Image Source: Lighthouse Christian Ministries | Wenatchee, WA
By Kim Roberts - Posted at MinistryWatch:
Lighthouse Christian Ministries is suing the City of Wenatchee, Washington, claiming the city violated its constitutional rights by revoking its conditional use permit to operate a soup kitchen for needy persons.According to the federal lawsuit filed in the Eastern District of Washington, Lighthouse — a nondenominational Christian ministry — has been serving the vulnerable population of Wenatchee by feeding them, providing daytime shelter, and serving as a hub for social services.
It was founded in 2009 to provide a soup kitchen for homeless and low-income residents. Initially it started downtown, but as demand grew, Lighthouse decided to move its operations to a larger facility. It obtained a conditional use permit after spending a million dollars to renovate a vacant warehouse in an industrial zone, including adding security lighting, cameras, and a chain-link fence.
The new location, which began operating in 2019, was also nearer to the city’s bus station where it was more accessible to those without private transportation.
In May 2025, the city revoked the conditional use permit, claiming Lighthouse had violated its conditions. In the lawsuit, Lighthouse claims the city had not given it an opportunity to address the alleged concerns before revoking the permit and forcing Lighthouse to cease its soup kitchen’s operations.
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