PHILOSOPHY
City Ministries is about helping children, families and community by providing social services and educational services from a faith-based perspective. City Ministries is a tax-exempt social service organization that provides various services to the community.
MISSION
City Ministries is social service organization whose mission is to serve the community with faith based volunteerism and resources.
It is comprised of 3-divisions:
Child Placement Agency – works with the State of Washington DCYF to provide foster care services, licensing of foster homes, and training to foster parents, volunteers and support resources for program participants. Our mission is to see children experiencing the foster care system cared for in safe, loving, stable, faith-filled families focused on permanence and stability for the children through restoration of their birth and/or extended families or placement with an adoptive family. We will do this by providing family and community-based foster care, foster to adopt and adoption services utilizing a unique model that provides a nurturing, supportive environment.
Rose Hill Cottages – is a residential community of 22 homes and the Aaron Haskins Community Center designed to provide affordable housing to participants in the City Ministries Child Placing Agency.
City Kids School– a preschool & kindergarten. It is a developmentally appropriate school and utilizes play in creating a love for learning in children. The school has been in operation for over 20 years and is licensed through the State of Washington.
Definition of Faith-based:
While the agency will accept children for placement without regard to their faith and has a policy of religious nondiscrimination regarding children experiencing the foster care system placed in our licensed homes, the ministry philosophy of Churchome and City Ministries is to be demonstrated by the employees and volunteers in their attitude of faith, courtesy, cheerfulness, graciousness and skill. The agency will implement programs with a holistic approach of spirit (faith), soul (mind, will and emotions) and body (physical) in a respectful, considerate, professional manner with DCYF & Children’s Administration, foster parents, birth parents, children, other agencies, and everyone we serve and work with.
THEN
In 1993, Churchome started a social service non-profit food distribution ministry by picking up “day-old” bread and delivering it to needy neighbors in the Crossroads area of Bellevue, WA. This grew to servicing many grocery stores and household goods stores and distributing those items to families in need as well as churches in the community and other social service organizations. Throughout the 1990’s, CM operated a Women in Transition Home that helped women and their children in difficult situations move to a place of stability and re-integration back to the workforce and safer, stable living situations. At the same time, we opened City Computer School which provided low or no cost certification program in the Microsoft Office Suite, allowing people to build those much needed computer skills. Another ministry that operated for many years was City Colors, a resale clothing shop that accepted gently used clothing that was either given or sold at a very low price to those in need. At that time we had partnerships with local women’s outreach organizations, other churches, our local DCYF offices to support their efforts in helping women and children.
In 1995, Churchome moved to its present location on the Eastside and with that move added City Kids School – originally called City Kids Preschool, to serve the preschool needs of children in the community. Consistently each year 75% or more of our students come from the surrounding community and are able to take advantage of a strong developmentally appropriate curriculum and excellent teaching staff. All of these services were provided from a position of faith, believing the best for people, and a heart of love for our community.
In 2002, the church started City Ministries as a separate nonprofit organization to enlarge the food distribution ministry and include all the ministries under one umbrella to better serve our community.
TODAY
In 2007, with much prayer we ventured into the arena of foster care. It began with the construction of 22 homes and a community center on the east side of Seattle. Many hearts were stirred, many prayers prayed, and families stood up and joined the journey. We now have a thriving foster care program and child placing agency, as well as a community where foster families we license may choose to live.
The Rose Hill Cottages & Aaron Haskins Community Center stand as a testament to the faith, love and heart of service of many, many people. City Ministries Child Placement Agency is doing effective hands-on case management, recruitment and training of foster parents, and maintains partnerships with DCYF and other community partners to provide a safety net for the rescue and protection of children. City Kids School is experiencing record growth and is an award winner in the Early Achiever program and has expanded to pre-K, Kindergarten and preschool.
Today a few of the components have changed as we adapted to the community needs, but our mission to serve our community remains the same. As we move forward and continue to grow, your generosity in giving, your prayers, and volunteerism are important as we all do our part to make our community a safe, prosperous, welcoming place for children and families.
Lyman Legters – Chair
Senior Director, Casey Family Programs
Lyman has worked at Casey Family Programs since 2002, where he currently serves as Senior Director of Strategic Consulting, partnering with states and federal agencies to improve child welfare systems. From 2012–2015, he served as a Senior Fellow at the U.S. Department of Justice. His earlier career spans over 20 years in juvenile justice and early childhood education.
Lyman’s work centers on systems transformation, racial justice, and equity for vulnerable children and families. He speaks nationally on racial equity, organizational health, and community well-being. He serves on the National Board of the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, and has been engaged in justice and equity work for over 30 years across various intersectional issues.
