Historical Overview
EARLY ROOTS: THE SO-CALLED 'LATTER RAIN REVIVAL
It was in the years between 1947 and 1954 that God began to bring emphasis on praise and worship, the five-fold ministry gifts, in particular prophecy and the laying on of hands, and healing to the church in a special way. The Hauten brothers, George and William, began to experience an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that led them into many of the major metropolitan areas of the West Coast, holding revival meetings. Out of these meetings many Pentecostal churches began to see tremendous renewal and growth. Out of one such church, Bethel Temple, in Seattle, Washington, came a young minister by the name of Ernest Gentile. Upon his arrival in Spokane, Washington, he began holding meetings in a downtown storefront, which soon attracted enough people to establish a church. A building was secured and Gospel Temple, of Spokane, was born.
ONGOING DEVELOPMENT: The 1950's
Gospel Temple grew to a congregation of over 200 people over the next few years. Pastor Gentile led the church until about 1958 at which time he and his family moved to San Jose, California to start a new work. The years that followed saw the church struggle in attendance to the point where the three families that were left were faced with the possibility of closing the church for good. However, God had something else in mind.
A FRESH START: THE BROWN YEARS, 1960 TO 1972
After time was spent in prayer and fasting it was determined to contact Cecil A. Brown, who was pastoring, with his wife and family in Great Falls, Montana. He had been ministering for several years in Great Falls and did not initially feel released to come to Spokane. However after coming for a brief series of meetings he felt the Lord wanted him to make the move to Spokane to take the church. So it was, that in 1960, Rev. Brown, his wife Grace, his two sons, Gary and Steve, came to Spokane and the Church of the Rock of Ages was started. Pastor Brown brought with him a vision for a spirit-filled independent work that would influence the Spokane area as "a city set on a hill". He also brought to the church a strong prophetic voice and mantle along with the burden to train people to move in the prophetic realm. The church experienced exciting growth over the next several years.
It was during this growth time that the current building was begun. It was in 1966 that the work began on the present 7.6 acres, however, it was not completed until after Pastor Brown's death. He passed away in November of 1972 after a long battle with cancer. It was not until early in 1974 that the building was completed and dedicated under the leadership of Pastor Byron Klaue.
THE NEXT MOVE: THE KLAUE YEARS, 1972 TO 1981
Byron Klaue became pastor in the fall of 1972. He had been a member of the Board of Trustees for many years, an International Director of Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship, as well as a local businessman. Even though he was blind, he brought to the church a strong lifestyle of faith, an exciting emphasis on praise and worship and an anointed counseling ministry. These years again brought much growth to the church. Throughout these years the charismatic renewal brought many people to the church from mainline denominations. Their hunger for the Holy Spirit led many of them to be baptized in the Holy Spirit with a new release in their walk with God. Pastor Klaue also began an additional building program where a new administration building was constructed. Pastor Klaue died suddenly of a heart attack on August 2nd of 1981 which brought the church to another turning point.
THE NEW DIRECTION: 1981 TO 1996
For the next 5 months, the church spent much time in prayer and fasting, asking God for direction concerning its pastoral leadership, It was decided, as the church met with the Board of Trustees, Douglas Malott Jr, should be set in as pastor. He had been in youth ministry in the church for several years and Assistant Pastor to Byron Klaue the six months prior to his death. He and his wife, Patti, were set in as pastors on January 10' 1982. Since that time a healthy mission emphasis has been developed, and several elders have been ordained to help oversee the church.
RECASTING THE VISION: 1997 TO THE PRESENT
After much prayer and counsel Pastor Doug Malott and the elders made a decision to recast the vision for the future of the church. Prayer, council and prophetic input made it clear that several steps were to be taken to bring renewed vigor to the church and its mission.
1) With the help of the Holy Spirit a new vision has come into focus. A vision for three things: A commitment to PURSUE THE PRESENCE OF GOD passionately, to EMPOWER THE PEOPLE OF GOD consistently and to faithfully TOUCH GOD'S WORLD. Each of these three areas captures many specific strategies that guide our church forward.
2) Also the church applied for and became affiliated with Ministers Fellowship International, an independent, post-denominational apostolic association of ministers and their churches, based out of Portland, Oregon. This relationship brought the church under a volunteer apostolic covering for the purpose of accountability, counsel and networking.
3) The church also developed a concerted effort to develop a strong cell group or small group based ministry philosophy. This effort continues quarterly with many groups in operation and the goal of having more on an ongoing basis.
4) Also an intentional commitment was made to function and participate as a part of the newly birthed City Church of Spokane County.
5) A commitment was made to move toward a more active role in the community by adopting a servant's attitude toward the people of our city. Meaning to first pray for, then care for and then share the gospel with the people of our neighborhoods and workplaces.
6) In addition to the above changes an intentional decision was made to commit money, time and people to an ongoing effort of pioneering new churches in the city and county of Spokane.
