By NICK SLEPKO

There's a new coffee house on the block in Lake City. There's also new church on the block in Lake City. Who could ask for anything more? Coming originally from Southern California to the Pacific Northwest, Pastor Craig Johnson of Lakeside Community Church has obviously taken the culture shock in a stride and adapted to suit the Seattle parishioners.

Just over a year ago, Johnson, his family, three interns came up from Covina, Calif., with not much more than an address for a church that was going to help them out. After spending a year in the church gym establishing themselves, Lakeside's rapidly growing congregation of just over fifty individuals began looking for a home.

Initially, they tried to rent space at Meadowbrook Community Center, but were denied because they were told, "there were some church and state issues." As God would have it, it turned out that the "Lake" in Lakeside would refer to Lake City Way. They moved into their new home earlier this year.

"We like being right here on Lake City Way, but as we grow we're going to need more permanent facilities so we're looking around the core area for a place to settle down," said Johnson. "The space we have now isn't going to hold everyone comfortably as we grow."

Johnson has definitely got the optimism that has come to characterize the greater community. Ironically, just a week after speaking with him, local resident Linda Petersen used the same phrase to describe Lake City at a public meeting in February: "a diamond in the rough."

Still, as everyone knows, communities weren't built in a day.

Johnson is excited by the potential of Lake City. He joins pastors like Hallack Grieder of Lake City Presbyterian and George Atherholt of Lake Washington Baptist (both relatively new pastors in the area) with a shared vision for teaming with the Chamber and neighbors to improve the area.

"As pastors, we're not in competition," said Johnson. "All of us have the end goal of making and being part of the community. I look forward to working on what the other churches in the area have begun. Š When you're a minister you don't just pray for your church, you pray for all the churches."

Lakeside Community Church is located at 10522 Lake City Way NE. They can be reached at 206-414-1436 or e-mail: craig@lakesidecommunity.com.