Tim & Claire Jenkins

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? Tim is from Denver, CO, and has been in Seattle since 2015, and Claire was raised in Woodinville.

How did Sideris become home for you? We each found Sideris through friends separately, then met and got married! At Sideris, we are treated like family, and we're grateful to raise our own family in this community. 

Why is considering in community important? What's our option really? We could not consider, which sounds like never experiencing the incredible depth of God and His creation. Or we could be without community, and avoid the inevitable disappointments, but also miss out on the deepest of joys. It's important for us, and we also consider in community for the sake of others.

What is your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in your neighborhood? If you're in our neighborhood in Everett, then Choux Choux is our favorite bakery nearby, but in Seattle we love Chocolati.

Ersen & Andrea Akici

Where are you from & how long have you been in Seattle? Andrea is from Vancouver, WA, and has been in Seattle since 2008 when she moved to attend Seattle Pacific University. Ersen is from Orange County, CA (but he was born in Istanbul, Turkey) and moved to Seattle in 2012 after taking a job with Boeing.

How did Sideris become home for you? (Andrea) I was invited to Sideris by one of my roommates at the time who was going to check it out with a friend. This was in the early, pre-launch, meeting-in-a-coffee-shop days. I felt instantly connected to the community and called to accept the invitation to join the Launch Team.

(Ersen) Sideris was the first church I had ever attended - I came out after Andrea invited me when we were dating. After attending weekly sermons and getting involved in the community, I transitioned from a headspace of 'Who is Jesus and what does he mean to Christians' to 'How has Jesus been a part of my life all this time?'. The spirit helped me recognize this lifelong relationship with God and I was baptized in 2019. Sideris has been my home ever since.

Why is considering in community important? Our relationship with Jesus is so much richer when surrounded by community to encourage, support, and consider with us. The church family is such a unique blessing, especially living in the city, and we love to come together to get to know and be known by others.

What is your favorite restaurant or coffee shop in your neighborhood? The Westy!