Valley Bible Church History

 

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Psalms 126:3

 

Looking back to the beginnings of Valley Bible Church of Rosburg and Grays River, Washington, is an encouraging exercise that highlights God‘s provision and faithfulness.

 

This body of believers traces its roots to a few local Finnish families with such ancestral names as Kukkola, Koski, and Wirkkala who were meeting together in the 1950's for worship services conducted in Finnish. Since many of the younger and married-in family members were not fluent in Finnish, some of the mothers and wives began praying for a way for their families to receive teaching of God’s word in English. In 1956, the Lord provided for them by placing them in touch with Mr. and Mrs. Walt and Elaine Forberg, who had recently moved to the area from Longview, Washington. They agreed to start a Bible study in the area. At first, the group met mid-week at the old American Legion Hall in Deep River.

 

Other families joined the core group, and in the late 1950's they decided to meet on Sunday mornings at the Rosburg Community Hall, identifying themselves as the Rosburg Bible Church. During this formative time, Mr. Forberg laid a good foundation of solid Bible teaching. Mrs. Forberg freely shared her musical talents on the piano and accordion.

 

Throughout the 1960's, the Lord led the church members to add an abundance of ministries, besides Sunday school and church, to reach out to the community. These included Vacation Bible School in the summer, weekly Joy Clubs for children during the school year, mid-week prayer and Bible studies, youth group activities, and a Bible camp in the Elochoman Valley.

 

By now, the Forbergs were comfortably settled in a home in Grays River at what is now 107 Loop Rd. They generously offered to convert part of their house into a meeting place for the church. In 1967, the church initiated a building fund for that purpose. When finished, the newly renovated building was called Valley Bible Chapel.

 

During the 1970's and 1980's the Lord provided a succession of pastors to shepherd His people. When, in 1972, the Forbergs moved to England to help with mission work, Robert and Jan Hager stepped into the pastorate. Robert was a graduate of Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada, and Jan, being a native daughter of the area, already had close ties to Valley Bible folk.

 

When the Hager family moved, some friends from Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Oregon filled in, on and off, to provide leadership for the congregation and work crews to make improvements to the building. It was from among these Lewis and Clark Bible friends, that Jim and Evelyn Roberts came next to live and minister in the area. Besides preaching on Sundays, Jim was known to reach out to various community members whose alcoholism was making life tough for their families. Then the Roberts family, too, was obliged to move away.

 

The Lord next provided for the Valley Bible congregation by bringing Scott and Connie Mitchell to provide leadership. Scott was appreciated for this accomplished vocalist skills, his instruction in Christian living, and his sincere friendliness that drew people into the church.

 

When Scott and Connie moved on to take position at Prairie Bible Institute, Connie‘s brother, Rick Ballif, agreed to pastor the church. Rick and his wife, Kelli, arrived here in 1983 from Aloha, Oregon. Rick had recently completed courses of study at both Capernwray Bible School near the Lake District in England and the aforementioned Prairie Bible Institute. Valley Bible Church members have been blessed that Rick and Kelli have called this area their home from that day until the present.

 

As a result of his conservative Bible school training, it is not surprising Pastor Rick draws material for his sermons from many past and present Bible commentators as well as an inductive Bible Study method which makes for rich and deep teaching of God’s Word. At the same time, his informal style of preaching and approachable personality, invite feedback and ongoing conversations about the truths of Scripture. 

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During the 1990's, the Lord added people to the congregation until the church began to feel crowded. The elders established a building fund and actively began planning a remodel. However, the existing building and property had issues that even remodeling could not solve. Furthermore, purchasing property and building a new structure seemed out of the question.

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The Lord miraculously provided a solution from an unexpected source. Another church in the area, The Family Worship Center, disbanded and gave their prepped building site to the Valley Bible congregation. With 14 acres of land, water, septic and power already in place it became clear that the Lord was leading the church to build. Valley Bible was not lacking in skilled workers in various trades and most of the construction was accomplished in-house in just over a year with no debt...truly a work of God.

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In June 2004, the church members held a ground-breaking ceremony at the new building site at 4723 State Route 4 W. Rosburg, Washington. In October 2005, they were pleased to host a dedication service in the new structure.

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It is interesting to note, that until more recent years, many of the people serving this church received little or no compensation for their ministry here. Instead, they had to rely on other employment or the income of a spouse to make ends meet.

 

The members at Valley Bible Church are indebted to these people for their considerable sacrifices of time and resources for the work of behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their giving attitude is summed up in 2 Corinthian‘s 8:9 which reads:

 

“For you know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich. “

 

We are truly blessed.

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Written by Bekalyn Zimmerman