Success Stories

More Than a Building: Garden City Church Becomes a Beacon of Beauty and Belonging

At National Covenant Properties, we often say we’re more than lenders—we’re ministry partners. Few stories capture this truth like the unfolding journey of Garden City Church in Tacoma, Washington.

Led by Pastor George Bedlion, Garden City has spent the past six months breathing new life into a once-forgotten American Legion building, turning it into a vibrant hub of beauty, creativity, and community transformation. “We were looking for something that expressed our values for beauty and aesthetic,” George shared. “We’re a church full of artists—people who care deeply about creativity. This place felt like an uncut gem, just waiting to shine.”

And shine it has.

The art deco space—just steps from public transit—has quickly become a magnet for the surrounding neighborhood. Each week, locals wander in, some curious, some hopeful. Recently, a Sunday service featured testimonies from three or four neighbors who shared publicly for the first time, signaling that Garden City is becoming a place where trust grows and stories matter.

This spring, the church held its first baptism service—11 people from a diverse range of socioeconomic backgrounds shared their powerful testimonies. “We’re seeing a beautiful mix,” George said. “There’s a nexus here of the powerful and the powerless, and we’re watching the love of Christ bridge those divides.”

That love extends beyond the sanctuary walls. Garden City partners with a foster-care nonprofit that intentionally seeks out churches that don’t look like churches—spaces that feel safe, accessible, and non-threatening. The church recently hosted a graduation for 14 foster youth. Many came without a biological parent or guardian, and members of the congregation, along with social workers, created a space of warmth, celebration, and hope. Life-skills workshops are now in the works to expand the partnership and create additional opportunities for these youth.

Community engagement continues in everyday moments too. After a recent “service in the round,” the church headed to a nearby park for a picnic. A conversation started over a dog turned into a prayer gathering for a stranger with a family member in the hospital. “That’s who we want to be,” George said. “A place where people experience the peace of Christ. Here, you can belong before you believe.”

Future dreams are already taking shape: a fall concert open to the neighborhood and a seven-day-a-week coffee shop to serve as a local gathering spot. But the heart of it all remains the same: a commitment to sending people out, energized and inspired by their time together, to live out the love of Jesus in their city. To be a place where you can belong before you believe.

“We are deeply grateful to Rollie and the team at National Covenant Properties,” George said. “They’ve been more than partners—they’ve been advocates, encouragers, and friends. There’s a special kinship with the Covenant family, and NCP has walked with us every step of the way.”

At NCP, we’re honored to come alongside churches like Garden City—not just to fund buildings, but to fuel mission. Because this is more than a renovation. This is resurrection.