Uplook - May 24, 2025
Happy Memorial Day Weekend,
It is a beautiful day and I trust most or all of you are trying to take advantage of getting outside. Before I take that opportunity myself, I wanted to share a few words about those who have both fought for this faith but also for our country and the freedom we still enjoy to worship according to the dictates of our conscience.
The founding pastor or our congregation was Rev. Allen Crabtree. He was in the Army, stationed at Fort Ward and found his way to s small mission hall in Port Townsend where when reading the Bible felt led to go out by himself and pray. He knelt beside an old stump and turned his face toward God and his back on sin. He was sanctified later and soon found his way in to an Apostolic Faith tent meeting in Seattle where he received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. For decades he was a minister and evangelist in our organization and finished his pastoral ministry here in Seattle.
One of the founding elders of our Seattle Congregation was Lori's maternal grandfather. His name was Bro Raymond Smith although he was often referred to as "Colonel Smith" and you can see him in an early photo of our church on the second-floor landing. He was saved in the early 1920's and later became an officer in the Army Corp of Engineers, later serving in Lebanon, North Africa, China, India, Germany, and Iran. He went with Bro. Crabtree in the late 1950's to talk to the General Overseer at that time, Rev. Raymond Crawford about starting a church in Seattle.
Another of those earlier pioneers in Seattle was Bro. Don Fisher. He and his wife Louise had come in contact with the Apostolic Faith in Portland when after the loss of a child one of the ministers reached out in comfort. Because of their loss he was allowed to serve his mandatory military service in the Coast Guard rather than be deployed overseas. He was stationed in Seattle and served as the adult Sunday school teacher and leader of the senior group called the "Pillars" for many years.
Of course there are many names which come to mind, most who have gone to be with the Lord but I'd like to honor several who are still with us. Many of you remember Bro. Larry Friesen, who was pastor here for 7 years before our arrival. He faithfully served in the Navy and later as a minister and pastor, finishing his pastoral ministry here in Seattle and is now retired in Yakima. And in our congregation, we enjoy the warm smile, testimony, and willing heart of our Bro. Bob Baars who served faithfully in the Navy. And finally, I want to honor the oldest living member of our congregation, Bro. Albert (Sonny) Jackson who was a US Marine and also served faithfully for many years as our head usher. I spoke with him by phone earlier today and he reminded me that later this year by God's grace he will celebrate his 99th birthday. I assured him of our prayers and thanked him for his faithful service both for our country and for our church.
On this weekend, may we remember and honor these who have gone before us faithfully serving the Lord and our country.
Housekeeping Notes
Holiday Schedule: We will only be having Sunday school and Morning Worship tomorrow with no evening services.
Ordinance Services: Next Sunday evening we will celebrate the Lord's Supper and Washing of the Disciples Feet.
Camp registrations: Please remember to register for Portland Camp meeting and / or Youth Camp as soon as possible.
YC Car Washes: The first Youth Camp car wash will be held next Saturday, May 31. Please see Bro. Alex for details. The next car wash will be held June 21.
God bless,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
It is a beautiful day and I trust most or all of you are trying to take advantage of getting outside. Before I take that opportunity myself, I wanted to share a few words about those who have both fought for this faith but also for our country and the freedom we still enjoy to worship according to the dictates of our conscience.
The founding pastor or our congregation was Rev. Allen Crabtree. He was in the Army, stationed at Fort Ward and found his way to s small mission hall in Port Townsend where when reading the Bible felt led to go out by himself and pray. He knelt beside an old stump and turned his face toward God and his back on sin. He was sanctified later and soon found his way in to an Apostolic Faith tent meeting in Seattle where he received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. For decades he was a minister and evangelist in our organization and finished his pastoral ministry here in Seattle.
One of the founding elders of our Seattle Congregation was Lori's maternal grandfather. His name was Bro Raymond Smith although he was often referred to as "Colonel Smith" and you can see him in an early photo of our church on the second-floor landing. He was saved in the early 1920's and later became an officer in the Army Corp of Engineers, later serving in Lebanon, North Africa, China, India, Germany, and Iran. He went with Bro. Crabtree in the late 1950's to talk to the General Overseer at that time, Rev. Raymond Crawford about starting a church in Seattle.
Another of those earlier pioneers in Seattle was Bro. Don Fisher. He and his wife Louise had come in contact with the Apostolic Faith in Portland when after the loss of a child one of the ministers reached out in comfort. Because of their loss he was allowed to serve his mandatory military service in the Coast Guard rather than be deployed overseas. He was stationed in Seattle and served as the adult Sunday school teacher and leader of the senior group called the "Pillars" for many years.
Of course there are many names which come to mind, most who have gone to be with the Lord but I'd like to honor several who are still with us. Many of you remember Bro. Larry Friesen, who was pastor here for 7 years before our arrival. He faithfully served in the Navy and later as a minister and pastor, finishing his pastoral ministry here in Seattle and is now retired in Yakima. And in our congregation, we enjoy the warm smile, testimony, and willing heart of our Bro. Bob Baars who served faithfully in the Navy. And finally, I want to honor the oldest living member of our congregation, Bro. Albert (Sonny) Jackson who was a US Marine and also served faithfully for many years as our head usher. I spoke with him by phone earlier today and he reminded me that later this year by God's grace he will celebrate his 99th birthday. I assured him of our prayers and thanked him for his faithful service both for our country and for our church.
On this weekend, may we remember and honor these who have gone before us faithfully serving the Lord and our country.
Housekeeping Notes
Holiday Schedule: We will only be having Sunday school and Morning Worship tomorrow with no evening services.
Ordinance Services: Next Sunday evening we will celebrate the Lord's Supper and Washing of the Disciples Feet.
Camp registrations: Please remember to register for Portland Camp meeting and / or Youth Camp as soon as possible.
YC Car Washes: The first Youth Camp car wash will be held next Saturday, May 31. Please see Bro. Alex for details. The next car wash will be held June 21.
God bless,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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