Washington Church Raises Profile at Car Show

Every year the Greenwood Car Show in Seattle, Wash., draws thousands of people to look at classic cars, and Sanctuary Christian Reformed Church uses the opportunity to interact with many of them.

It helps that the church’s Green Bean Coffeehouse is located on the show’s parade route.

Church members set up a kid’s area front of the Green Bean, which is owned and operated by Sanctuary CRC. Volunteers lead bean bag tosses, paint kids’ faces, and run a kids’ car race.

Meghann Foote paints Flora Eagan’s face.

Torrey Edwards

Sanctuary members also run the music stage. Mark Mohrlang, the church’s worship director, leads the set up and tear down for each local band that performs. And he permits band members to use Sanctuary’s equipment at no cost.

“It was Mark’s way to bless the participants of the Car Show. It was a quiet way to serve the neighborhood,” said Rev. Summer Mohrlang, associate pastor of Sanctuary.

This is the seventh year Sanctuary CRC has participated in the Greenwood Car Show. Although interactions at the coffee shop, sound stage, and kid’s area may be brief, church members create a presence in the Greenwood community.

“It has given our church a chance to participate in the life of the neighborhood. It is significant for them to see a church and coffee shop participate in a fun way,” Mohrlang said.