Our church began as a charismatic prayer meeting/bible study in the early 1980s. A small group of 12 or so, they began to seek and experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. There were numerous healings, deliverances, and other miracles. The group began to grow, until 30-40 people from many different religious and non-religious backgrounds were meeting each week in an older home in Umatilla.Like Elisha’s school of prophets, the place where they were meeting became too “straight” for the group, and they rented the old American Legion hall on SR 19 in Altoona. Around the same time they named Buddy Walker as their Pastor. By 1985, the church had grown to around 100 or so, and needed a more suitable place to meet. They began to pray, and established a faith-based vision for building. The present property was purchased, and they moved into a new building designed to seat 400 in September of 1987.Over the next decade, the church experienced periods of rapid numerical growth, as well as expansion of local ministries. A Christian school, a Recovery ministry for men coming out of incarceration, Set Free ministry for persons with addictions, and other ministries were part of that season.In the mid-1990s, the Lord began to sift us like wheat, and prune our branches in order to bring forth fruit, pleasing to Him. As God worked in us, he refined our vision and purpose as a church. These were difficult and painful times, which caused many to despair. Like Gideon’s army, those who were not called to go on, moved in other directions.Today, we are smaller in numbers, but God is doing mighty things through us. We are supporting and actively involved in ministry in several nations around the globe. We have a local ministry, that is personal and relevant to today’s families. As we move well into the 21st century, we are excited about all that the Lord has for us as we await His return.
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