|
Join us at 4:00 pm on
Saturday, September 22 in the Fellowship Hall for our 75th Anniversary Celebration and at 10:00 am on Sunday Morning, September 23 for our Fall Kick Off |
Church History
|
Pastor Dan and Louise Swartz were first to hold meetings to test the interest of the Omak area. They drove from Tonasket during the school year of 1943-44. That summer, they set up tent meetings and organized the church’s charter. The Charter members include Albert and Ruth Mitchell, Elva Mae Rose, Elmer and Ethel Mitchell, Lois Winders, Dorothy Hill, Zona Stevens , Evelyn Wilson and Mrs. Eliza Harris.
|
Rev. James Wiles was the first Pastor and built the first church building at 19 S. Douglas St., which still stands. Sunday School classes met in every area of the new building in the sanctuary, basement, the parsonage next door and in a small annex building behind the parsonage. It was exciting to have a full program. Something for every age group.
|
In the mid 1950’s land was purchased at Locust and Riverside Drive, which is our present location. Pastor Marvin Ensign and George Frix started construction on a larger facility in 1959. Mr. Frix was the only paid construction worker. When the church ran out of money, Mr. Frix would continue to work without pay until the church could “catch up”. Finances were tight, so the congregation put much physical labor into the building project. The building was completed and the congregation moved in in December of 1961.
|
With the church having approximately 80 members and Sunday School averaging 128, Omak Free Methodist Church at Douglas Street was no longer able to contain the growth. So they began looking for a property to build on. When it was found and secured, many stepped up and donated their time and skills to build the facility. On Sunday, October 4,1959, an outdoor service at Locust and Riverside Drive was held to commemorate the ground breaking.
The new facility was done, and ready to occupy on December 24, 1961 and was dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 1962. |
|
During the 1970’s, three more lots were purchased to construct an educational wing. This completes the space we currently own where our youth building “The Rock” sits on. Ron Wise was added to the staff in 1987 as Director of outreach. February 9,1988 an arson fire struck demolishing the kitchen and causing severe smoke and water damage throughout the building. A week later another fire did more damage to the church requiring the building to be completely demolished. The building was nearly complete in April 4, 1989 when the church was again struck by fire and gutted. Reconstruction began again and was completed November 12, 1989. When completed the congregation moved into a much larger and beautiful facility.
|
|
The Story of The Rock Wall by Kenneth Dick
“Eunice and I drove all over the country gathering rocks. Evenings, Saturdays and holidays were filled up for ten years. We prayed often for the Lord to give us wisdom and inspiration. I remember waking up one night, about three years ago (around 1967) with a picture in my mind of how the front of the wall should look. It is that dream picture of a burdened Christ that was shaped into reality. I needed stone that looked like wood. I recalled the stone I discovered up the Twisp River at War Creek. We camped up there with Clayton and Ruth Dick after they got married. It had been 25 years and I was not sure I could get my pickup truck up that remote “fire trail” road, but we did and I was able to split enough off of the beautiful brown stone to make the cross. We praised the Lord then, and still do for His guidance and help. I needed black rock for the man. I almost gave up looking, then I was led by the Lord to find just enough to do the job. It took two weeks of chiseling to shape the pieces. I could not find the green rock I wanted for the hill. Howard and Bessie Bowe came to Omak to pick apples and they came to church. As they were having dinner at our place, I told Howard I needed green rock, but could not find any to my liking. He said that he could get it from a quarry up in the mountain near Addy, WA They said they would help us get it. The Lord is the only sure support and guide! I hoped that people who see the cross on the shoulder of a man down on one knee would think of Christ when He carried the cross for you and me. And think how we need to carry our cross faithfully here where we live.” Written November 1992 |
|
