Lynnwood Neighborhood Center: Origin Story

Birth of the Vision

As we witness the Lynnwood Community Center building being erected on our property, it might be easy to forget that this impressive new ministry facility in partnership with Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW) is actually the fruition of a seed idea generated by Trinity Lutheran congregational members well over a decade ago. So it is worth pausing to remember how this vision came to be and honor the contribution of those who have persevered over fourteen years in nurturing a seemingly impossible vision to the point that it is becoming a reality right before our eyes.

In 2011, following Pastor Mark Reitan’s retirement, Pastors Paul Sundberg and Eileen Hansen initiated a process to solicit grass-roots congregational input regarding the desired path forward for the congregation. In this “Revisioning Process” a number of facilitators from the congregation were trained to conduct sessions to gather input from each ministry area. All of the ministry groups gathered in a plenary session to clarify their purpose–the way in which they each contributed to the  work of “manifesting God’s dream as a community that makes space for people to recognize what God is doing to meet the deep needs of the world and to discover and assume their unique roles in partnership with God.” Then, facilitators met with each ministry group to share stories of success in achieving their purpose to identify what was working, identify potential improvements and imagine new opportunities they might pursue. 

In those sessions, active ministries such as Neighbors in Need, Cold Weather Shelter, Pastoral Care Ministers and Youth ministries all voiced a common dream of having additional space where the needs of people in our community could be more effectively met. 

An all-congregation potluck was held to share the results of these sessions. Table groups discussed the proposed new opportunities and shared what was most exciting to them. The most frequently identified suggestion was “the idea of a community ministry center, in addition to the existing church building, where comprehensive pastoral care, youth, senior, homeless, and other ministries could be housed.” Another, related idea among the most favored was “expanding ministries further into our community beyond our traditional boundaries.”

The Quest

A community ministry center was clearly a dream that the congregation was excited about and wanted to pursue. But, of course, we had no resources at our disposal, beside property, to make this happen. In the light of this discernment, the mission council requested that a team be formed to explore the possibility of a “Third Place” kind of facility where we might connect with and serve community members who might not be inclined to enter a church building. Several people (David Greenlee, Mike Schultz, Dennis Derickson, David Eckberg, Sandy Schneider, and Ruth Lee) began to take up the challenge of working to make this “impossible dream” a reality. Their goal was to seek partner(s) who would have key values in common with the congregation and share the vision of the center as a place of ministry to the community.

The team conducted research by visiting two locations to explore what a community center might look like: City Life Center in Missoula was built and is operated by Youth for Christ and houses varying non-profits in the building, as well as operating their youth outreach from there; The non-profit Community Center in Rainier Valley that houses Treehouse and many other organizations, much like what we imagined for the Lynnwood Neighborhood Center.

Early on, Neighbors in Need considered expanding services to a larger facility and elected to continue in the current space. The Verdant Health Commission also considered our site prior to choosing their current location a few blocks east of our property.

As the team became more focused on developing some sort of community center on our adjoining property, where Creation Station, the chiropractor and the old homes on 195th street used to be, they decided that basic drawings of a possible center might be needed in order to explore the concept with potential partners. A member donated money to hire an architect to create some blue prints. They began working with Environmental Works and considering the different ways to situate a community center on the property. The team considered two buildings versus one large building.

With the blue prints in hand, a vision of this building and a mandate to find a partnership to help build this building, the team started talking to major non-profit organizations including the YMCAs of King and Snohomish counties, YWCA and Edmonds Community College. Finally, in 2012, we began conversations with VOAWW. The TLCS development team met with a team of leaders from their board and staff and then began to meet regularly to talk about our shared values and vision and to begin to see what we might be able to do together. It became apparent that TCLS and VOAWW had common shared values that could provide a basis for a fruitful ministry partnership:

• VOAWW and TLCS are both Christian faith-based organizations

• Both groups want a facility to be a hub for serving the community and building new opportunities for families and individuals.

• Both groups share the vision of a one stop resource center 

• Both want this center to address service voids and empower volunteers.

• Both want the center to be a place of encouragement and serving all ages, including seniors, youth, children and families.

• Both want the center to be a resource center for preventative service, not emergency services (not a shelter or crisis center).  

Based on what was learned during this careful exploratory phase and conversations with VOAWW, the congregation voted in 2014 to move ahead with the partnership and the team began to hammer out some of the legal aspects of the partnership with TLCS council agreeing in 2018, to a ground lease for the land for 50 years.

The primary resource TLCS brings to the table was the land. In order to make the vision of a community center with a range of services a reality, we have benefitted from VOAWW’s experience and organization to raise funds for the building. And, together we have reached out to communicate with other non-profit organizations who will staff the various programs to be offered.

VOAWW and TLCS invited other organizations to join an oversight committee in order to  increase involvement and input from community based non-profits.  This group is called the Joint Oversight Committee and meets monthly.  They helped develop the design of the building and the scope of services to be located in the building.  Most recently the group has provided oversight on the construction process and monitored VOAWW funding and partnership development.  As construction progresses, this group will also help to develop the system of communication and planning for the shared site, moving into the operation phase.

Manifesting the Vision

We are now seeing the results of the vision that originated 14 years ago rising up next door to us. Agreements with multiple providers are in place and more in process to provide:

• VOA Community Resource Center

• Medical, Dental & Behavioral Health Clinics

• Preschool

• Boys & Girls Club

• Technology Lab

• Adult Day Programs

• Community Events & Gatherings

• Culturally-Specific Programs

• Refugee & Immigrant Assistance

• Commercial Kitchen & Café

• Classes, Trainings & Workshops

We are grateful for the team of people, which has changed over the years, that remained faithful to the congregational vision and worked steadily over a long period to help the vision become reality and we look forward to construction concluding in November with some agencies beginning to take occupancy in December and a grand opening in January of 2026.

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TLCS/LNC Engagement Team

Mike Schultz, Pastor Hector Garfias-Toledo, David Greenlee, Larry Pennings, and Mary Denny