“And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Matthew 13:23
At first glance, landscaping might seem like self-explanatory job—mowing lawns, trimming hedges, and planting flowers to keep properties looking beautiful. But at Bellevue, the Landscaping team has become much more than that. Thanks to an inspiring partnership with Hope Center Ministries, this team has become a beacon of hope and a path to a new life for men working to overcome addiction.
Bellevue has long been committed to serving through community outreach—trying to help people find hope and healing. So when a partnership with a local drug rehab ministry came up, it seemed like a natural fit.
“Hope Center Ministries does something different than the other ministries that we’ve partnered with in the past,” Bellevue’s Facilities and Grounds Administrator, Kevin Haley, said. “Most of these guys have to pay to get into the center, so they’ve got skin in the game, and they’re wanting to make a change.”
Hope Center Ministries provides a structured recovery program for men battling addiction, aiming to help them rebuild their lives by teaching life skills, offering counseling, and fostering personal growth. However, finding stable work after struggling with addiction can be one of the biggest challenges these men face, as many employers are hesitant to take a chance on those with troubled pasts. That’s where Bellevue saw an opportunity to make a difference.
At the Hope Center, there are three phases designed to provide the best support for residents as they recover. The first phase helps residents through personal growth and counseling. In the second stage, residents can partner with different vocational training providers and learn real-world responsibility in a supportive environment. It’s during this phase that many men have come to Bellevue.
This partnership started 17 years ago over a shared desire for transformation and renewal—not just for the grounds of the church but also for the men who would work on them. Each day the men from the rehab ministry work side by side with members of Bellevue’s Operations team, and the church staff doesn’t see the men just as workers; they see them as individuals trying to make a fresh start.
“I’ve had guys tell me that one of the main reasons why they want to stay here is because they never felt this safe before working here,” Landscaping Supervisor Will Mitchell said. “We care for them, and we want them to build camaraderie with all of our staff.”
In addition to on-the-job training, the men receive mentorship and spiritual guidance from Bellevue’s team, which helps them grow in responsibility and their walks with the Lord.
“Kevin’s Bible study brings light to their dark world, spiritually speaking,” Will said. “Kevin is really good at not only presenting Christ but also giving life examples that they can correlate with the word he’s teaching and walk away with something to think about.”
For many of the Hope Center men, working with Bellevue’s Landscaping team is the first time they’ve experienced a supportive, healthy work environment where their past mistakes don’t define them.
“They do the day-in-and-day-out tasks around the church, and most of the guys, if you just saw them out working, you wouldn’t think they’re any different than us,” Kevin said. “What we don’t see is there is a lot of hurt—these men come from tough situations that most people don’t think about. What’s great is they are taking steps toward trying to change.”
The Landscaping team has become a unique ministry, a way of serving that goes beyond the physical appearance of the church grounds. The partnership continues to remind everyone involved—church staff and the Hope Center men—that God’s grace is transformative. And sometimes, all it takes is good soil, a little guidance, and a second chance to turn someone’s life around.