Community Caring Resource Network
Research Sources, Interviews, Artifacts and Archives
Contents
Interviews for phase one were stakeholders, decision-makers, and other parties that would be part of launching the ministry.
Phase I Interviews
Introduction
This is a record of interviews, research conversations, and other, less-formal meetings that were conducted as part of the formation and initial development phase of the Apartment Chaplaincy pilot project at Boulder Park Apartments. This researcher, John Golling, sought to carefully determine the values, goals, and expectations of some of the stakeholders of the ministry.
The individuals contacted were Jim Bakke, the de facto owner of the Apartment Complex, who is also the primary decision-maker regarding the funding of the ministry which will come primarily from the Boulder Park Apartment complex budget. This phase of interviews also included several meetings with Ashely Chiles (from Great West Properties), the manager of the complex, and John Boyle, the manager of Great West Properties, and direct supervisor of Ashley Chiles.
Interviewee: Jim Bakke
Position: Barnabas Foundation, Trust Fund Manager, Owner of Boulder Park Apartments
Date: Aug. 17, 2022
Location: Puyallup Food Bank, 217 W Stewart Ave, Puyallup, WA 98371
Others in attendance: Shawn Manley
Recording Media: none
Abstract: John Golling had recently been hired as the Registrar at Covenant Bible Seminary (CBS). Shawn Manley, the President of CBS, introduced John Golling to Jim Bakke, from the Barnabas Foundation, based in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Bakke manages a trust fund which owns Boulder Park Apartments, and he, Mr. Golling and Mr. Manley discussed the concept of an Apartment Chaplaincy ministry at Boulder Park.
Background: Boulder Park Apartments was owned by Dr. Merritt Lawson, founder of Covenant Bible Seminary. Dr. Lawson worked with Jim Bakke and the Barnabas Foundation so that at his death, the apartments would become part of a trust fund. The fund would be managed by the Barnabas Foundation, and proceeds from the fund would be distributed to several Christian ministries, as designated by Dr. Lawson.
In December of 2018, Dr. Lawson passed away, and Jim Bakke, as trust fund manager, became the de facto owner of Boulder Park Apartments. Mr. Bakke had become aware of the benefits of apartment chaplain ministries, in the form of increased resident satisfaction and positive community impact, which then led to reduced turnover, and, in turn, increased profit for the apartment complex.
In August of 2022, John Golling was hired as the part-time Registrar of Covenant Bible Seminary, and was subsequently introduced to Jim Bakke.
This conversation on August 17, 2022, between Jim Bakke, Shawn Manley, and John Golling, was the inception of the apartment chaplaincy ministry at Boulder Park Apartments.
In the months that followed, John Golling conducted research and developed a conceptual model and funding proposal for an apartment chaplaincy ministry at Boulder Park Apartments. The proposal was approved and the model was adopted. This model included creating a part-time, off-site apartment chaplain position, a budget for events and supplies, and a tuition benefit so the chaplain and ministry could utilize the unique resources available to Kairos University Doctor of Ministry research projects.
In January of 2023, Mr. Golling was hired as the part-time apartment chaplain, and began the next phase of the project, which was to interview other stakeholders, such as the complex manager, and the management company director.