Tapestry came into existence as the result of friends realizing they were at the
same place in their lives. Each had attended church, but found themselves in a
unique place of not really "fitting in" where they were and experienced sense of
need to do something different. Through a series of events [some negative and
some positive] a core group developed. This initiating group held common
values and through a time of knitting or weaving together our desires for others
it seemed right to acknowledge that God had called us together for a purpose
beyond anything we had previously imagined or understood up to that point in time.
As a result, during late June and early July 2005-Rick and Carol Martin, Leanne
and Tom Johnson, Greg Kunkler, Sue Nelson, Nadine Lontz, Julie Rice, Maxine
Gildner began formal meetings together with the intent of founding a church.
The common topic was, "What is God saying to you?" "What is God impressing
upon your spirit about starting a church?" It took very little time before we
acknowledged it was God. "But when should we take literal action steps? What
should we do first? And when?" became our prayer focus.
Pastor Rickey Martin, formally pressed the topic and solicited commitments from
those present. By Sunday, July 10th an initial draft of Articles of Incorporation
were presented for initial review.
On July 14th, Pastor Martin had the forms notarized and presented them for
formal review by the Secretary of State's Office. "Gatekeepers Community
Church" [the originating name of Tapestry] was incorporated as a non-profit
religious organization structured as a local church.
The "official start of public services" did not begin until August, when we began
meeting in the Littlerock Fire and Rescue station's classroom. We met there
through December 2005; we then started meeting at the GuestHouse Inn and
Suites off Tumwater Boulevard in Tumwater.
In September 2005, we began formal association with the Fellowship of Christian
Assemblies. This group of ministers, missionaries, Bible schools and churches was
the result of the Pentecostal movement. Many FCA ministries carried the
Pentecostal experience throughout the world. These ministries founded many
indigenous-sovereign-local churches initially known as The Independent
Assemblies of God, but later changed their name in the 1960's
to The Fellowship of Christian Assemblies.
In August 2007, Pastor Martin announced his resignation and the congregation
formally requested Assistant Pastor Leanne Johnson to consider becoming the
lead pastor of the congregation. After a time of prayer and seeking the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, Pastor Johnson agreed to consider the position after
the normal interview processes. Pastor Johnson received a unanimous vote and
was asked to take the lead pastor position; she formally took the position in
October 2007. Immediately, Pastor Johnson felt the directive by the Spirit of God
to take the congregation of Gatekeeper's Community Church through a three
month sabbatical time. In this time, regular services were suspended and the
Lord was sought to bring clarity of mission, instruction for the future and a
renewal of vision within this small group of believers. Within two months the
leadership began sensing the need for the congregation to be meeting within
the core area of Olympia, WA. Then, in just a few weeks, the leadership and
members had found our current location at 414 SE Franklin Str.. Olympia, WA
98501. We renewed our regular services in April 2008. Our next change became
apparent through a variety of ways; the name of our congregation seemed to
convey to the public [at best] a confusing image and [at worst] a negative
message. Through a course of discussions and considerations it was decided
that a name change would be in the best interest of our mission. Tapestry - A
Christian Connection was the choice of the membership. The reason for the
name is that a "tapestry" is a blending of many types of materials that are
interwoven, interlocking…blending together to develop a work of art. Our
Creator develops you and me as a work in process in faith. We come together
in an interwoven connection [with each other and our community] to be
developed into the image He creates.
Get back to the main page.About this Web Site
© TACC. The contents of this web site, unless otherwise indicated, is copyrighted by Tapestry A Christian Connection. Visitors to this web site may read, copy, and share its contents with others provided that it is done strictly for educational purposes and is not altered in any way. Please contact Tapestry A Christian Connection for other inquiries or issues concerning reproduction rights. July 2008