West Side United Protestant Church shares a unique history with its location. Richland, Washington was a small rural town that was taken over in 1942 by the U. S. government. It was to become the bedroom community for the Hanford Project, which was established to produce (in secret) plutonium for atomic bombs to win World War II. Thousands of people came for jobs from all around the country. Because the hot, dry, dusty, windy desert was not what people expected in the “evergreen” state, the government did its best to make people happy and content so they would stay. Well built, well maintained houses sprang up along with movie theaters, schools, stores, and churches—one Catholic and one Protestant (Methodist based).
A group of families living around Marcus Whitman School determined that they would like their own church and they began meeting at the school as a congregation in 1948. A seminary student led worship. In 1949 the church was chartered with 79 people and a pastor was called. The government provided property on the western edge of the city and the people promptly dedicated that land to God and the furtherance of His Kingdom. The church would be United Protestant with a Presbyterian form of government. That meant that while the senior pastor would be Presbyterian, a person could join the church while maintaining their affiliation to another denomination. This holds true today.Bake sales and other money making activities were conducted to raise money for a church building. This was accomplished in 1952. That church building is still a vital part of West Side. The sanctuary has been turned around, added to, remodeled and outgrown. A church on the other side of our parking lot was purchased when the congregation moved to another location. That building, West Side South, was refurbished and is our current place of worship. The sanctuary of the first building, West Side North, is now used as a multi purpose room for Sunday school, meetings, dinners, etc. A third building, West Side Center, which is about two blocks north, houses a kitchen, a gymnasium and a large multipurpose area that is used for church events and rented by community groups.
Meanwhile, Richland continued as a government town until 1957. The Cold War kept the Hanford site in business. But plutonium production was ended in 1987 and nuclear power had proven to not be a viable industry here. Richland abandoned its Atomic City image and embraced diversity in business and industry. However, a half-century plus later, Hanford is still dealing with its atomic past. Nuclear waste management and cleanup currently provides the pay checks for many residents.
West Side United Protestant Church has been in existence since 1949. During those years we have been blessed with many men and women of God who have embraced that initial church dedication, “to God and the furtherance of His Kingdom”, as their vision for leading us. Forty nine of those subsequent years are represented by only three senior pastorates: Dr. Homer Goddard (13 years), Dr .John Zimmerman (16 years), and Dr. Robert Paul (20 years). Their legacy has made us the congregation that we are today: dedicated to and trained in lay ministry, grounded in the Word of God, excited about missions, and passionate about building faith our young people. Our letterhead and newspaper advertisement proclaim: “equipping God’s people for work in His service.”
To understand and appreciate us is to know our pastors:
The Homer Goddard years, 1954 to 1967. Homer, born in Hollywood, California, received early training at Hollywood Presbyterian Church by volunteering during summers. He attended Princeton Seminary on a scholarship. His first pastorate was in Walnut Creek, California. That congregation, recognizing his potential, sent him to Scotland to work on a doctorate. He returned to Walnut Creek, from which he was called to South America. From there West Side enticed him to Richland. Homer’s approach to furthering the Kingdom of God was to train the laity. He was someone who enjoyed people and interacting with them. He was able to make the kind of relationships that were lasting, encouraging and sincere to the point of being able to be direct and corrective if necessary. Using Jesus’ example, he trained disciples and then sent them out to train others. Interviewing some of these gentlemen who had been his students revived their memories of being in offices, basement dens, and living rooms on a weekly basis for study in theological books and teacher training for a year’s time. These men were then given responsibilities to teach Bible classes, sponsor junior high or high school fellowships, or superintend Sunday school. Homer emphasized theological training and then taught them to trust God to provide the knitty-gritty of their jobs. Many of these men are still active in leadership positions of our church. He was so successful in developing disciples that when he left, it was decided that we did not need a traditional interim pastor, but only someone to satisfy the Presbytery need for an ordained pastor to moderate Session. A local pastor filled the bill.
Homer also started West Side on its passion for mission. He brought missionaries to our doors who challenged us to think and see beyond our church walls. A tradition of strong giving for missions was begun and continues today. We have always supported missionaries of our choice, those with whom we have a personal relationship. This has led us to be a bit of a rebel within Presbyterian circles since we don’t entrust all our funds to the denominational missions.
Homer also started, in 1961, our continuing investment in nurturing and enabling young people (Summer Staff/Trainees) to take their place as future leaders in the church. The opportunity is here to mention some of our young people who have entered full time Christian work over the last forty some years. Some have grown up at West Side and become pastors: Rick Irish, Ken Finley, Rich Zimmerman, Dave Warner, Jim Harbour, Doug Waltar, and Greg Thompson. Two men, Scott Johnson and Joel Kramer, shared childhood at West Side and have since founded New Hope Ministries, Brigham City, Utah, to reach Mormons with the truth of Jesus Christ through videos/DVDs. Karla Poulter and Terry Sullivan separately became Wycliffe Bible Translators while serving at West Side. Many young people who have served as Summer Staff/Trainees have gone into the pastorate or mission service: Brian Grassley, Steve Hayner, Al DeHaven, Bruce Heiple, Kathy Cranston, Willy Van Krieken, Gerald Nash, Paul Ulrickson, Paul Parsons, Mark Cox, John Davidson, Nancy Stajduhar, Janine Moriarty, Greg Elhart, Alan Purtill, Kim Cooper, Jeremy Watson, Rachel Grassley, Will Ackles, and Margie Gilchrist. Regretfully, some names have perhaps been lost. Our current youth interim directors, Jake Shupe and Michelle Jones, are fine examples of having been nurtured and trained at West Side and then returning to nurture and train a next generation.
