Taproot Church | Des Moines, WA

• Dan Braga
• Apr 12, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church 

Taproot Church is a replant. My family and I were moving to Seattle to plant from scratch when in the last moment the Lord called us to this replant. We started with a few grandmas and some older couples and went to work deconstructing and reconstructing a missionally minded church centered on the gospel. This has been both the toughest and greatest experience of our lives and God has richly blessed us in our endeavors.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)? 

The biggest challenges were uprooting a system that had been established for nearly 50 years and building something new out of it. Our current challenges are now based around engaging an extremely multi-ethnic and multi-economic context for the glory of Jesus. Our heart is to rightly reflect every tribe, tongue, and nation at Taproot and the south end of the Seattle metro is a fantastic place to accomplish this task.

What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant? 

I'd say there must be no vestige of doubt around your calling. Over the past couple years there has been many a long night where I've settled in on this calling from the Lord and it has been a great stabilizer in the midst of huge calamity.

How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network? 

I joined Acts 29 in 2007 through a series of sovereign events that connected me with Scott Thomas. The biggest benefits of this network are the brothers. There is nothing more invaluable in this calling then having men who think like you and are suffering in similar ways to talk things through with. Without these guys I'm sure I'd have tanked long ago.

How do you pastor your family? 

Intentionally. The discipline of being a good husband and father is something that cannot be neglected. It's all to easy to let our families and marriages be put to the margins but this is an egregious disobedience. I'm very scheduled and intentional in times set aside with my wife and children. Nightly bible studies, worship, prayer, date times, and Sabbath are non-negotiable in my home. The fruit of this gospel intentionality is well worth it!

Church Profile: Taproot Church
Launch Date: July, 2007 
Location: Des Moines, WA 

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

Rooted in Christ, Rooted in Community, Rooted in Culture.

We seek to be a body of Christ followers who have made Jesus their all. We live out the glory of the Kingdom in authentic relationships with one another while intentionally seeking the cultural renewal of our region through gospel works and words.

What is your biblical perspective on authentic community, and evangelism? How is this practically seen in your church? 

The church must live in community. A church is no longer a church when the members don't need each other. I'm convinced that effective evangelism takes place in the midst of relationships, so community is a vital means of presenting and preaching the gospel to our "not yet believing" co-workers, friends, neighbors, and family.

What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church? 

Wow. This list could go on and will go on for eternity. I'd summarize it by simply saying God has taken a few grandmas and a young church planter family and by His grace multiplied us into a vibrant gospel missionary movement in the south end of the Seattle Metro. It has had nothing to do with us and everything to do with the abundant grace of Jesus Christ and His will for renewing His church. I think we're all humbled and abundantly thankful to be part of the King's kingdom and His work.