Pastor Tim, Christie and children
Our Story
We began as a church plant meeting in places like granges and hotels. After a few years of renting places, our small group, along with our sending church, decided to purchase a more permanent location on South Gold Street. The building was most recently used as a chiropractor office and was not much of a church building. The bathrooms were located in the sanctuary. The carpet was old and worn. The building was rather musty - but it was ours, all 5 parking spots and the 1,600 square foot building (You're right, it wasn't much). Looking back on those days it was nothing short of a miracle that people came to church and stuck around. We praise the Lord as He is the one who builds His church - in spite of the obstacles.
In 2010 we chartered the church and decided to remodel the building to make every square foot count. As the church grew, we went to two morning services and filled the building up again. It became obvious that it was time to relocate and God opened the door. In 2014, we moved to our current location and have been remodeling and building ever since. It took 3 1/2 years, but we built our current sanctuary debt free and went back to one morning worship service the first Sunday of 2018. We'd love for you to come be a part of the story. We would count it a privilege to have you be our guest this Sunday.
Getting To Know Pastor Tim
Pastor Tim Shellenberger grew up on a farm in eastern Washington. He graduated from Heartland Baptist Bible College in 2000. One week after graduation, he married Christie and they moved back to their home state of Washington, where he served eight years as the Associate Pastor of the Woodin Valley Baptist Church. In 2006, he earned his Masters in Business Administration through Liberty University. In 2009, the Lord called Pastor Tim to plant a church in Centralia under the leadership of the Olympia Bible Baptist Church. He moved here with that God-given call and one year later the Centralia Bible Baptist was chartered on May 3, 2010. Pastor Tim and Christie have three incredible boys and a little lady. They love ministering here in southwest Washington where they not only get to serve with amazing people in a great community but they also get to bike, hike, kayak and dig clams together!
What’s in the name Baptist?
This church is a Baptist church by conviction and principle, not by affiliation. This means that we believe the basic Bible teachings for which Baptists have historically stood. As Baptists, we believe the following: the Bible is our sole authority for all matters of faith and practice. The church should be autonomous or self-governing. The believer does not need a priest, other than Jesus Christ, to come boldly to God. Every Christian has equal access to God personally. God's Word gives us two ordinances for the church: baptism and the Lord's supper. Each person is individually responsible for his decision to accept Christ. The believer is eternally secure and cannot lose salvation. There are two biblical offices in the church: pastors and deacons. As Christians, we are to live a holy for the Lord in every aspect of our life.
What does it mean to be an independent church?
As an independent Baptist church, we are not affiliated with any particular Baptist denomination or ruling body. Because of this we can support our own missionaries, select our own leaders, and support institutions that believe as we believe. We get to work with thousands of incredible churches and ministries all across America and the world. In short, our church answers to the headship of Jesus Christ rather than a denominational body.
Do you have other questions?
If there's something we missed, just contact us, or ask someone when you arrive. Whether you're new to the area and looking for a church home, or if it's been a long time since you've attended church at all, we hope your first visit at Centralia Bible Baptist will be great! We hope you'll feel right at home from the very moment you step in the door!
We began as a church plant meeting in places like granges and hotels. After a few years of renting places, our small group, along with our sending church, decided to purchase a more permanent location on South Gold Street. The building was most recently used as a chiropractor office and was not much of a church building. The bathrooms were located in the sanctuary. The carpet was old and worn. The building was rather musty - but it was ours, all 5 parking spots and the 1,600 square foot building (You're right, it wasn't much). Looking back on those days it was nothing short of a miracle that people came to church and stuck around. We praise the Lord as He is the one who builds His church - in spite of the obstacles.
In 2010 we chartered the church and decided to remodel the building to make every square foot count. As the church grew, we went to two morning services and filled the building up again. It became obvious that it was time to relocate and God opened the door. In 2014, we moved to our current location and have been remodeling and building ever since. It took 3 1/2 years, but we built our current sanctuary debt free and went back to one morning worship service the first Sunday of 2018. We'd love for you to come be a part of the story. We would count it a privilege to have you be our guest this Sunday.
Getting To Know Pastor Tim
Pastor Tim Shellenberger grew up on a farm in eastern Washington. He graduated from Heartland Baptist Bible College in 2000. One week after graduation, he married Christie and they moved back to their home state of Washington, where he served eight years as the Associate Pastor of the Woodin Valley Baptist Church. In 2006, he earned his Masters in Business Administration through Liberty University. In 2009, the Lord called Pastor Tim to plant a church in Centralia under the leadership of the Olympia Bible Baptist Church. He moved here with that God-given call and one year later the Centralia Bible Baptist was chartered on May 3, 2010. Pastor Tim and Christie have three incredible boys and a little lady. They love ministering here in southwest Washington where they not only get to serve with amazing people in a great community but they also get to bike, hike, kayak and dig clams together!
What’s in the name Baptist?
This church is a Baptist church by conviction and principle, not by affiliation. This means that we believe the basic Bible teachings for which Baptists have historically stood. As Baptists, we believe the following: the Bible is our sole authority for all matters of faith and practice. The church should be autonomous or self-governing. The believer does not need a priest, other than Jesus Christ, to come boldly to God. Every Christian has equal access to God personally. God's Word gives us two ordinances for the church: baptism and the Lord's supper. Each person is individually responsible for his decision to accept Christ. The believer is eternally secure and cannot lose salvation. There are two biblical offices in the church: pastors and deacons. As Christians, we are to live a holy for the Lord in every aspect of our life.
What does it mean to be an independent church?
As an independent Baptist church, we are not affiliated with any particular Baptist denomination or ruling body. Because of this we can support our own missionaries, select our own leaders, and support institutions that believe as we believe. We get to work with thousands of incredible churches and ministries all across America and the world. In short, our church answers to the headship of Jesus Christ rather than a denominational body.
Do you have other questions?
If there's something we missed, just contact us, or ask someone when you arrive. Whether you're new to the area and looking for a church home, or if it's been a long time since you've attended church at all, we hope your first visit at Centralia Bible Baptist will be great! We hope you'll feel right at home from the very moment you step in the door!