West Plains Community Seventh-day Adventist Church held a groundbreaking ceremony July 20 on their property at 815 Craig Road in Airway Heights, Wash. Attendees wrote their names on rocks that will be placed in the church foundation.
During the ceremony the police chief, Lee Bennett, welcomed the new church to the area. With a prison, a casino and a new casino likely going in across the street, Lee said, “We need your help because there are folks who are lost and in crisis, and I’ve only got 28 sets of eyes to take care of this town, so the more people we have to help us, who are God-fearing and upright, it makes our job easier. We want to say thank you."
Paul Hoover, Upper Columbia Conference president, had a prayer of support for the church and commended members for their vision to start a church and for their commitment to build the church. The ceremony was held where the sanctuary will be and there were orange cones labeled to show where the fellowship hall and children’s divisions will be located.
Don Bryan, San Juan Islands (Wash.) District pastor, shared some history. He was riding his bike through Airway Heights while he was the principal of Spokane Junior Academy (now Palisades Christian Academy) and was impressed there should be an Adventist church there. “I argued with God saying, ‘I don’t have time for a church. I’m a school principal, and I don’t have time for one more thing.” In spite this, Bryan heeded God’s call and started a Bible-study group.
Ready to begin the building process, the oldest and the youngest members of the church held three shovels and gave the first toss. The church still has a lot of funds to raise, but in faith they have asked Maranatha Volunteers to come and help build the church in September.
What began with a $1 donation from Michelle Stanfill has grown to purchase the land, and now the church will be built in God's timing. Roger Martin, head elder, gave a closing prayer that ended with a release of white helium balloons, symbolic of the Holy Spirit flowing through church members to the community.
(Front, from left) Carol Matlock and Wyatt and Isaac Spivey get ready to toss the first shovels of dirt while supervised by (back, from left) Roger Martin, head elder; Lee Bennett, police chief; Mr. Niece, architect; Patrick Rushing, Airway Heights, Wash., mayor; Paul Hoover, Upper Columbia Conference (UCC) president; Randy Terry, UCC treasurer; and Wayne Kablanow, West Plains Community Adventist Church pastor.
Patrick Rushing, Airway Heights, Wash., mayor, thanks West Plains members for their vision and contribution to the community.
Paul Hoover, Upper Columbia Conference president speaks right where the church sanctuary will be, and markers showcase where other parts of the building will be.
Balloons released by Jody Sams (left) over Airway Heights symbolize the Holy Spirit flowing out and over the city.
West Plains current and former members gather at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new church building in Airway Heights, Wash.
