Today, as more and more churches focus their attention beyond the walls of their congregation to also serve the needs of their community, they truly begin to address the purpose they were built for. By returning to the roots of Ecclesia to create a safe place for community to happen, they are becoming the "Body Of Christ".

Navigating the line between the needs of those on the inside and outside can be one of the greatest challenges for a congregation. As with any challenge, it can create tension for the congregation and pastor. If the tension can be used to help build bridges the tension can be good, if not it can cause a divide.

Gary Dalenius is one of those pastors who walks that line. He is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Bellevuem, WA. Known as the Church in the Orchard, due to the apple trees that share its 3-acre grounds, the church also shares its space with a daycare center and community garden. While the orchard and daycare center have been in place for many years, it is in the last two years that the community garden was added. And more recently, the church initiated a new community outreach project with The Pomegranate Center to transform the church's grounds into a shared, public gathering space. A space were men and women from all walks of life, ages, and all faith's can come and share community.