Pastor Dennis Crabtree and his wife Shelly were approved as church planters with Northwest Baptist Home Mission in 1994. Following deputation, Dennis was ordained in 1995 by Grace Baptist Church, Kennewick, WA. Dennis and Shelly have three boys, Justin, Brian and Daniel. Dennis is a graduate of Northwest Baptist Seminary, Tacoma, WA.
Working with the field committee of NBHM, we targeted the Terrace Heights area east of Yakima for the new church. Terrace Heights is an unincorporated community of 9600 people with only one (Southern) Baptist church. The area is poised for explosive growth with 1,400 new homes to be built to the north when the county and builders come to an agreement of financing a new road into the area. On April 30, we held our first morning worship service in the Terrace Heights Civic Center. Shortly after that, we started a Sunday School program. Within a month, we included a mid-week prayer meeting. The church was incorporated in November of 1995. By January of 1998, the church was officially organized with church officers and opened its charter membership. Fifty four children and adults were enrolled as charter members. July 18, 1998 the church was officially recognized as a duly constituted Baptist church. In the spring of 1999, the church was received into the fellowship of the Northwest Association of Regular Baptist Churches and later that summer, we were received by the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches.
Since 1999, the church set up a property\building fund and was able to raise $107,000.00. We are looking at a parcel of land just off of Terrace Heights Drive which is the main arterial from Yakima to the Terrace Heights area. There are three lots totaling seven and one half acres. The seller is asking $55,000.00 per lot. Our goal is to purchase one lot first and begin with a prefabricated structure suitable for church services. As we grow, we will purchase the other lots and begin construction of the church building. In January, 2001, we relocated to the Terrace Heights Grange, 3701 W. Birchfield Rd.
Pastor Dennis Crabtree VBC
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Year 2001