In California, Lyman serves on the City of Temecula’s REDI Commission and is active in the Justice/Racial Reconciliation Ministry at Rancho Community Church.
In Seattle, he serves on the Boards of City Ministries and Mission Hope.
He is a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and an avid golfer.
Meredith Vossler- Secretary
Attorney, City Ministries
Meredith Vossler brings a unique perspective to the City Ministries Board, leveraging over 20 years of experience in the legal field as both an executive-level administrative legal professional and an attorney. She is passionate about excellence, efficiency, and finding creative solutions to existing challenges. Meredith has served on the Board of City Ministries since 2019, and as Secretary and Treasurer since 2022.
Meredith is a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington and a juris doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. She is privileged to work alongside her husband in the family business and raise their two children full-time. Meredith enjoys the outdoors, cooking, listening to music, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Kathy Lambert – Treasurer
Former Legislator, Educator
Kathy Lambert has dedicated 27 years to public service, including 20 years on the King County Council for the third district. She is a former member of the Washington House of Representatives. Lambert was recognized by Governing Magazine in their Women in Leadership class of 2019 and named United Way of King County’s Elected Official of the Year in 2013. Known for her thorough reading of bills and bipartisan approach, she held leadership positions in the WA State House of Representatives and King County Council.
Lambert served on numerous boards, including the WA State SIDS Foundation Board, the State Forensic Investigations Board, and the State Office of Public Defense Board. On the King County Council, Lambert worked on nearly every committee, modernized the court system, and created youth programs like the Family Intervention Resource Programs (FIRS) and Safe Place Program.
Before her government career, Lambert taught elementary and middle school and developed emergency preparedness programs. Lambert is a published poet and author of a children’s book on Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Cheryl Haskins – Board Member
Executive Director, City Ministries
Dr. Cheryl is a passionate leader and advocate for community transformation, serving as both Executive Director and board member of City Ministries. With a rich background in nonprofit leadership, Cheryl brings strategic insight, spiritual depth, and a deep heart for service. She has led in areas such as organizational development, governance, and program innovation – particularly in strengthening families, advancing education, and empowering youth.
Cheryl’s career includes serving as a banking Vice President, high school business teacher and advisor, adjunct faculty at Northwest University, business owner, and assistant pastor for over 20 years. She is also an author and avid quilter.
A lifelong Washington resident, Cheryl holds a BS in Business and an MBA from Washington State University and earned her Doctorate in Ministry and Leadership from George Fox University in 2024.
She also creates inspiring content on TikTok, sharing faith-based insights, cultural reflections, and messages of personal growth.
Andrew Haskins – Board Member
Altig
Andrew Haskins is the Executive Vice President of AO Globe Life, the official life insurance company for the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Cowboys, who play at Globe Stadium. With over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, Andrew began his career in commission sales and quickly advanced into management. His innovative approaches have significantly benefited the company. Andrew oversees sales presentations, marketing, training, and software development. Known for his high energy, positivity, and drive, he strives for excellence in all his endeavors.
Andrew grew up in Washington State, graduated from Lake Washington High School, and attended Cal Poly on a basketball scholarship. He was raised in City Church, Kirkland, WA, and his faith is the foundation of both his personal and professional life.
Carrie Shaw – Board Member (On Leave)
Executive Director, Renton Technical College Foundation
As the Executive Director of the Renton Technical College (RTC) Foundation, Carrie is passionate about advancing the college’s mission by building strong partnerships and securing resources to support student success. In her role, Carrie collaborates with organizations like Providence Swedish to provide scholarships and clinical training opportunities for students from underserved communities pursuing careers in healthcare. Seeing the transformative impact of these opportunities on students is truly inspiring.
She also serves as an ex-officio member of the RTC Foundation’s Board of Directors, where she contributes to strategic planning and development efforts that align with the college’s goals. Her commitment to education and community engagement drives her to help break down barriers for students, especially those from historically underrepresented groups. Through their work at the RTC Foundation, they are creating opportunities that empower students and strengthen the community.
Dr. Natalie Ellington – Board Member
Executive Director, Eileen and Callie’s Place
Dr. Natalie Ellington is the Founder and Executive Director of Eileen & Callie’s Place, a nonprofit based in Kent, Washington, that supports young women aging out of the foster care system. Since 2014, the organization has provided mentoring, life skills coaching, and transitional support through age 25, helping young women build independence and purpose.
Her professional journey began at Motown Industries in Detroit, where she advanced to become West Coast Director of Professional Activities. She later served as Vice President and Dean of a leadership college and as Principal of Christian Faith School.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Dr. Ellington is an international speaker, teacher, and author, passionate about empowering young women to thrive.
