By NICK SLEPKO

Seattle Community Church began with a conversation of five people. Several months later, it's a thriving and diverse church located in the heart of Laurelhurst with a congregation of over 130.

It started with the originators sending out e-mails to friends inviting them to come and has grown. During the week, they send out a briefing of the previous Sunday's message along with inspirational and meditative quotes. They also alert members to upcoming ministry opportunities.

Not even a full-year old, UW and Princeton-educated Pastor Fred Choy is already seeing SCC impact the world. "We just sent money to a leper house in Korea and are getting together a missionary effort to go over there and possibly Indonesia," he says.

Coming from the Korean Community Presbyterian Church in Fremont, and having grown up in Wedgwood, Choy was looking for any place in Seattle. In turned out that the Seattle Presbytery (the governing board for the district) was thinking of selling an old facility.

"I went in and told them we were interested, said Choy. "They asked how much we had to purchase it. I said nothing. They laughed. I shared the vision. An hour-and-a-half later, it was ours."

So what was the vision? "A church where unchurched people feel comfortable or out of place," he says. "Somewhere that they can grow."

While the outreach and congregation is high-tech and modern, the facility is far from it. "Being a pastor, you're following Jesus. As it turns out, I'm becoming a carpenter," jokes Choy.

Located between Children's Hospital and Laurelhurst Elementary, it's a good thing that Choy is assisted by Pastor Marion Park. "She brings a strong emphasis on kids, education, and counseling - especially marriage counseling."

For more information, call 527-2232 or visit the church at 4501 46th Ave. NE.