences draw us closer to God's love. Questers pursued healing and connection, celebrated nine baptisms, and witnessed many recommit to their fight or follow Jesus for the first time. Our Amen Sundays were especially meaningful, creating space for communal storytelling and reminding us of God's goodness.
This year's growth was made possible by the faithfulness of our community. Our worship team modeled the beauty of diverse people leading worship, our prayer team faithfully interceded for Questers weekly and supported in-person prayer throughout the year. Our kids and youth teams developed thoughtful programs that encouraged growth and participation in youth leadership and volunteering. God is doing new things as we enter into 2025 and we are so excited to grow together.
18 C-Groups
20 C-Plays
200+ people in Community Groups
250 participated in Gatherings
The church is both an institution and a people. As an institution, we create systems that support the people, who, in turn, build systems of care and connection. Community is central to being a church that fosters and supports radical belonging.
In 2024, Questers embraced fun and creative was to do life together. From a 20's and 30's murder mystery party to an afternoon of ultimate frisbee in the park, we celebrated the joy of community across all life stages. Our Community Groups (C-Groups) continued meeting regularly, forming pockets of fellowship across the city and online, while summer Community Plays (C-Plays) created opportunities for Questers to connect and play. Gatherings brought people of all backgrounds together to share food, build relationships, and cultivate belonging.
Church-wide events offered more opportunities for witness and connection. We hosted a special Pride service and breakfast before marching together in the Seattle Pride Parade. We gathered for our church picnic, shared countless meals, and created space for deeper relationship and involvement through our monthly After Party for newcomers.
In 2024, Quest's Kids Ministry thrived with new events, growing attendance, and deeper connections among children, families, and the wider church community. This year brought exciting opportunities, including the return of long-awaited traditions and the introduction of new and fresh ways to engage kids and families.
New and returning events included the Blessing of the Pets, Creative Arts and Justice Camp (CAJ), Kids Night In, and Sunday Funday- each designed to foster community and make meaningful use of our space. CAJ Camp, Quest's first summer kids camp in ten years brought together students and volunteers for a week of singing, dancing, learning about creation care, and discovering Jesus in it all.
Kids Night In gave parents a much-needed evening to themselves while kids enjoyed fun activities at the church- many still ask if hot chocolate is a weekly church tradition. Sunday funday has become a beloved space for kids to play while parents build connection. In Kids Church, we delved into the book of Acts, practiced justice for our community and the environment and engaged with scripture throughout the year.
Our volunteer team expanded with ten new volunteers faithfully serving Quest Kids each week. The addition of a midweek parents group and two new family friendly C-Groups has further strengthened relationships among kids and parents alike.
2024 also saw kids and youth leading the congregation in worship through the Palm Sunday Kids Choir and the Nativity. The Nativity included over 40 kids, 10 youth, and numerous volunteers, creating a memorable and meaningful experience for the church. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from kids at Quest and will continue doing so in 2025.
This year, we were grateful to gather consistently for Amplify, our weekly Sunday evening youth group, as well as our month Donuts and Discipleship class on Sunday mornings. These rhythms provided students opportunities to connect with each other and with their leaders, with a weekly attendance from 10 to 25 students. We are so thankful for our team of four dedicated youth leaders who have poured their time, love, and energy into making these gatherings meaningful. Looking ahead, we are prayerful and hopeful to expand our team of leaders this year.
A special thanks to Nancy and Jason Rust, who launched a Parents of Youth C-Group this year. Meeting weekly on Sundays during youth group, parents are building a supportive and fun community to journey with each other and their teens.
We kicked off 2025 with our first Winter Retreat in Seabrook, Wa, where fifteen middle and high schoolers and four adult leaders spend a meaningful weekend reflecting on how to deepen, repair, and hold onto- with God, themselves, and others. Thanks of the generosity of Quest, we raised $1000, ensuring this retreat was accessible to all. This year, we are excited to discern and follow God as God leads and shapes Amplify.
