Runner Up
Life Center
Name and location: Life Center, Tacoma, Washington
Denomination: Assemblies of God
Pastor: Dean Curry
Date Founded: 1918
Total Church Membership: 3,500
Website: www.lifecentertacoma.org
Outstanding Involvement and Effectiveness in the Fight Against AIDS:
Life Center's Global Neighbor Project started in 2006 in which the city of Tacoma, with assistance from the mayor and other city leaders, embraced the community of Sekameng in Lesotho, which has a nearly 30 percent HIV infection rate among adults. Through both church-based and community activities, the church has raised well over $100,000 for a wide-range of services helping families as well as orphans and vulnerable children, including health care, clean water, and education to help protect children's rights reduce the stigma of AIDS. World Vision administers these services.
The church as done an extraordinary job engaging the community of Tacoma and the surrounding Puget Sound community, including:
- hosting the World Vision Experience an AIDS exhibit at the largest fair in the state;
- partnering with the Tacoma Symphony to do a benefit 4th of July concert;
- engaging local businesses in a “Shop for a Cause” event; and
- performing its annual Singing Christmas Tree production as a fund-raising event for the community in Lesotho.
Life Center has pushed the envelope to come up with creative ways—year round—to raise funds and awareness and engage large numbers of people outside the church in its efforts to move massive amounts of resources.
Impact on the Congregation:
The Global Neighbor Project has been an extraordinary outreach to the Tacoma community involving the Tacoma Symphony, elected officials, the city's main newspaper, The News Tribune, and others. More than one-third of Life Center's congregation has contributed financially to the project and the church has hosted two trips to Lesotho.
Pastor's Quote: “Members from all sectors of society are invited to engage in the fight against AIDS by donating time, talent, and resources. We feel the best way to capture our community is to educate and inspire our leaders.”
Comments from the Judges: “Incredible commitment by the congregation. They get it, and have pulled various groups from the community into the movement. Innovative ... using their creativity, resources and networks ... everything they have ...”
“This Tacoma Church has created a model by which all others should follow. Utilizing leadership in business, politics, the arts, and educational sector in Tacoma, Life Center has put a small community in Lesotho on the map and through them a window in the devastation of AIDS and the reason for Hope. This is a “best of class” example of how to move a congregation to impact not only two communities, Tacoma and Lesotho, but also the world, as other local churches are challenged to follow their example.”
