Mack & Zoe Strong lead a Bible Talk in the Eastside Region. Mack is the starting fullback for the Seattle Seahawks, last year???s NFC Champions. Despite the busy schedule of practices, travel to and from games, preparing for the most important football game of their lives, and raising two boys, the Strongs continue to work faithfully to produce fruit in every area of their lives.

With 13 seasons under his belt, Mack is now the longest-tenured Seattle Seahawk. Head Coach Mike Holmgren says that Mack has made ???his coaching life richer??? and that his life is ???enriched just by knowing him.???  As a fullback, Mack has the sometimes unrewarding job of clearing the way for the tailbacks and quarterbacks, but it???s his great spirit combined with this role that causes Coach Holmgren to call Mack the ???unsung hero of the team.???  This year, a lifelong dream was fulfilled as Mack was selected to go to the Pro Bowl.

And what is Mack???s attitude towards going to the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl?  He shares, ???None of it would have been the same if I hadn???t been a Christian??? because of the disciples that rejoiced with them and shared in the celebration. He watches so many players go through their lives alone, and yet he received encouraging cards from Christians that he barely knew. At a post-season party for the Strongs, Senior Minister Scott Green (pictured at left with wife Lynne, Zoe, Mack & their son, Isaiah) shared, ???Even if we???d won the Super Bowl we???d still be doing the same thing!??? 

Despite the challenges that come with a ???marrieds-with-kids??? Bible Talk (schedules, sickness, etc) God still used the Strongs??? Bible Talk to bring non-Christians to faith.  Brett and Sharon Messer attended the Los Angeles Church of Christ, and when they moved to Seattle they contacted the church here through the website and met Mike and Laura Fouts.  Eric and Christina Butler originally came to church with Raul and Hazel Tabile, a couple in the Westside Region, but they were neighbors of the Strongs.  They were not initially interested in church but after building relationships over a period of time, Eric asked about studying the Bible. Both couples attended Bible Talk regularly and saw how the disciples were learning to work through their own relationships and overcome personal struggles. Both couples were baptized on February 11, 2005 - just days before Mack???s Pro Bowl appearance!  The Butlers recently added to the Bible Talk and their own physical family by adopting Savannah, a 4 year-old girl from Ethiopia.

The Strongs are known in Seattle for their community service. God put it on Zoe???s heart to work with abused and neglected kids. Native Americans have a 70% high school dropout rate, and have the highest suicide rate of any ethnic group in Washington State. She began an after school mentoring program that helps the kids in academics, physical fitness, and life skills. Zoe was also instrumental in form a partnership with HOPE worldwide, Johns Hopkins and the Seattle Indian Center for a grant to start ???Family Spirit??? to counsel young parents in the community.