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OUR COMMUNITY

SIFT stands for Sanctuary International Fellowship Tabernacle, the full name of our church community. We abbreviate it SIFT because we are a transformation movement; a press to bring needed interest, purpose, and vision to the church, as a whole. We are SIFT because we have been sorted out, refined, changed, and improved by confronting the "hard lumps" that hit us throughout life. The experience might not always feel great at the time, but we can see our transformation as we go through God's process to come out on the other side. We have been sifted; what the enemy intended for evil, God used for good, so we can be here to serve and worship God.

As Christians, we embrace inclusivity. Inclusivity is a basic Gospel principle that creates a community welcome and open to everybody. We make room for anyone (all are a “whosoever”) who desires to visit, attend, or join our communities. Everyone, from every walk of life, is welcome. We extend a special invitation for any and all who are different.

Our little diverse community represents the following groups:

• LGBTQ+ community and their families

• Neurodivergent community

• Racial, social, and indigenous minorities

• Immigrants and refugees

• Single, partnered, divorced, and married individuals

• Overcoming difficult pasts (abuse, prison, substance abuse)

• A variety of political and social views

• Veterans

• Unconventional families

• Deconstructing or questioning

We love to hear your experiences, thoughts, and ideas. If you have any questions about what you hear or see or would like more thorough information, just ask! If there is some way that we can enhance your participation with our church, let us know. We are here for you!

The term "sanctuary" has had many meanings throughout history. Its definition relates to the word "holy," meaning "set apart for a purpose." Today, we recognize the idea of sanctuary as a holy place - a place where God is first. In making God first, we acknowledge the presence of God among our community. Sanctuary is a break from the ordinary; here, people can meet the extraordinary. We herald this place of safety, for others who too want to put God first - above worldly cares, politics, governmental leaders, ideas, traditions, exclusions, bigotries, and everything else that keeps us from God - and come just as they are to experience Him.

Sanctuary is about creating community for those in need of connection: whether because they don't know God, they do not have a welcoming family (for whatever the reason), they find themselves on the outskirts of society or traditional church, they are lonely, or they are not accepted anywhere else...we are here for them. We recognize spirituality first, and social need secondarily, knowing there is more than one way to stand against the worldly systems that divide us. We seek to encourage, bless, and empower people, showing them God reaches out to us where we are to bring us everywhere we need to be.