From policeman to pastor

Eatonville's Daybreak Community Church Pastor Tim Greeley is a man with a past — an honorable past spent in service to Seattle's Central District and other areas during his 31-year career with the Seattle Police Department.

Hired in 1980, Greeley retired from SPD in 2011 and began serving the Eatonville community this summer, giving his first sermon in the church, 570 Eatonville Highway, on July 5.

"Eatonville is just a very nice community," Greeley said. "Myself and my wife were welcomed with open arms by its people."

Greeley began his service to God in 1995, after finding a new church and rededicating his life to the Lord. He served as an associate chaplain during his SPD career, working with SPD Chaplain Jon Oas and has served since 2003 as chaplain for the Seattle Harley Owner's Group.

During his years as a police officer, Greeley served as a bicycle officer, K-9 handler and as a field training officer, earning awards and commendations along the way.

Upon his retirement from the force at age 58, Greeley and his wife, Sharon, both avid motorcycle enthusiasts, hit the open road, traveling 10,000 miles in a cross-country trek that took them from the Pacific Northwest, southeast to Key West, north to the state of Maine and due west to Chula Vista, California.

"Then around the end of June this year, I got a call asking if I would be open to becoming the pastor at Daybreak Community Church," Greeley recalled. "We fell in love with the area. It was impossible not to."

Greeley says he has received good feedback from church members since taking the helm and is inspired by the community as a whole as he takes the pulpit Sunday mornings.

"I just love people, talking to people, learning about people and the community," he said.

Greeley spends time most Tuesdays and Thursdays on what he calls a "walk-around," a stroll around the town, which includes a stop at Kirk's Pharmacy.

He said a recent Sunday service was especially fulfilling for him as he was honored to conduct a baptism for a new member before a maximum-capacity crowd, limited in number by the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic but filled with the Holy Spirit nonetheless.

"That's been my favorite service so far, just encouraging and inspiring," he said with a smile.

The Greeleys, who currently reside in Federal Way, plan to relocate to Eatonville in the future.

"We are very well blessed to have been asked to serve here," Greeley said. "To love God is to love others, and we feel very loved by Eatonville. Community members are more than welcome to come worship with us or to view the Sunday service from home."

Greeley's Sunday sermons are streamed live every week for those who cannot attend. For more information, visit www.dbcchurch.com.