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From corrections to the ministry |
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
100-year-old church gets
first full-time pastor
BY DANI BULL
S-E Staff Reporter
Like something out of “Little House on the Prairie,” there is a little community church on Lake Ellen Road on the west side of Lake Roosevelt that has a small, but loyal congregation.
On May 1 of this year, for the first time, the congregation voted to hire Shane Moffitt as a full-time pastor for this almost 100-year-old church.
Pastor Moffitt had been the pastor for the Garden Valley Community Church on a part- time basis since 2006.
Moffitt grew up in Colville, going to the First Baptist Church where he still has family attending.
“Church was a big part of my upbringing,” the pastor said. “I was active in youth group and music programs. I was six-years-old when I knew I was going to be a pastor.”
Moffitt received his pastoral training at Moody Bible Institute in Spokane and Hyles-Anderson College in Chicago.
He’s excited about pasturing a church with such a rich history.
“This church has been the heart and soul of the community for almost 100 years--I feel a responsibility to make sure it remains true to its calling,” said Pastor Moffitt.
“There are probably 50 to 60 active people in the church, although with the Snowbirds and summer activities, there are usually around 30 in attendance each Sunday.”
“This is a small, intimate family reunion atmosphere with a coffee pot and plate of cookies in the back.” said Moffitt
The ground was donated by Samuel. J. Emminger and his wife Bertha, who homesteaded the area in 1902. It was first used for a cemetery, then as a church. The church dates back to 1911 or l9l2. Electricity was installed in the late 1950s.
Money to build the church was financed through the Presbyterian Church. Much of the lumber was cut by Emminger, his father and brother, who owned and operated a local sawmill.
On June 9, 1954 the church at Garden Valley was organized by Blythe McLean under the American Sunday School Union. In 1960, the church officially became the Garden Valley Community Church. By-laws were written and officers elected so the church could function as a corporation. Doris Kowitz was elected as Sunday School superintendent. She attends the church to this day.
There were many years with no services held at the church; there were a few pastors and ministers that came for short periods of time until 1999, when the church again began holding services.
The pine benches are original and there was a steeple for many years. The men who painted the church in the 1960s didn’t want to climb up and paint the steeple, so it was taken down.
The little church with the rich past needed a full-time pastor.
After college and three years in Central America, a stint in the U.S. Army led Moffitt into law enforcement in the 1980’s. Eventually, Moffitt became the chief of the Stevens County Jail, but because of a back injury, he became a dispatcher for the Stevens County 911 call center. He held that job until 2007.
“Working at the jail gave me a heart and compassion for people who had made some really bad decisions in their lives,” said Moffitt.
“Working for 911 gave me a real heart for working with law enforcement people. It allowed me to work as a counselor for some of the officers.”
Moffitt knows he’s in the right place.
“This is my calling. When I came out here (to Garden Valley Community Church) it was like I’d spent 20 years preparing to pastor this church,” said its new pastor.
When Moffitt began pastoring at GVCC, the congregation was comprised primarily of retired community members. Now it’s pretty well divided between the retired and a younger group as well. The congregation is growing.
“Recently, I had to make a decision to further follow my calling and training. This little church is fantastic because the people here have such heart.
“Now my days are filled with pastoral visits, studying, hospital visits, weddings and funerals. It will be a very busy summer.
Moffitt’s style of preaching is based on a teacher/counselor format, with practical application and a little song thrown in for good measure.
“I like to challenge and yet be practical enough that people see a purpose for what they’ve learned.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 23 May 2008 )
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