the bridge care center

If you truly believe in the Gospel, then you have to believe that it matters not just for your personal salvation and blessings but God’s pursuit of restoration, redemption, and reconciliation for the entire world.

While it’s true that it’s often the blogpost no one wants to read, it has to matter if the Gospel truly matters.

After several weeks of work parties and renovations, we finally hosted the Open House for The Bridge Care Center yesterday.

And perhaps it’s appropriate that on this Valentine’s Day, we share this small expression of

our love for the city of Seattle.

The Bridge Care Center – formerly the headquarters of a fishery office – is the new Justice & Compassion ministry offices for Quest Church. The Bridge Care Center will:

1. Advocate and reach out to those who are without housing or have low-income and need support and connections for housing, employment, food, clothing, and other resources.
2. Provide a mail center.
3. Provide a computer center.
4. Provide case management and counseling.
5. Advocate for the refugee community.
6. Host classes for the community on issues of justice and compassion.

Quest is far from a perfect church and I am reminded weekly if not more often what a mediocre leader I can be but I am nevertheless, amazed at the work that God is doing among our church community.

Several months ago, we informed the church of our hopes of renting a small single office space nearby to start an advocacy ministry for the local homeless community. We launched a mini-campaign to raise $50,000 in hopes of launching and staffing this ministry.

What happened?

• The church blew the $50,000 goal and gave $70,405.24.
• We found an office space. Actually, we found an entire office mini-warehouse (over 2400 square feet). And the kicker: the owners waived the rent.
• Hosted nearly 150+ volunteers.
• Hired our first staffperson to oversee the case management & the care center and to work with DeAnza, our pastor who oversees Compassion & Justice ministries.

Because we wanted create a warm, inviting and engaging space for ministry and hospitality, we did some work on the space – inside and outside. Check out the pics below.

We spent an incredible amount of energy and time getting this space ready and now, the real hard work of relationships, justice, and advocacy begins…