Earlier this month, the Center for Humanitarian Engagement took students to Seattle for two ministry-focused weekends hosted by the Washington Conference.
The experience began Nov. 7–9 with the Seeds Vision Conference at the Kirkland Seventh-day Adventist Church, a hands-on gathering intended to equip young adults with skills to make disciples, create meaningful connections, and grow new church communities in places where faith feels distant. The following weekend, students returned to celebrate the grand opening of HopeCity South Hill—a brand-new church plant years in the making and a living example of those ministry seeds at work.
This opportunity helped students see mission as an active, daily calling that the Holy Spirit often leads in small, ordinary moments. For sophomore Bertin Lucky, the experience reshaped his view of mission work. "If I were to sum up the trip into one phrase, it would be eye-opening," he shared. “It changed how I see people—not as projects to convert, but as people to love. I hope to carry that with me: to build relationships where people feel valued and listened to, and to eventually live out the mission God calls us to.”
A pivotal moment for him, Lucky said, happened when Tim Madding told everyone to ask the Holy Spirit to lead them to somebody after church instead of just leaving. "I used to rush home, but recently I've stayed and ended up connecting and sharing testimonies. I saw God working through that," Lucky said.
Lucky wasn't the only one who left inspired. Abram Motlhaapula, a junior theology major, found the experience deeply connected to his studies. "In my Acts class, we've been learning how Paul pushed through obstacles to share the gospel," he said. “Seeing church planting today—the risks, the passion, the creativity—made me realize that mission isn't ancient history. It's happening right now. We're invited to be part of it.”
As students returned to Walla Walla, they carried more than notes from workshops—they carried a clearer picture of what mission can look like on campus, in classes, and in friendships.
For more information about the Center for Humanitarian Engagement, visit wallawalla.edu/che, and for more pictures from both weekends, visit CHE’s Seeds Conference/HopeCity 2025 SmugMug album.
Posted Nov. 26, 2025.
