The Enumclaw plateau is a small, rural community in southeast King County. It still has that small town atmosphere and neighbors still care for neighbors.  The community is not spared from the many challenges facing the greater Puget Sound region.  We are blessed to have a community of pastors who not only come together to pray, but also bring their churches together to fill needs. 

 

The Plateau Ministerial Association became official in the early 1990s.  It is an ecumenical group of pastors who believe in the strength of the Gospel and that their similarities are more important than their differences.  In the late 1990s, they formed Plateau Outreach Ministries (POM) to serve as Christ’s hands and feet to our neighbors in need.  For twenty years, POM has helped neighbors stay in their homes, kept the heat turned on, kept food on the table and been here to compassionately listen to difficult stories, build relationships and love our neighbors. This ministry is only possible because of the pastors, churches and volunteers who give their hearts week after week.

 

At the very first LUTC event, our community was struggling with the homelessness issue. There are no shelters, no day center, no public social services in our area. Auburn and Kent are the closest locations and over 15 miles away with very limited bus routes.  It’s even more difficult for the folks living up toward the mountain facing the cold weather of winter.  Through the encouragement of Union Gospel Mission and other LUTC networks, Winter Shelter became a reality. The first year seven churches barely filled the schedule, today more than 12 churches are involved. Each year there are new volunteers, more churches joining together and caring for our homeless neighbors, and new friendships being formed. This year’s core group of shelter guests has begun volunteering at POM to lend a helping hand.