Isabelle, Homer’s wife, was his partner in ministry. She founded a college-aged/career group, Seekers, based on the scripture, “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and these things will be added unto you.” Faith building and leadership training were accomplished while giving wonderful fellowship opportunities. This group launched some future pastors and many lay leaders for West Side and other churches. Isabelle’s vision was for God’s young people going two by two all over the world. She was teased about this, but it also became true in many cases. Her legacy is as lasting at Homer’s.
Isabelle also started West Side Preschool, which has flourished and been one of the doors by which people have entered to become members of our church. It is a co-op situation where parents are required to be helpers on a regular basis. This is a successful outreach to our community and has benefited young families through interaction with the Christian staff. These teachers give informal child rearing training and model parenting skills on a daily basis. West Side church donates the usage of the rooms, equipment, custodial care, and utilities. The preschool in turn has enhanced the facilities and this has benefited our ministries to young children.
Women’s ministry was accomplished through four circles that were started under the umbrella of Women’s Association. In subsequent years, the umbrella folded, but the circles continued until present time, diminishing to two because of deaths, leaving area, etc. Purposes of the circles were for study, service to church and missions, and fellowship. Life long friendships were formed while washing dishes. Fewer dishes are washed these days, but the caring for one another has never diminished.
Following his time at West Side, Homer went to Fresno, California, to serve as pastor. He then taught at Fuller Seminary for several years, where a Chair of Lay Ministry is named for him. Following retirement, he and Isabelle returned to Richland, where they were welcomed with open arms, and Session named Homer as Pastor Emeritus. Both are no longer living.
John Zimmerman years, 1968 to 1984. John was pastor of a church in Naches, Washington. He had been trained at Princeton Seminary. During his first sermon he displayed a pair of Homer’s shoes and proclaimed that he could never fill them. But John had his own able shoes. He took his inherited congregation and saw a vision of a Biblically literate church. Introducing the Bethel study series, he taught men and women for two year sessions. These lay teachers went on to teach the congregation in a second wave of study. The Old and New Testaments came alive and gave the whole of God’s plan.
Early in his ministry John was invited by a women’s group that had been meeting for Bible study in a home. They needed help in understanding Isaiah. He was delighted with this ready made group, and the Women’s Wednesday Morning Bible Study was started. It still meets, but has broadened itself to include men. He then started an early morning Bible study on Thursdays for men who wanted Biblical knowledge but had a work schedule to meet. That group also still meets, but has, likewise, broadened itself to include women.
Building on our lay ministry strengths, and our Biblical understanding of loving others, John introduced Stephen Ministry to the congregation. Many lay people took the training and did, indeed, serve others, making a difference in troubled lives.
The Meadow Springs Presbyterian Church was initiated by John. This church serves a community to our south, across the river. Two West Side members served on the Presbytery committee and some of our members moved over to create the new congregation.
West Side Center was purchased during John’s tenure. It had been a grocery store and then a restaurant. He could see that its location made it a feasible addition to our facilities and a good base for outreach to the neighborhood. Bonds were sold. The building was purchased and then remodeled with a gymnasium on one side. It has housed the West Side Boy Scout Troop (formed in 1955) every Monday night. It has been used as a Chinese Church, and a Ukraine Church. It has seen wedding receptions, all church dinners, weekly Pathfinder dinners, and countless other activities. Rental fees from community groups pay for the maintenance of the building.
John’s wife, Martha, was mostly a behind-the-scenes sort of person, but she definitely had a ministry. She joked upon occasions that she could never go to the grocery store for under two hours, as she would be called upon to listen and minister to those she would invariably meet while shopping the aisles. It was her gift and example to us all. She came into her own and had an impact on our families when she conducted a study of the festivals in the Old Testament while writing a book. She constructed lesson plans, and taught families the meaning of these festivals and how they could point our children to God. These were fun times when we would celebrate as a church family and rich traditions were started.
Because investing in young people was deemed as very important, the summer training of young people was expanded. More trainees were taught leadership skills while interacting and teaching our children. These were special times for our children as relationships were built and also special times for the trainees as they were encouraged, and challenged while building their faith and trust in God.
John was also a mentor for a member, Sue Hinkle, who felt called to work with children. He laid out a course of study, guided her, encouraged her and enabled her to be Director of Christian Education. She still is very active in ministry for children, creating the Vacation Bible School program last year. As she describes it, God dictated and she wrote. Investing time and resources in individuals is a continuing tenet for our church.
