MARYSVILLE It began with the realization that this region is changing, said Dan Hazen, executive pastor of Allen Creek Community Church. Thats not news to anybody.
But for the 44th Avenue church, Hazen said tracking that change has become a priority.
Covered with a metal facade, to most observers Allen Creek doesnt look much like a traditional church. Hazen said the design was deliberate. He describes Allen Creek as a seeker targeted church, a concept Hazen said began in Chicago. The idea is, he added, to make the church and religion relevant in the lives of ordinary people.
The Gospel hasnt changed, just how we deliver it, Hazen added.
In the case of Allen Creek, the style of delivery includes a disco ball, smoke machines and what appears to be a sophisticated lighting and sound system in the main sanctuary. Selections from Bruce Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine have been heard during church services. In short, Hazen said the church tries to reflect and bring into the chapel, the outside culture.
But in order to do our jobs well, weve got to understand our culture, Hazen added. We just dont have a good grasp on the needs of our neighbors as we did 12 years ago.
In trying to find out just what is happening outside its doors, the church has launched a survey and interview project Hazen hopes can not only help his church, but also help define the Marysville area.
If you go into Ballard in Seattle, theres a distinct sense of community, Hazen said, contending Ballard and other Seattle neighborhoods such as Freemont are, obviously, known for their distinct styles. Hazen doesnt know if Marysville has as pronounced a sense of self as either of those spots, but he wants to help find and define whatever local identity does exist.
The first step was to put together what Hazen described as a quick, five-minute Internet survey. There are general questions about age, about how long youve lived in the area and so on. Some, such as one about how you like to spend your free time, provide a long list of answers from which to choose. There are a few religious questions that seem to be of a general nature, such as how often do you attend church.
The survey is available at www.nscsurvey1.com. Incidentally, the nsc stands for North Snohomish County. The Web site prompts visitors to enter a password, which is pilchuck. Hazen said the only reason for the password is to ensure a human and not a computer is answering the surveys.
Hazen said optimistically he was hoping to receive 500 responses to the survey. Of course, church members have been invited to take part and spread the word. But you do not have to a member of the church or even religious to participate, Hazen stressed. And while he hopes to gain plenty of responses, Hazen said he personally decided against using typical canvassing techniques, such as phone surveys, because theyre annoying.
The second step of Allen Creeks efforts has consisted of interviews with community leaders ranging from Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall to local school principals to the editorial leaders of The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times. Hazen said he hopes to keep those interviews going for at least another few months. He stressed he is reaching out to what might seem some non-traditional groups for a religious organization, groups such as the local branch of Planned Parenthood.
We really are looking for the soul of our community, Hazen said.
Hazen hopes to complete his study by a self-imposed deadline of June 1.
Then well throw it all at our elders and figure out what the church should do for the next five years, he said.
Hazen added he plans to make the results available to the public and the media.
Its not going to draw a lot of conclusions, he said of the study, adding the final report should consist of a lot of narrative, along with the survey results. Hazen said hopefully not just the church, but the city can use the information to help plot out the future. He said some areas plan their futures, while others just sort of let things happen.
The question is, how much will can we exert on what we become?