Two Colfax churches approve merger plan

A five-month process to merge two churches in Colfax was approved Sunday at official membership meetings of both congregations. The Community Bible Church and the Catalyst Church will merge. The Catalyst Church on S. Hillcrest will serve as the main campus for the present while a long-range strategy for facilities is developed, according to Bill Reynolds, pastor of the Catalyst Church.

“We’re leveraging the strengths of both churches toward the future,” Pastor Reynolds said of the day’s proceedings.

The Community Bible Church was founded in 1971 and built at its present site on Almota Road, across from Whitman Hospital and Medical Center in 1974. Members of Community Bible came from the Christian Church which was located on Mill Street in Colfax.

The church at the time marked a new chapter with cedar planking and members of the newly formed church taking an active role in its construction.

Catalyst Church, formerly known as Assembly of God, was founded after the original Full Gospel Assembly, located on the corner of S. Main and Wawawai Streets, was razed as part of the re-alignment of Highway 195. Fireman’s Memorial Park is now located at the former Full Gospel site.

Led by Pastor Reynolds since 2003, Catalyst Church is part of the Northwest Ministry Network of Assemblies of God, based in Snoqualmie, and the General Council of Assemblies of God, based in Springfield, Mo.

The possibility of a merger was first broached in November of last year. The boards of the two churches met to open discussion and then formed a task force with representatives of both congregations to study the possibility.

Pastor Kenneth McNaughton, who has headed Community Bible since 2008, said it was amazing how similar both congregations are in belief and ministry.

“Throughout our prayer and discussions, I could hear the words of the first century apostles: ‘It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us,’” McNaughton said.

He plans to work on continuing development of a chaplaincy program for first responders. He has been working with the leaders of fire and law enforcement groups and with Sheriff’s Chaplain Ron McMurray.

McNaughton served as a captain for the Colfax fire department before being called by the church. He remained a member of the volunteers and continues to work shifts on the department when needed.

A celebration service to commemorate the merger will be May 19 at the Catalyst Church with a catered lunch to follow.