Four Itchy Feet

July 20, 2025. Tacoma, Washington. Day 60 of 170

Today, we worshipped with our brothers and sisters at Anchor Church in Tacoma, Washington. We were welcomed with smiles and handshakes at the door, and after coffee, we settled into our seats. The worship team was very talented and brought forth a mix of new songs, contemporary worship, and an old hymn. We saw groups of women gather in prayer, laying hands on one another. Families began to fill the auditorium by the time the lead Pastor, Bryan Halferty, led the congregation in prayer.

The message was delivered by Bonnie Jean Thomas, an assistant pastor at the church. She taught from the book of John, specifically Chapter 5. She delivered the message of our need for Jesus in a very structured way that covered in detail the miracle at the Pool of Bethesda. Bonnie Jean emphasize that Jesus initiated the healing, unlike the common belief surrounding the pool where people waited for a specific moment, Jesus actively sought out and initiated the healing of the invalid. This demonstrates that Jesus’s healing power is not bound by specific rituals or circumstances but is an act of His sovereign grace and compassion. He sees our suffering and takes the initiative.  It is amazing to see how the Word of God is so alive when a passage you have read many times brings new meaning and understanding of who Jesus is and how He pursues us even in our imperfect and sinful existence.

After the message, we received communion and had a deep time of prayer and worship. Anchor Church is a wonderful place to refresh the traveler’s spirit. We plan to return this next Sunday!