OUR STORY

Meiko and Simone Seymour have felt a strong desire for spiritual renewal in urban areas. They dedicate much of their work to Jesus' justice and mercy for those living on the margins of society. They have always felt the call to create a community rooted in the Way of Jesus, imagining and longing for an uncommon way of embodying what it looks like to follow Jesus as apprentices.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Meiko started following the breadcrumbs of the Holy Spirit, exploring areas of pain and hurt in the country. This led him to his first trip to Seattle, where he spent days listening to community members, participating in race and belonging conversations in Pioneer Square, and prayer-walking the city. He fell in love with the place and started traveling there multiple times a year to visit friends he would make, preach in churches he's come to love, and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Every trip, sip of coffee, and stroll through the parks brought Meiko and, ultimately, his family through their visits to ask, "God, what are you doing in us; in this place?"

Both Meiko and Simone took a trip to Portland, OR in 2021 for a few days to celebrate Simone’s birthday. Time was spent meeting God on the Oregon coast. Adding to the trip, they decided to do a day trip up to Seattle, marking Simone’s first time in the city. Upon returning home, after years of trying, realized that they were weeks pregnant! The couple welcomed their daughter, Portlynn (yep, named after the city), in the fall of that same year.

By the middle of 2023, realizing that their time in Florida may be coming to a close, God began answering that question. True to form, the Seymours began saying yes to God's invitation to join him on a mission to seek renewal in the city of Seattle, among others who are endeavoring for the same move of God.

So, "we're starting a community of people who will pursue the Good, Beautiful, and True Way of Jesus in Seattle. It will be uncommon in its makeup. Uncommon in the how. We will pursue one prayer, "Let Heaven Come." How He chooses to do that through this new community is what we shall pursue and embody."

Our Timeline

  • Fall/Winter 2024

    Meiko, Simone, and Portlynn will leave Florida and relocate to Seattle, Washington near the end of the year.

  • January 2025

    Meiko will begin serving as the Church Planter in Residence at Coastline Church. During this time, the family will also settle into Columbia City Neighborhood, where they’ll plant Uncommon City.

  • Early Fall 2025

    A part of the seeding strategy is launching Alpha in Columbia City -creating a space for people to explore faith in a safe and low-commitment environment.

  • Late Fall 2025

    As we continue to build relationships, we’ll gather “House Church” style, growing together as aprentices of Jesus using Practicing The Way content.

  • 2026

    It’s our hope to begin worshiping together with the community early in the new year having built out a full team in a location that speaks to the beauty of following Jesus.

Partner with us by

Financially Donating

Seeding something new takes a considerable amount of financial resources. Many of the experiences we plan on making core to Uncommon City like Practicing The Way, Alpha, and other Justice Initiatives will require us to fundraise just over $600K over the next few years. Will you consider giving to our efforts in a one time or recurring monthly gift as an Uncommon Partner.

Receiving Updates

The start of Uncommon City will be slow and intentional. There will be many milestones, prayer requests, prayers answered, and family updates from the Seymour’s. We’d love to update you regularly as we journey together in this new community of faith in Seattle.

Joining Our Team

  • Our seed team will be a group of individuals who start our community, serving in various capacities to form and be the church. Whatever your giftings are, we believe that you are uniquely gifted for this moment. We’d love to be a space where those gifts flourish and grow for the sake of the Kingdom in Seattle.

  • Starting fall of 2024, we will hold monthly prayer calls to pray, contending to “let Heaven come”. We are looking for individuals who will pray for Uncommon City monthly.

  • We believe that God has already spoken to families and individuals about moving to Seattle to be a part of Uncommon City. Relocating and starting afresh is daunting, yet we know that God meets us in these bold steps of faith when they are connected to his commission. Is He speaking to you?