The story of Camano Chapel began in the late 1940’s when a group of people felt the need for a community church to be built. Two acres of land was purchased and building began in 1949 at the present sight of the original Chapel. Clarence Dirks had played football for the Washington Huskies and was a writer for the Seattle P.I. The articles he wrote about this community building a church inspired people to send donations.
In 1951 the church was completed and the leaders asked Billy Graham, who was in Seattle at the time for a crusade, to come and dedicate their new church. Thousands gathered for the dedication and many came to know Christ. An offering was given to Billy Graham but he, in turn, gave it back to the church and it was just enough to pay the final bills.
Five months later the church was in a lawsuit among its own people. Some felt the church was built for their denomination; others said it was built to be a community church. The whole controversy was destructive to the church, and for years only a very small group of people worshipped together. In 1967 the church was on the verge of closing its doors when they heard about a group called Village Missions. Village Missions would help pay the salary for a pastor so he could work full time reaching out to people. Village Missions was contacted and in August of 1967 Pastor John Duckworth and family came to Camano Chapel. But because of poor health he was force to leave the ministry in May 1968.
Village Missions then sent Pastor Bill and Gayle Wayland in June 1968. The church began to grow and God brought great blessing. In 1973 Jackson Hall was built for Sunday school classes. There were some who couldn’t understand why we were building such a big building. We would never fill it. That building now houses the pastoral and administrative offices. In 1980 the gymnasium was built so we could reach the youth of our community. In 1985 the Christian Education Building was begun. In 1992 the platform and rooms on the north side of the gym were added to facilitate the worship services, which had grown since the services had moved there in 1983.
Pastor Bill and Gayle Wayland left Camano Chapel in 1996 to begin a ministry of encouragement to Village Missions Pastors. Pastor Kris and Joyce Kramer arrived in early 1997 and Camano Chapel continues to grow. In 2003 Island County approved the site plan for future expansion, the most immediate need being increased classroom space for both Sunday and midweek ministry use; we hope to begin construction in 2008. Long-range plans include new multi-purpose meeting and office administrative space, as well as a new worship center.
The story of Camano Chapel will never end until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. Until then, we desire to continue to reach our community by being a “Harbor of Hope ... Shining Light to the World.” |
