Last Friday I sat down with Celia Kennedy (TYFC Board President), Dan Livingston (Tillicum Y & F Center Director) and Dan Durr (local businessman who led the project) in the office of Attorney’s Title in Lakewood to sign closing papers on the former Wander In Tavern and NOW Tillicum Youth & Family Center.  It’s officially owned by Tacoma Youth for Christ!

I can’t even begin to describe the emotions I felt as the ink dried on the dozens of closing papers. The excitement of finally owning this youth center after having it completely remodeled. The joy at seeing how the Lord has brought us through a nearly 3 year process from Dan Durr’s dream of such a place for kids in Tillicum to the reality of an almost completed project.  The overwhelming sense of God’s grace through this entire journey, working with contractors, the City of Lakewood, putting on over 20 Tillicum bus tours with 250+ attendees and seeing God’s favor through so many very generous donors to the project.  As of today we’ve received over $950,000 in cash gifts and gift in kind towards this $1.5 million project.  And any gifts given now to the project will be automatically doubled by the $100,000 matching grant that was awarded to us by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.  Unbelievable!

Today the inspectors from the City of Lakewood took another walk through the building to show us the final details that need to be completed and our hope is to get a certificate of occupancy by next week.  That way we can put the final touches on the interior furnishings, purchase appliances for the kitchen, assemble desks, order the main signs for the building, etc.  We hope to open to work with kids in the next couple of weeks with a grand opening in September.

Here are some pictures I took last Friday right after we closed on the property.  Isn’t it amazing the transformation and what God has done?  Many changed lives (and changed community) to come!