I was privileged to sit down with one of the Executive Pastors at my local church in Las Vegas, Lee, and his wife, Tanya. The Coates have been in Las Vegas for 31 years and have pastored through the stigmas and stereotypes that circle our city. As Las Vegas locals, we have heard it all -- "Sin City", we all gamble, we all live in hotels, you name it.

A conversation that was meant to lift up a city we all love turned into an hour of encouragement for those who have left the church or feel like formal church is not for them or has wronged them in some way. Pastor Lee and Tanya recognize those frustrations but feel deeply the community that comes from the church is worth fighting for. They are passionate, authentic and excited about where God has placed them for the last 31 years.

I hope deeply this conversation blesses you the way it did for me, and if you're not a Las Vegas resident, that you learn to "plant" yourself in your city, whether it seems like a conventional place to spread the gospel or not.

Find Pastor Lee and Tanya Coate on IG: @leecoate @momcoate

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