Sixtieth Anniversary

The sixtieth anniversary gathering of Glenwood Community Church took place the evening of June 9, 1996 at the partially completed structure at 12201 N.E. 72nd Avenue. Lawn chairs were arrayed in the multipurpose room, which will seat some 750.

David Mills was present as a living link to the first meeting on June 14, 1936, when Al and Ruth Wallace came from Portland to help start the Sunday School. He is the son of Jocie Mills, an original member who died last month at 100 years of age. "I go way back, Mr. Mills said. Visiting with Paul Jackson earlier in the week, Mills had said he is aware of several other churches in the Vancouver area that were started through the work of this couple.

Frank Wannamaker was also present with his wife Millie. Frank was the building program chairman for the construction job completed in the 1950s at the building on 49th. "What has always impressed me," Pastor Jackson said, "is that Frank and Millie invested so much in that first facility, and it was Millie who stood up at one of our key meetings when we were deciding what to do. She stood up, and she said 'if God can do all of this with six families, just think what God can do with all of us.' A tremendous moment —for someone to invest so much, and yet still have the vision to move on."

The sacrifices others have made for the present building, as for the earlier one on 49th, caused Mary Paeth to realize that "I never want to take lightly that which cost others great sacrifice."

"I hope that as time goes on," she concluded, "we remember that about all the things we do here. Whether it is coming to choir practice or teaching Vacation Bible School, it's costing somebody to do that."

Mini News, 7/96. Copyright © Glenwood Community Church.