Stevey Wonderful Legters – Board Member
Stevey-Wonderful Legters is an Etymological Engineer (a Writer), Word lover, wife, worshipper, poet & wordsmith, songwriter, blog contributor, reluctant spoken word artist, and soon-to-be published author.
She is also a serial volunteer, and OGii to the two babygrands that brought her & her husband Lyman to So Cal from the Washington DC area.
Virginia Smith – Board Member (On Leave)
Pastor Emeritus, Churchome
Gini Smith and her late husband, Wendell Smith, served as youth pastors in Portland, Oregon for over 20 years, traveling the world to inspire young people to pursue their God-given purpose. In 1992, with just a small group of people, they founded both The City Church and City Ministries in Seattle, Washington.
The City Church – now known as Churchome – grew into a multi-campus ministry with thousands of members, city-wide impact, and global influence. It became especially known for its dynamic Youth and Children’s Ministries, its Preschool, and a thriving Internship Program, creating a generational pipeline of leaders.
City Ministries began with a food outreach and expanded to include a gently used clothing initiative and a transitional home for women. Gini continues to be a respected church planting resource and a sought-after conference speaker both nationally and internationally. She also served as Past President of the Board of City Ministries.
Dr. Cheryl Haskins
Executive Director
Sheryl Nelson
School Director
Christie Lolohea
City Ministries CPA Director
CHURCHOME
Churchome started City Ministries and continues to financially support with an annual grant, provide spiritual oversight, and many of its members are volunteers.
TREEHOUSE
Treehouse invests in the lives of young people who have faced the deep wounds from a crisis of parenting. In helping them to secure the essential education, basic material needs, and social experiences they equally deserve, we help kids in foster care discover their own resilience and strength. City Ministries encourages its foster parents to access resources and facilitates donations to support the work of treehouse.
WARM BEACH CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER
We exist to provide environments, experiences, and resources, which draw people of all ages to God through the ministry of Christian Camping. Warm Beach Camp has consistently provided tickets for our foster families & children to attend their annual Christmas Lights Celebration and offer summer camping opportunities for foster families from City Ministries and many other organizations.
REFRESH CONFERENCE
Refresh is a Christian conference designed for foster and adoptive parents, kinship providers, grandparents, and others who care for God’s orphaned and vulnerable children. We understand firsthand that this journey can be difficult and lonely. The Refresh Conference is a time for you to escape from the distractions and chaos of life and be physically, emotionally, spiritually refreshed, equipped, and inspired. City Ministries has been a participant in this conference since its inception as an exhibitor as well as in attendance of our foster parents, respite providers and volunteers. We look forward to continuing our involvement and seeing it grow.
CORE (FOSTER PARENT TRAINING)
City Ministries participates with other private agencies to provide the basic training for foster parents we license. This training is open to anyone wanting to become a foster parent in our community of King, Pierce & Snohomish Counties. We utilize the Aaron Haskins Community Center, and our staff participates as hosts and presenters of the training.
EARLY ACHIEVERS PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF EARLY LEARNING
https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/services/earlylearning-childcare/early-achievers
Early Achievers, Washington’s voluntary quality rating and improvement system, gives participating child care professionals free access to coaching, professional development and a tangible way to demonstrate their commitment to providing quality care and education for young children. City Kids School is a participant in this program for 2015-2017 and received grant funding and an initial rating of 3!
DCYF – CHILDREN & FAMILIES
City Ministries is a contracted provider for the State of Washington as a child placing agency. We work closely with DCYF offices primarily in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
CAFO (CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS)
https://cafo.org/nfci/washington/
The Christian Alliance for Orphans unites 180+ respected organizations and a global network of churches. Our joint initiatives inspire and equip Christians to live out effectively the Bible’s call to care for orphans and vulnerable children. We are a member-agency organization.
Our mission is to see children experiencing the foster care system cared for in safe, loving, stable, faith-filled families focused on permanence and stability for the children through restoration of their birth and/or extended families or placement with an adoptive family.
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We do this by providing family and community-based foster care and adoption services (when necessary) utilizing a unique model that provides a nurturing, supportive environment.
We have served children and families in our community for 14 years.
Our success includes:
- 100+ children placed
- 90% never returned to foster care
- 8 adopted into forever homes
- 5+ years foster parent retention and more!
Mailing address
9007 132nd Ave NE Kirkland, WA 98033
(425) 250-6759
info@citymin.org
Our goal is to equip the next generation with the building blocks necessary for their future. We are intentional about preparing children to be lifelong learners. Our emphasis in learning will focus on five main arenas: social, mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. These important aspects of a child’s development are met in a structured and safe environment highlighted by teachers who sincerely love their students.
