Hames to lead North bend congregation

Published 1:57 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

NORTH BEND – It may be tempting to say David Hames had a mid-life crises.

After working in the banking industry for 18 years, Hames started to think he had a higher calling. While living in Edmonds, Hames got involved with the prison ministry through his church. Although he was comfortable in his faith and life, he still felt as though there was something missing.

“I felt like I grew a lot in my faith but then I kind of leveled off,” Hames said.

He realized he had a knack for preaching and teaching others about the Bible, so he got a master’s degree from Pepperdine University and started to look around for a place to serve. When Hames talked to others in his church, he realized he could fill a need for a church leader at the Snoqualmie Valley Church of Christ in North Bend. Although most Church of Christ congregations exist without leadership and are mostly led by laypersons, Hames said he knew he could serve at the small congregation.

Hames cut his hours in half at Bank of America and moved the family out to North Bend. From his new house that rests in the shadow of Mount Si, Hames remembered that ministry was not a calling he thought of all his life. Until Hames became a Christian back in 1989, God wasn’t even really something he thought of in life. But Hames thought his faith was something to be shared and not concealed. Since Hames became a Christian with the help of a neighbor, sharing his faith seemed like a logical thing to do in order to help others.

Helping others is a main focus Hames would like to have at the church. He said a church that helps meet both the physical and spiritual needs of its parishioners and neighbors is one going in the right direction.

“Churches get into trouble when the start squabbling within their congregations,” said Hames. “As long as we are focused outward we will be OK.”

Hames said he would like to start a teen program and see the small 25-member congregation that meets at the Mount Si Senior Center increase to 60 in the coming year. Doubling a congregation sounds like a formidable task, but Hames believes that eternity is written on the hearts of everyone and that they all seek the truth. A truth Hames believes he can share.

“People really are looking for answers,” Hames said. “I know there is an answer to their questions.”

Other than being passionate about his goals and unwavering about his faith, Hames is uncertain what will happen at his new home and church in the Valley. A recent door-to-door campaign for a Bible school this summer gave him the impression people are comfortable where they are or just not interested. In an age where people believe the only absolute is that there are no absolutes, interest in someone claiming to have any answers can wane. This is not a deterrent to Hames, though, who believes the truth is plain as day.

“To me it is so obvious (that God is real),” Hames said. “People want to know why there is such pain and suffering. He shows us a way out of it.”

For Hames, there was no crises, just a calling. Although the gamble is big for he and his family, realizing what to do with his life late was better than never realizing it all.

“If this is just me behind this, our chances are not very good,” Hames said. “But if God is behind it, our chances are great.”