HISTORY OF COLUMBIA BIBLE CHURCH
March 1977 to March 2007
In March of 1977, a small group of people meeting in a home invited Todd Kennedy, Pastor of Spokane Bible Church to visit and provide guidance on starting a Bible-teaching church in the Tri-Cities. Pastor Kennedy arrived April 12,1977, and met with the group in the home of Marv and Pauline Borgeson. Others attending were Norval and Sandi McMillin, Dean and Doris Jones, Ben and Stella Smith, Kirk Ellison, Marcia Thorson (now Jensen), Dan and Pam Mildon and Kay Hayes. Pastor Kennedy provided doctrinal information on starting a tape group church with the view of eventually having a pastor-teacher.
They decided to start a church as a tape group and incorporated as Columbia Bible Church using a copy of Spokane Bible Church’s Constitution June 20, 1977. Dean Jones was the president, Dan Mildon the treasurer and Marv Borgeson the secretary. The church started meeting in a conference room at the International Dunes Motel at 1715 Fowler Road in Richland, Washington.
In August 1977, Pastor Bruce Einspahr visited Columbia Bible Church as a candidate for pastor. On August 28th, 1977, the first official business meeting for Columbia Bible Church was held. It was decided to call Bruce as Pastor if he accepted the invitation, considering our limited economic resources at the time. Thus, we offered Bruce $900 per month, with the caution that it could be guaranteed for only a few months. He accepted our offer and started teaching services November 5th, 1978, at the Richland Community Center. A Wednesday night service was soon added February 21, 1979, in the Pastor’s home in Burbank.
During Columbia Bible Church’s 2nd Annual Business Meeting (3rd overall), held January 28th, 1979, the possibility of acquiring church property was first discussed. The first official Deacons were elected at that meeting and those elected were Dean Jones, Dan Mildon, and Ron Smith, who also became the first officers of the church.
On December 23, 1979, Columbia Bible Church moved to the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 1897 Wright Ave. in Richland. On September 27th, 1981, it was decided in the Men’s Meeting that a Sunday evening class would be held in individual homes. This class would have a more informal format to encourage questions. In May of 1983, Pastor Einspahr first went electronic with the acquisition of an IBM personal computer to assist him in his studies of the Word of God.
In 1984, a church property search committee was formed to buy property. The preferred location included West Kennewick and the Meadow Springs area, with West Pasco as the number two choice. In 1985, 1.6 acres in West Pasco on 84th and Argent was purchased for $14,500 because land was more reasonably priced in West Pasco. Later, in 1989, 4.2 acres of adjacent property was purchased for the bargain price of $10,000.
Columbia Bible Church held its first Family Church Camp Aug. 22-24th, 1985. The second Family Church Camp was held at Jubilee Lake in Oregon in 1986. In 1987, Family Camp was held at Camp Kiwanis outside of Walla Walla and has been held there periodically ever since.
In February of 1987, we started supporting Tim Beard, our first Missionary outside the church for $100 per month. Tim, at that time was a missionary to the Navajo Indians in New Mexico.
In 1991, the church struggled with plans on how to put up a church building with a building fund of only $42,000. A special meeting was held with Rev. David Piper of Grace Baptist Church who encouraged us to use some creative financing and go into debt. Afterwards, the church decided not to go into debt, but to wait on God’s will and not start a building until we had $100,000 in the Building Fund. Building plans were drawn up and ready in the event that finances were available.
Circumstances changed and I believe God’s Will directed us in Jan. 31, 1993, to have Columbia Bible Church join with Good Shepherd Baptist Church. Columbia Bible Church retained the same name and Constitution, and thus in essence, was given equity in the 5 1/4 acres and the building at our present location of 202 S. Van Buren St. in West Kennewick. With the building fund money, the proceeds from the sale of our West Pasco properties, some generous donations and equity already in the property, we were able to pay off all the debt against the building and property.
In 1994-95, we were able to build the classroom and workroom addition unto the original building and later make both real and personal property improvements without going into debt. Thus, God has financially blessed Columbia Bible Church abundantly through the years. God has provided just enough to do what His plans required and stay debt free. His grace abounds.
In 1998, Pastor Einspahr and Marlene traveled to Israel for a five-week biblical history tour thanks to a generous Christmas gift from the Congregation. We have since been blessed with pictures and wonderful insights about the holy land and it’s history.
Columbia Bible Church’s Deacons decided to bring Marshall Almarode on as a part time staff member in June of 2003 and then the church called him on as a full time Assistant Pastor in January of 2004. His ministries have included youth, music, college group, evangelism, special events, and fill in preaching.
Columbia Bible Church has had a slow but steady growth since its inception. Teaching the Word of God has always been the focal point at Columbia Bible Church, both from the pulpit and the Sunday School classrooms.
Every year we rotate a Deacon off the Deacon Board after he has served a three-year term. I don’t remember anyone serving back-to-back terms. Thus, there has been a continual gradual changing of the guard. There is no permanent ruling group as with most churches, which avoids the temptation of any to get power-hungry. The vast majority, if not all Deacons, at this church serve because they were nominated by the Deacon Board and elected by the church members. They are willing to serve as before God to the church, but are usually happy and relieved when their term is over.
The heart and soul of Columbia Bible Church is a combination of the Holy Spirit working through the Pastor’s faithfulness in teaching the Word of God, all the prayers, the volunteer work people do with little, if any, recognition, and the generous giving. Certainly heavenly rewards will far supercede any man-made recognition that is received on earth.
We’ve had several dear Saints from Columbia Bible Church pass on before us. We are very thankful that they are in the Lord’s presence today. We are also very thankful for our many pleasant thoughts and memories of them, and for God’s grace to us in knowing that we, as Believer’s in Jesus Christ, will join them one day in Heaven!
May Columbia Bible Church’s future be as bright or brighter than its past. May it continue to be a shining light for God’s glory. May it always lay as its foundation the teaching of the Word of God. I really appreciate our church in that people just naturally pitch-in and do things and fill needs usually without even being asked. I believe it shows so well how the body of Christ can work so well together!
