The Apostolic Faith Church, at 196 NW Cascade Avenue, Chehalis, Washington, will soon be celebrating 95 years in the same location. The Reverend Florence Crawford had established the Apostolic Faith Church in Portland, Oregon, in 1907, and the first camp meeting was held that same year. Mrs. Katherine Zachman, from Chehalis, went with Mrs. Lieby to that camp meeting and thoroughly enjoyed what she heard. Upon her return home, she told the pastor of the little church she had been attending, “I am with Florence Crawford.” The pastor walked out and it wasn’t long before the small group became an Apostolic Faith Church.

In 1908, the church group appointed trustees, and the property and building at 1052 Cascade Avenue was purchased. The building formerly had been a print shop, then a laundry, but now it would serve as a church. Chehalis has since altered the numbering system of their streets, so the address is now 196 NW Cascade Avenue, but the location has not changed.

In September of 1946, Reverend Dave McCollum and his wife, Ruth, moved to Chehalis from Oregon to serve as pastor. Reverend McCollum had a real vision for the church: the music, the young people, the Sunday school, and also for a new place of worship. He promoted and expanded the church’s outside ministry, holding church services in many nearby communities. Reverend McCollum also started a “Building Fund” anticipating a new church building sometime in the future.

September, 1952 brought another new pastor, Reverend Robert Hanlin with his wife Opal and two children. By this time the building fund contained enough money to begin work on a new church. The lot next door to the (old) church was acquired, and construction of the new church began the following year, On March 15, 1953, a final and emotional service was held in the old church. Tears were shed as the congregation said “goodbye” to the building in which so many people had experienced God’s blessings through the years. After this service the edifice was dismantled to make room for the new structure.
Carl Deffenbaugh, an engineer from Portland drew up the plans for the church, aided by his son, Don, who was a U.C.L.A. student at the time. A professor there helped plan the building to be acoustically “perfect” as possible. The Chehalis financial institutions refused to finance the new construction, so the Portland Headquarters provided the necessary additional funds needed.

On April 7, 1953, Reverend Raymond Crawford, General Overseer from Portland, broke ground for the new church. Volunteer help came from many places. Carl Deffenbaugh was general superintendent, and Roy Allen, general contractor from Portland, as construction foreman. There were volunteers who worked on the entire project, others worked just a few days. Some of the out of town helpers went home for the weekends, while others stayed for the entire time. Those of the Chehalis congregation scarcely missed a day. The building generated much community interest. After construction was well under way and it was apparent things were going well, the president of a leading lending institution in Chehalis commented to one of the workers that he certainly wished his savings and loan had said “yes” to financing the project.

Dedication of the new church took place on Sunday, February 21, 1954. Reverend Raymond Crawford was there to give the dedicatory sermon and thank those who had sacrificed and helped on the project. Today, after nearly fifty years, “The church across the street from the Post Office,” stands as a beautiful monument as to what God can do when His people “have a mind to work.”

The present pastor, Reverend Tim DeBusk and wife, Lisa, extend a hearty welcome to all who will pay them a visit. Their services are: Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. Morning service, 11:00 a.m. and evening service, 6:00 p.m. Wednesday service, 7:30 p.m. Directions to the church are available here.