He led some groups to Israel and Europe to increase and strengthen Bible knowledge both during and after his time at West Side. Upon leaving our church, he went to Miami, Florida and then took a teaching position at Regent College. He had a significant mission to Africa as well. He is now retired, but definitely not inactive.
Paul Parsons, a Youth Pastor during John Zimmerman’s years, started youth deputation teams to go out to learn and serve. Since that time there has been at least one deputation trip each year to such places as: Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Seattle, Mississippi, Alaska, San Francisco, Guatemala, Oakland, Scotland, Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island, and this year, New Orleans. These trips are often pivotal in the Christian growth of our young people.
Bob Paul years, 1985 to 2005. By coincidence, Bob had grown up in Richland, so no one had to prepare him for the desert. He had gone to Fuller Seminary, served at Fresno, California, and then Rose Hill in Seattle. Bob is a gifted preacher/teacher proclaiming God’s Word in an intellectual but understandable manner.
Bob Paul continued the practice of lay ministry by encouraging anyone who wanted to start a ministry project. During this time members of the congregation started:
Four missions, while not under the West Side umbrella, were started by West Side members and are heavily supported by West Side.
Bob was the visionary for and founder of Alongside Ministry, whose purpose is to form partnerships with churches “over there.” Currently there are missionaries in Albania, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, and Scotland. West Side members have been supporters of Alongside and have served on deputation teams to some locations.
During his time at West Side, Bob started and completed his doctorate—not an easy task while also being a president of a mission organization and full time pastor. Bob left West Side when he was called by Medical Ambassadors International to be their President.
While the role of pastor’s wives has changed and they are no longer expected to share their spouse’s vocation, Suzi Paul was a valued and gifted member of the congregation. She was very involved in reviving our Women’s Ministry and chaired the Christian Family Ministry committee while serving as Elder.
Thank you for reading this far. It takes a lot of words to cover fifty plus years. You are obviously interested in our church or you would have given up before now. This has been, at best, a thumbnail sketch of a congregation over many years. The many associate pastors, youth pastors, directors of youth and children have not been touched on. They have added much to our rich past, made us who we are, and are part of our exciting present and future. We know that we are in God’s hands as we await our next chapter. Until then we are blessed with Dr. Will Eisenhower as our interim pastor. He is God’s gift to us in this time of preparation for a new senior pastor and possibly a new direction for our congregation. It is clear that Will’s legacy to us will include his contagious conviction of the absolute love and goodness of God.
It has been made clear that we are a reflection of the pastors who have served God by leading, teaching, loving and guiding us. A sentence in a very early paragraph bears repeating—“Their legacy has made us the congregation that we are today—dedicated to and trained in lay ministry, grounded in the Word of God, excited about missions, and passionate about building faith in our young people.”
West Side is a church which regularly evaluates itself. In 2001, a member of our congregation, Bob Jackson, while serving on the Staff Committee did an extensive study of where our money was spent and how our hands and feet were used in ministry. He counted dollars, time spent and bodies involved of both paid staff and laity. He determined that 50,000 volunteer hours had been given by unpaid congregation members doing 800 different jobs. Since a full-time worker puts in 2.000 hours in a year’s time, we can translate those volunteer hours into 25 full-time employees.
In that same study, Bob found that 84% of our resources were spent in Children and Youth ministries and Celebrations (worship). That was definitely a happy find, but deficiencies were shown in the areas of adult ministries, fellowship, care, and outreach/evangelism. These areas were addressed with the calling of Faye Serene as Associate Pastor for Adult Ministries, and while no formal study has been made, we feel our ministries are much better balanced at this time.
We have definitely not been an idle congregation during this interim time. In fact two new outreach/mission projects have been initiated in 2006:
We continue our strong giving to Missions. God certainly used Homer Goddard to imprint that Biblical response to the love of God and to the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ within us. The year after Homer left, West Side gave an all time high of 65% of the total Operating and Benevolence costs. Specifically, the O & B costs were $44,963 and $29,103 were contributed by Session to benevolences. One reason for that jump in giving was because we did not have a pastor’s salary to pay. However, it shows that when we have money available, we chose to give it away “to the furtherance of His Kingdom.” Following is a summary chart of Session and individual giving (as a percentage of O & B) over the years:
| Minister | Dates | Benevolence Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Homer Goddard | 1955–1958 | 20–65% |
| John Zimmerman | 1969–1984 | 17–40% |
| Bob Paul | 1985–2005 | 29–55% |
In 1975 Session fixed a percentage (10%) of O & B costs that would go to Mission Council to distribute to appropriate ministries. In reality, that year, O & B costs were $106,728, but $12,176 was given to missions showing an 11% giving rate. And during that year, Session permitted individuals to contribute money directly to missions of their choice through the church. They gave $5,453 and when this was added to Session contributions we had a grand total of 17% contribution to missions. In 2005 our ratio was 32%. We are obviously a church on its knees when managing our money.
In closing, it seems helpful to quote what an associate pastor said of us when accepting a call to another church: