Palouse Church of Christ Information

We are a body of believers, a family united by the ties of love and Jesus Christs sacrifice. Our congregation has a rich and fruitful history, a diverse and broad demographic, and a deep desire for more of Jesus. We meet together in order to encourage one another in love and in obedience to the commands of our Lord. We welcome you to learn more and join us in pursuing Jesus Christ together. What began as a small group of men and women seeking to follow and glorify their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has grown into ministries locally and around the globe. In 1969, six families began meeting on Sunday evenings for worship, singing and Bible study at the home of Walt and Elinor Butcher. The small assembly grew and moved to the Whelan Grange Hall, north of Pullman, to accommodate their increased numbers. When they began meeting regularly on Sunday mornings, with Elmer Hiebert serving as the pastor, they had an attendance of 25. This small group grew rapidly and soon talked about organizing officially as a church. Following a suggestion to contact the Free Church, they contacted Dave Enarson, the District Superintendent for the Northwest area of the Evangelical Free Church. Soon thereafter, in 1971, they formalized their fellowship as the Community Evangelical Free Church of Pullman, Washington. The churchs early pastors were involved in other ministries. Pastor Hiebert founded the Inland Christian Laymen (ICL) in the 1960s to increase an evangelical witness in the university communities on the Palouse. In the early 1970s, Jim Wilson moved to Moscow to help start a Christian literature ministry under the sponsorship of ICL. They opened One Way Books in Pullman and Crossroads Bookstore in Moscow, from which they ministered to students When Pastor Hiebert moved to Tempe, Arizona, to start a bookstore and campus ministry, Jim became principal pastor of the E Free church. In 1976, Doug Busby moved to Moscow to start the School of Practical Christianity for ICL and he also helped teach at the E Free church. The church ...