Wayfarers Chapel: New Directions in Ministry

By Rev. Dr. David Brown

I am happy to share that our new directions in ministry at Wayfarers Chapel are bearing fruit. It was a significant leap for our Board of Directors to retain me in ministry after the devastating landslide that destroyed our beloved sacred space, known around the world as Wayfarers Chapel. Yet this moment has also reminded us of a profound truth: the essence of church is not a building, but the spiritual life within each person. 

Certainly, Wayfarers Chapel—perhaps more than many sacred spaces—made it easier to experience the Divine. Gathering there on Sundays, the sense of worship and connection was extraordinary. But even without the building, our spiritual community has endured. 

I remain deeply grateful to Reverend Jason Shelby of St. Francis Episcopal Church and his congregation. As news helicopters broadcasted live images of the destruction of the landslide, and as our doors closed to the public, I received an email from Reverend Shelby. It was simple, heartfelt, and offered immediate sanctuary: our congregation was welcome at St. Francis. He shared that he could not imagine being without a “thin space” on Sunday with his people—and that if such a tragedy ever befell his congregation, he hoped we would offer the same generosity. 

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 

The church, like heaven, is within us as individuals, so the church in general is made up of people who have the church within themselves…. There is no church within us unless the truths we have been taught are grounded in good actions from a caring heart and therefore grounded in the way we live. —New Jerusalem §246:4

Walking the talk matters. In a time when “thoughts and prayers” can be offered instead of concrete help, Reverend Shelby embodied courage, Christian love, and decisive action. Not only did I accept his offer, but our relationship has grown so deeply that as we now contemplate a prospective new site for Wayfarers Chapel 2.0, there is already a sense of anticipatory grief about eventually leaving St. Francis. Their hospitality has been so gracious, so genuine, that we are already exploring ways to continue our partnership long after we have a permanent home again. 

By February 2026, it will have been two full years of worshipping at St. Francis. We have been embraced in every feast, celebration, and gathering. Personally, this experience has bolstered my faith in the kindness and generosity of fellow Christians. Without our nimble, adaptive Board—and without the openhearted welcome from Reverend Shelby and the St. Francis community—this ministry, and thus, this article, would not exist. 

A Growing Online Ministry

Early this year, we launched a new ministry for people connected to Wayfarers Chapel and for those around the world who read the works of Emanuel Swedenborg but live far from a Swedenborgian church. Every Sunday from 12:00–1:00 PM PST on Zoom, this community continues to deepen and grow. I have been moved by the dedication of this group. Like a traditional congregation, we open with spiritual check-ins, and I offer real-time prayer for anyone in need. 

We now have a core community who attend faithfully each week, alongside others who join for topics of interest. The beauty of this online ministry is the breadth of connection—our featured guests join us from across the world, from Ted Bosley in England discussing architecture to Unni Garcia de Presno joining from Norway. 

Beginning in 2026

We will be expanding this ministry with a new monthly series held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00–7:30 PM PST. Our own Reverend Dr. Jim Lawrence, President of the SCNA, will launch this new series on Tuesday, January 27. We are calling it ENE+ (Exploring New Earth) because it builds upon our regular Sunday offering with special guests and deeper exploration. To sign up, please visit: https://www.wayfarerschapel.org/services/worship/exploring-new-earth/

A New Youth Ministry Collaboration

I also see divine providence in the timing of welcoming our SCNA Vice President, Kurt Fekete, on November 9, to share wisdom from his work with young people. The following Tuesday at 4:00 PM PST, we will launch a new Youth Ministry Program, a collaboration between Wayfarers Chapel and St. Francis Episcopal Church. This weekly gathering offers a safe, welcoming space for teens of all traditions, an opportunity to enjoy pizza, do homework, socialize, and occasionally ask deep theological questions. It is one of the most exciting new developments in our ministry, and a reflection of our commitment to serving the broader community. 

Exciting new directions are indeed unfolding in the life and ministry of Wayfarers Chapel. 

Why Your Support Matters: Rebuilding a National Historic Landmark

As we move joyfully into these new phases of ministry, we are also engaged in one of the most important endeavors in Wayfarers Chapel’s history, the rebuilding of the Chapel at a new, safe, and enduring campus. Designed by Lloyd Wright and revered internationally, Wayfarers Chapel is one of only 2,600 National Historic Landmarks, a place where architecture, nature, and spirituality meet in profound harmony.

The landslide may have taken the building, but it did not extinguish its mission, its legacy, or its spiritual light. Rebuilding the Chapel is not merely a construction project; it is an act of preservation, continuity, and hope. It is a commitment to:

• Honoring Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece and ensuring its legacy is safeguarded for generations.
• Creating an expanded Chapel campus that includes sacred worship space, community gathering areas, gardens, museum, and educational programs.
• Supporting ministries that now reach far beyond our local region, touching people across the country and around the world.
• Restoring a place of reflection, beauty, and spiritual renewal that has served millions of visitors for over seventy years.

This new chapter requires vision—and it requires the generosity of those who believe in the Chapel’s unique spiritual and cultural significance.

If Wayfarers Chapel has touched your life, inspired your faith, offered you peace, or simply stood as a symbol of harmony between humanity and creation, we invite you to consider making a donation of any size.

Your support will help us rise again.
Your generosity will help rebuild a sanctuary the world dearly loves.
And your gift will ensure that Wayfarers Chapel continues its sacred work for generations to come.

For more information, please visit our website wayfarerschapel.org and join us in rebuilding this extraordinary landmark. Once you do, we will add your contact information to our community and send you an acknowledgement. 

Read the full issue of the November/December Messenger.