By Maddie Cooley
Summit Church is reaching new peaks with the opening of its second campus. The new campus of the church, located within walking distance of Gonzaga, made its debut with its first service on Feb. 11.
The original site of Summit is well-established on the South Hill at 1801 E. 29th Ave., with its three service times overflowing with gathered community members. The new campus, dubbed Summit U, aims to further extend Summit’s reach into the Logan neighborhood.
Summit is a Christian church that values community and connectedness. The Summit U campus, 1003 E. Trent Ave., is located in the Riverwalk plaza in the U-District, just a short walk across the bridge near Coughlin Residence Hall off the East edge of Gonzaga’s campus. Having already expanded the original Summit South location, the decision to open a new campus stemmed from the church’s value that the experience of their message is personal and intimate for each individual.
“It wasn’t about just building a bigger building and putting more people in a room, for us it’s something that people are experiencing,” said Brad Williams, Summit’s lead pastor.
Both of the Summit churches meet Sunday mornings, and Williams makes the 15-minute drive between the U-District and the South Hill to pastor every service.
“If we’re going to be in our city, for our city, it probably doesn’t make sense for us to stay up on the hill, elevated away from all of the more complex issues that face our city. We need to be in new neighborhoods and loving new schools and connecting with new neighbors,” he said.
According to Williams, this idea of connecting with more neighborhoods is important to Summit and their mission. The Gonzaga community is part of this new neighborhood they hope to reach and impact. At the Summit South location, Williams said he knew there was a “loose” connection with the Gonzaga community. Some of the church’s members are Gonzaga teachers, coaches, students and athletes. Williams hopes that the new campus serves as a connecting piece, where relationships are strengthened and students have a tangible place to live out their faith in a community setting outside of school.
Jodi Ulkekul is one Gonzaga student and Summit-goer that feels this connection. Having attended Summit South since her freshman year, the now-junior has observed firsthand the exponential development of the Summit community.
“The growth of faith throughout our community I think has just been incredible to witness,” she said.
For Ulkekul, the church was her “saving grace” as she faced various challenges in her freshman year of college.
Since its opening, Ulkekul has attended the Summit U campus and values its comfortable, homey feeling. She said she enjoys having the new location so close to the Gonzaga campus, and hopes it will help strengthen the relationships of faith among those around her. Ulkekul says that she has already noticed people from various groups at Gonzaga come together as a community at Summit.
“Once a good church is that solid in its doctrine and its teachings and its fellowship, I think it just spreads like wildfire,” she said.
Ulkekul said she is excited to see the impact Summit U has on the Gonzaga community.
According to Williams, one of the main goals of the Summit fellowship is to impact as many people as possible.
“Our hope is that we connect with the neighborhood in a new way,” Williams said.
The Summit U location hosts service times on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., while Summit South gathers at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5:30 p.m.
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