When I first sat down with Pastor Pradeepan Jeeva, I expected to hear a typical church‑planting story—fundraising, volunteers, maybe a few creative outreach ideas. What I got instead was an incredible journey that started with Sri Lankan Hindu refugees and wound up in the heart of Seattle, one of the most un‑churched cities in America.
Pradeepan grew up in the United States after his family fled civil war in Sri Lanka. A random act of kindness from a Norwegian Lutheran pastor saved his parents’ lives and opened the door for them to encounter Jesus. That moment eventually led Pradeepan himself to choose faith as a high‑school sophomore. He later studied pastoral ministry at Oral Roberts University, earning a bachelor’s in Pastoral Christian Ministry and a master’s in Educational Leadership. For more than eight years he served as a youth and young adult pastor, guiding hundreds of young people from diverse backgrounds toward a meaningful relationship with Christ. Church planting had been on his heart since college—he just didn’t know where that dream would take him.
From Refugee Roots to Planting in Seattle
The Jeeva family eventually felt called to Seattle. After serving in ministries from Minnesota to South Korea, Pradeepan and his wife Amreitha moved to the Pacific Northwest and began building what would become Kalos Church. Amreitha shares her husband’s passion for the local church. Adopted from India and raised in Kansas, she studied Child and Family Studies and leads initiatives caring for orphans and poor communities in Southeast Asia. Together they carry a vision to reveal “the beauty of Jesus” in the Seattle area.
Those early days weren’t glamorous. Meeting locations shifted. A pandemic paused Sunday gatherings. Spiritual warfare, controversial questions about sexuality and social justice—issues that many pastors prefer to avoid—were unavoidable. Rather than retreat, the Jeevas leaned in. They opened their home for conversations, invited skeptics to coffee, and listened more than they spoke. Their biggest takeaway? People aren’t looking for perfect churches; they’re looking for people who will truly see them.
How Digital Ads Helped Kalos Church Grow
Personal connections were only part of the story. After the pandemic the Jeevas needed a way to reach people who weren’t going to walk through the door on their own. That’s when they partnered with ChurchCandy, the digital‑marketing agency I founded. ChurchCandy’s plan focuses on targeted Facebook and Instagram campaigns, landing pages and personal follow‑up that convert online interest into real Sunday‑morning visitors. We don’t chase likes or comments; our success metric is simple—new guests in your church.
Working together, we implemented the “Plan Your Visit” strategy. Ads invited Seattle residents to plan a visit on Kalos Church’s website; once they filled out the form, volunteers texted and emailed to answer questions and make them feel welcome. This approach consistently helps churches bring 20–50 new visitors per month, and Kalos Church was no exception. It wasn’t magic—it was intentional outreach combined with personal touch. As Pradeepan told me, “We realized our message was solid; we just didn’t know how to connect the dots between someone clicking on an ad and them actually meeting us face‑to‑face.” Once that system was in place, Sunday attendance started to climb.
Lessons for Pastors Planting in Hard Soil
1. Honour your story. Pradeepan’s background as the son of refugees and Amreitha’s journey from Indian orphan to pastor’s wife aren’t side notes; they’re the very things that allow them to connect with people who feel like outsiders. Don’t hide your story—share it. Authenticity builds trust.
2. Lead with relationships, not invitations. Before they ever advertised their church, the Jeevas spent hours listening to people’s stories over coffee. They learned the power of asking a simple question—“How can I pray for you?”—and then following up. Church growth flows naturally when people feel seen and heard.
3. Use digital marketing as a bridge, not a billboard. A well‑crafted Facebook ad is a conversation starter, not a silver bullet. ChurchCandy’s strategy combines paid ads, simple landing pages, and personal follow‑up. It works because it creates a clear path from an online click to an in‑person conversation.
4. Put safety and systems in place. Early on, the Jeevas made rules to protect themselves and those they were reaching—always meeting in public, never meeting alone with someone of the opposite sex, and inviting trusted team members into follow‑up conversations. Systems foster growth while keeping everyone healthy.
Planting a church in the most un‑churched city in America wasn’t easy. It took perseverance, courage and a willingness to embrace both the messy human stories and the power of digital tools. If you’re a pastor feeling stuck—whether you’re launching a new campus or leading an established congregation—remember that growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you combine compelling storytelling, genuine relationships and proven marketing strategies.
If you’re ready to see what targeted ads and personalized follow‑up could do for your church, I’d love to chat. ChurchCandy has helped over 1,000 churches across the U.S. attract new families, and our “Plan Your Visit” system can help you consistently welcome 20–50 new guests each month. You can schedule a free strategy call to see if it’s a fit for you.
Church planting is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. As Pradeepan’s story shows, the right partnerships can turn a vision into a vibrant, growing community.
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