OUR DNA

We exist to simply love God, love people, and serve both. Our passion is to make Christ-like disciples, locally and globally. Our mission is to reflect the love of Christ and spread the Gospel to all nations - starting with Lewis County - until Christ returns.


We are a missional church. Our staff is committed to helping you discover your unique calling and develop your unique gifts for the Kingdom of God. Finding a meaningful place of service is one key to your own spiritual formation. 


We also value gathering together to worship the one true God who alone is worthy of our praise. We do this through singing, hearing the teaching of His Word, and serving one another. 


We are a community within a community. Core Groups is vital to the spiritual formation of our church family. Depth of community is found in small group gatherings where we can be vulnerable, pray for each other, and study Scripture - together. We want to journey through life together - the good, the bad, and especially the ugly - because we believe in redemption and restoration. We were created for community.


Last but not least, we are a family of families. No family is perfect. We all come with our own brokenness and stories. Regardless of where you are from, what your political views are, or what you do for a living; whether you are single, married, divorced, widowed; whether you have small children, teenagers, adult children, or grandchildren; YOU BELONG HERE. 


Centralia Church of the Nazarene is associated with the Lewis County Ministry Network and the Washington Pacific District Church of the Nazarene.

OUR HISTORY

The Centralia Church of the Nazarene recently celebrated its 90th birthday in the summer of 2013.


In 1920-21, a small group of believers began to meet in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Babb of Galvin. The Church of the Nazarene was first organized in Centralia by Rev. Hunt in 1922. The initial group grew, moving from one rental hall to another, until the congregation built its first permanent worship facility at 811 N. Tower Avenue. The church received its official charter as a Church of the Nazarene in 1923 under the leadership of D. P. Henry, the first official Nazarene pastor of the infant congregation.


In 1944, the church moved to the old Poundstone home on Locust and Silver and, finally, in 1960, they moved to the present location at 1119 W. First Street in Centralia. At the dedication, the members were so thrilled with their new church facilities that they could scarcely imagine that a larger building would ever be necessary. 


Church membership continued to grow and in 1980, under the leadership of Rev. Earl Wheeler, the church added 12,000 square feet of educational space. The 'Outreach Center' enabled the church to minister more effectively with a full-sized gymnasium, 14 additional classrooms, a chapel and expanded kitchen.


Beginning in 1998 and continuing through 2002, Centralia Church of the Nazarene began implementing some long range plans for the facility to meet the needs of the growing congregation. Under Rev. Mark Goodwin's leadership, the church received a much needed 'facelift' including new roofs, renovation of the chapel, foyer and office wing, expansion of the lower lot, installation of sidewalks and exterior lighting, and much more. The beautiful Cross Tower, a landmark of Centralia Nazarene, was constructed in 1999; paid in full by individual donors.


Down through its 94 years of ministry, Centralia Church of the Nazarene has been served by a total of 20 pastors. These include D. P. Henry (1923-24, 1927-28), Ralph Gray (1925-26), Guy McShane (1929-31), Samuel Linge (1932), Milo Arnold (1933-36), Hollis Grubb (1936-38), L. Wesley Johnson (1939-42), Newton Kendal (1943), Ira True (1944-47), Paul Thoreen (1948-50), Harold Little (1951-53), Allen Fisher (1954-57), J. C. Pultz (1958-64), Bob Denham (1964-73), Earl Wheeler (1974-85), James Spruce (1986-91), Jeff Baughman (1991-92), Mark Goodwin (1993-2003), Rick Ryding (2003-11), and David Bach (2012-present).