Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What denomination is Lake Spokane Community Church?

A: We do not belong to any denomination. We are an independent evangelical church that holds to the historic Christian faith. We emphasize the basics of the Christian faith, salvation through Jesus Christ alone, worship, prayer, living with integrity, loving our neighbor, and reaching out into the world to bring people to Jesus. We have members from many different church backgrounds. We are affiliated with Village Missions.

Q: What is Village Missions and what is our relationship to it?

A: Village Missions is a ministry that provides pastors to churches especially in rural areas. Their motto is “keeping country churches alive.” VM helped our church when we had no pastor and could not afford to pay a salary. Now our church is self-supporting and gives back to VM to help other churches in need like we were. For more information go to: villagemissions.org.

Q: What is the purpose of Lake Spokane Community Church and what does it mean?

A: Our purpose is to “magnify God by presenting Christ to all persons, connecting with them,and teaching them, so that they may serve in the church and share Christ with others.”

In other words, we are here to honor and glorify God by expressing praise in our worship services, connecting with each other as a spiritual family, loving one another, being taught the truths of the Bible and living by them, serving in His church and by telling others in our community and around the world about Jesus.

Q: How did this church begin?

A: We began as a Bible study in the home of Naomi McDonald, just across the highway. In September, 1972 the Community Center was built and the Bible study organized as a church and began meeting there. For the first three years various visiting pastors preached for one or more weeks on Sundays. Some stayed for many months, such as A. Vincent Carr, who pastored until December 1974. His health required him to quit at that time. In June of 1975 Bob and Ruth Silver came, and, supported by Village Missions, were the first full time pastors the church had. Average attendance that year was about 25 each Sunday.

Q: How do you become a member of Lake Spokane Community Church?

A: To be a member you must be a baptized believer in Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and agree with our Statement of Belief. Each prospective member meets with the Board of Deacons who will ask him or her to describe how they came to faith in Jesus as their Saviour and to affirm their agreement with our beliefs. Upon this profession the Deacons will vote to receive the prospect into membership.

Q: Why is it important to be involved with a church?

A: We believe that God established churches so that those who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ can have a place to grow in their faith, to worship together, to encourage and help each other, and by inviting others to follow Jesus. A person can try to follow Jesus on his own, but it is better together. In fact, God wants us to connect with each other and with Him. A casual involvement or no involvement with a church will harm a person’s spiritual life. Usually it means less encouragement, less teaching, less accountability, less consistency, less purposefulness. We believe God wants us to be active, not just spectators. God wants to be our priority, not just a sometime interest.

Q: How are decisions made at Lake Spokane Community Church?

A: Every year this church elects a Board of Deacons which has the spiritual and overall oversight of the church. Major decisions are made by a vote of the members such as hiring a pastor, annual budget, building, etc. Other church officers are also elected each year for various duties in the Church.

Q: Where did the Bible come from?

A: The Bible is a collection of 66 distinct writings, or books. The first 5 books were written by Moses, probably about 1600 BC. He was the leader of the Hebrew people, now known as the Jews. They record that God chose the Hebrews for a special purpose, to bring a Saviour into the world and to spread the word of God to all people on earth. The remaining books of the Old Testament, the first 39 books of the Bible, include history of the Hebrews, Hebrew prophets, poetry, wisdom and songs. The Hebrews believed, and we believe, that God caused these records to be written to tell all people what God is like and what He wants from us.

The promised Saviour, Jesus, was born, in about 4 BC, He began to teach and heal. And, finally, He died, was crucified on a cross, as He predicted, to take away the sins of the world. On the third day He came back to life and commissioned His followers to tell the world about Him. The last 27 books, called the New Testament, are the story of Jesus’ life, and His teachings, and the further teachings of His immediate followers, called the apostles. Christians also believe that these books are God-inspired and given to all people so we can believe in Jesus and know how to follow Him.

Q: Why do we believe the Bible?

A: Whole books have been written on this subject. But, briefly, we believe the Bible because a) we believe it explains the human condition better than any other writings ever written. b) its manuscripts and the integrity of its content are well established by scholars to be essentially accurate and unchanged and uncorrupted over the centuries. c) it contains hundreds of prophecies that have come true years or often centuries later, evidence that God was behind the writing of the Bible. d) its moral code and world view have led to a more humane and civilized and prosperous life wherever it has been believed and followed. e) we have found when its truths are applied in our own lives it works.

Some people will say that no intelligent person can believe that the miracles of the Bible actually happened because miracles are impossible. This is actually circular reasoning and not an intelligent argument. Many great scientists have believed the Bible including Isaac Newton, Blaise Pascal, Michael Faraday. To believe in science and in the Bible you simply must believe that God created the laws of science, and that He can override those laws on occasion, if He chooses. Most Christians believe firmly in both. If God is God miracles are possible.