Pivot Podcast23 Jan 2025

Beyond Church-Centric Ministry: Anchor Church's mission to make a great city

What does it truly mean to be a missional church in post-Christian America? Bryan Halferty, lead pastor of Anchor Church in Tacoma, Washington, discovered that it starts with a fundamental shift - from trying to fix problems to listening for where God is already at work. Through his unlikely combination of skateboarding and church planting, Bryan shares how embracing "failing forward" opened new paths for mission in one of America's most secular regions. From their innovative approach of being both "harbor" and "base" to their commitment to integrate justice and mercy into every ministry area, Anchor Church offers fresh insights for church leaders seeking to join God's mission in their communities.

In this episode, Bryan unpacks how Anchor grew from a single church plant to three distinct congregations in six years, each contextualized to its neighborhood while maintaining unity in mission. He explains why they recently paused church planting to deepen their missional impact, and shares practical strategies for weaving justice and mercy into church DNA. Whether you're planting a church, revitalizing a congregation, or seeking fresh vision for ministry, this conversation offers both encouragement and practical wisdom for moving from "fixing mode" to Spirit-led mission.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Anchor Church: https://anchortacoma.org/central
Bryan’s website: https://www.bryanhalferty.com/
Bryan's book, Terrible Beauty.
Video: What learning looks like (clean): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QSocgE3yFY

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