Asset Based Ministry
A new and unique way to integrate fractured communities into one big engine of change.
The Grace Center
In 2017, I was allowed to take the reins of a vacant church property. I used my training in asset based ministry to create a new kind of community. ABM asks churches and other communities to rent out (whether for money or love) to nonprofits and organization that reflect the real people of the community. When I was reappointed, we were not only an event rental space, but we hosted a variety of community based programs that directly benefited the children of Walla Walla.
Ballet Folklorico Estrelle de Mexico
One of our first groups we ever added was a local dance group. Walla Walla is over 50% Mexican-American, and the neighborhood of our church did not reflect this statistic. Our church, being bilingual and multicultural, sought to add groups that not only helped to change the face of the community, but also helped the group to succeed. Ballet Folklorico never paid rent, because they never charged fees for children to learn to dance. Their teacher was so passionate, that she set aside three full nights a week to teach these very old and very beautiful native dances to children.
Walla Walla Valley Disability Network
As a former Special Education teacher, I have a heart and passion for all of God’s children. The WWVDN started off in a garage. After meeting with their director, we were able to offer them a building to operate out of. This was huge for them, because they could centralize their services that included: Parent 2 Parent, Disability Walk, Summer Camp, and various other trainings and community meetings. Thanks to our support, their program outgrew our building and moved on to much larger spaces.
ESD 123
The Washington State Department of Education established ESDs for each region of the state as intermediaries between the state government and the local school districts to provide secondary services to local students. Before we came along, the Walla Walla division had very bad office space; They were not able to hold conferences or host parents for services. We approached them with the possibility of their office living in our church, and their leadership loved the idea. Now they could have centralized office space complete with conference and training space. Our church won, because we got to help the helpers help.
Living Rock
Part of our commitment to being a multifaith community was that we would help uplift and encourage communities that needed help. I was approached by La Roca Viva, a conservative and Apostolic Church, with a need for church space. In 2018, we entered into an agreement that would be able to use our church space for a nominal fee so that they could save up and buy their own building. Their church grew in large numbers. Our community was greatly shaped because of the influx of Spanish speakers, Spanish Christian rock, and a renewed proclamation of Jesus Christ in the Eastgate community.