Community Caring Resource Network
Research Overview and Table of Contents
Click each tab from left to right to reveal the steps of the formation process of Community Caring Resource Network and the Apartment Chaplaincy Ministry at Boulder Park. There are ten steps, plus a possible “bonus” step, contained in three sections of tabs on this page.
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (Gen. 1:26).
Humans were fashioned in the image of an infinitely creative God, the One and Only God, who mysteriously exists as an eternally sacrificial community of Father, Son and Spirit. He created humans in His likeness to rule over His creation, that is, to steward and multiply the resources necessary to protect and provide for the flourishing of all living things (see Gen. 1:27-2:3).
With such creativity inherent within the nature of humans, and this kind of authority inherent within our calling, it only follows that there are an unlimited number of ways to accomplish any given goal or objective that fits within our mandate.
This project seeks to draw from the rich storehouses of Scripture, history, and Christian tradition to fulfill our small, but immeasurably significant part of this greater mandate and calling. We represent one small piece of a very large puzzle that God has entrusted us to assemble. The puzzle known as the Kingdom of God. We don’t claim to have the only way of putting pieces together; we don’t even claim to know exactly what the whole box-top looks like. We only hope that by stewarding carefully the pieces we have been entrusted with, working together creatively and sacrificially with the community in which we have been placed, and reflecting on and recording here our discoveries and lessons learned, that we may become an inspiration and example to others of what it looks like to build with faithfulness, grace, wisdom, and generosity.
Our goal is to follow Jesus (Matt. 4), proclaim His Kingdom (Matt. 10), fulfill our role in the Church He is constructing (Matt. 16), and obey His commission to train apprentices of Jesus and His way of life (Matt. 28). We believe the Kingdom of God and the Good News of our King (His Gospel) cannot be reduced to one process, cannot be contained in one method, will not be limited to one tradition, will not be stifled by our faults and frailty, and will never be defeated or diminished – even by the darkest forces of evil.
We offer this project and reflection as our humble contribution to the greater work of the Kingdom of God, for the benefit of our fellow servants, the Church and Bride of Christ. We do so by the grace of the Father, through the power of the Spirit, for the glory of Jesus, our King.
It has been theorized that a butterfly that flutters its wings in Brazil could lead to a tornado in Texas. That may or may not actually be the case. But in 2021, a fund manager in Chicago learned of an idea that could potentially increase the return on investment for a client, it did, in fact, initiate a sequence of events that led to a new community network and a chaplaincy ministry for the residents of an apartment complex in University Place, Washington.
This is the brith story of the Community Caring Resource Network. It begins with the passion and vision of two strangers who live over 1700 miles apart, a shrewd manager and a revolutionary apprentice of Jesus, an idea, a serendipity, a creative plan, and the rest, as they say, is history.
You can read about our invitation to begin ministry at Boulder Park and the plan created to procure funding in the Phase I Interviews section of our research.
I conducted two sets of interviews: one with those who would be involved directly and indirectly in with the ministry, the stakeholders; and the other set with several people who have first hand experience in this kind of ministry, the mavens.
The Stakeholders were: Jim Bakke from the Barnabas Foundation, who first extended the invitation for us to form the ministry at Boulder Park. Ashley Chiles, apartment manager, and John Boyles, the director of Great West property management.
The Mavens were: David Snyder, who has over 40 years of experience as an investor in multi-family complexes and has been involved in initiating apartment ministries at 100’s of properties. Jesse Mendoza, Pat and Chris Willey, and Andrew Kruse, all who served in apartment ministry at different complexes in our geographic region (east Pierce county).
During Phase I, we developed several founding documents. A list of those documents can be found HERE.
Our research revealed that this is the #1 reason that apartment ministries fail, sometimes before they even get started, sometimes down the road.
Issues that feel like conflict with management are normal and expected, and represent an opportunity for thriving, or a doorway to disintegration.
In our pilot project with Boulder Park, we spend many hours over a period of months laying the groundwork for a positive relationship with the management. And even with an abundance of investment, I (John) found myself “stepping on the toes” of the members of the management team without even realizing it. Issues surrounding releasing information about new residents for welcome bags, and the use of a community space, both proved to be points of contention, because the goals of the management were different than that of the owner, and the chaplain found himself “in the middle” of these mismatched expectations.
There are several levels of “community” to be aware of when undertaking apartment miinistry.
It starts with the “community” that is the family of the minister. Does the apartment chaplain have the support of those closest to him or her, when taking on such a demanding endeavor?
The “serving” community. From where will the chaplain get volunteers to help plan and execute events? His or her church? Churches in the immediate area of the complex?
The apartment or multi-family community. These are the recipients of the ministry, but they are not usually the ones “investing” in the ministry. How will this affect participation? How will it affect the measurements of outcomes?
The wider community. What is the reputation of the complex with the other residents of the city in which it is located?
The communities of the various churches within the wider community. Will they be willing to help? Will there be an expectation that if they provide volunteers for the ministry, that it will lead to people from the complex eventually attending the church?
Let’s party!
On July 22, 2023, the official public launch of the ministry was held with a Celebrate Summer BBQ. Over 40 residents and more than 10 volunteers celebrated the launch of the partnership between the Community Caring Resource Network and Boulder Park Apartments.
Welcome bags.
Events.
Crisis intervention. This can be the most difficult, but it is in some ways the very heart of the ministry. It is in the times of trouble and difficulty when many people are the most in need of- and open to- spiritual help in their lives.
Relationships and boundaries.
If the members or leaders of a local church are considering apartment ministry as a strategy for growing the church, don’t bother. If the members of a local church are considering apartment ministry as a way of blessing a community without asking for anything in return from the residents, while providing an opportunity for transformational discipleship for those who serve- then let’s get started!
Sustainability of this kind of ministry will depend on realistic expectations, and a long term commitment of those involved. See #9.
The Myth of Transferability:
I am fascinated by the concept of chaos theory, particularly something known as the butterfly effect. And just as complex systems evade a classic understanding of cause and effect, so I have learned that the forces at work in the realm of ministry are so complex, that the likelihood of replicating the success of any particular ministry in a different location with a different group of people, evades prediction. There are so many variables and unique aspects in any given set of circumstances in the realm of apartment ministry, that replicating the success of a specific ministry has a probability of close to zero.
Perhaps instead of looking for a model to follow, or transferable methods, it would be best to take a more narrative approach: listen to the stories of those who have gone before, learn the lessons that emerge, ask questions, and then ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and proceed with wisdom.