Dear Stan,

I really appreciate the opportunity to share with you what has happened here at the First Presbyterian Church of Centralia, Washington, since you extended to us the $10,000 disaster relief grant. I apologize for taking so long. No excuses. We should have done so earlier.

As you may remember, we applied for the grant some time after the sanctuary was damaged by the February 29, 2001 earthquake because we wanted to see if there would be new, corrective directions for a healthy ministry into the future. We believe there is a great, but challenging, vision for the future of the church at this point.

Initially, we had to remove a bell tower, parapets and a chimney so the remaining portion of the building could be occupied (a 40' x 50' fellowship hall, kitchen, offices and eight classrooms). The building has been deemed economically impractical to repair and with only 1.29 acres divided by a street and alley it is impractical to build for the future at the present location. Our worship attendance averages above 150. The above-mentioned removal cost close to $25,000. Additionally there was $18,000 damage done to the beautiful stained-glass windows (still not repaired as we are still planning on removing them and they will be repaired at that time).

When the grant was given (May 2004) we were holding two services is our tiny fellowship hall but to unify the congregation, we rented a local, beautiful, new Seventh Day Adventist Church on the first Sunday of each month for a combined service around the Lord's Supper. The rental fee for the SDA church was $450 per month.

However, in December of 2004, we were miraculously granted permission to move into 10,000 square feet of retail space right next to Interstate-5 in a Factory Outlet Mall. Initially, it was only for the month of December but both the Mall management and we felt it to be so positive that they have allowed us to remain until a retailer is found to take the space (30 days notice). We call it "Christian Communication Center — First Presbyterian Church." The space at the mall normally would rent for $9,000 per month, but they have gifted us by allowing us to be there for $750 per month, plus utilities have run about $700 per month.

In January, the city told us that we would have to attain a Special Use Permit for one year — a process that just two weeks ago was finally concluded following a public hearing at which a local merchant hired an attorney to fight our presence — another $200 fee. This move also entailed the purchase of 150 new chairs, the rental of room dividers (miraculously replaced after two months with beautiful used commercial dividers — free). These are some indication of the things that had to happen to make this new ministry come alive, not even mentioning all the other things that have been moved like a full organ, piano, risers, and audio and video equipment.

The ministry at the mall is open daily between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. We attempt to be open for shoppers to drop in for free coffee and tea and a cookie or two, as well as just visit. Volunteers are there to be a "ministry of presence." You cannot believe the stories that have come over these past four months. People — some local, some traveling between Seattle and Portland — drift in. They may have problems that we have been able to minister to, others have spiritual needs, anger at "the church" or addictions and Christ has become present in their situations.

As we have been designing a restructuring for the future several things have emerged that will shape it well. First, the vision statement: "Learning Together Reflecting Christ's Mission." This mission is directing the congregation toward becoming the Discipleship Training Center for the 1-5 Corridor, with training in theology, Bible, arts and all necessary to be faithful disciples — an inter-denominational, ecumenical outreach. Secondly, there is a search just approved by the Presbytery for a "Designated Co-Pastor" who will become the pastor following my retirement in a year or so from now. This is being done to allow the congregation to be as undisturbed by pastoral change as possible. Third, we have just put an initial earnest money down on a former grocery store with five acres (including a seven store strip mall). A few things will still have to happen to make this possible — like finding all the money necessary to make it happen. Remember, we are always just 30 days from being out of the mall if they find that retailer. We are not sure what we will do if removed, but trust that God will have a plan for us.

The response of the congregation has been beyond any expectations. Fellowship has become alive. Children, once almost absent from the worship, now bounce around the facility. People visit in the sofa, loveseat reception area. Children and adults alike work (play) on the computers. Craft classes are taught. Bible classes meet. People drop in for lunch (though we have no kitchen). There is joy, excitement, hope and a vision for the future.

We tell you all this with a great sense of appreciation for your participation with us as we try to recover from the loss of our sanctuary and eventually our whole building. I am enclosing a copy of a local newspaper story that tells about the dedication of the space the night before we moved in. It truly has become a "holy place" where God encounters people and with God's presence it becomes obviously "Holy ."

If you would like pictures, testimonials or simply more information, please feel free to contact us. Exactly where your dollars began and left off is a bit hard to say since this whole situation has well exceeded $50,000 over and above our regular budget. However, on the other side of the "disaster" through which God shook us out of complacency is a vital congregation with great hopes for ministry into the future — while it all remains very fragile.

Thank you again, and may God's peace be will all of you.

With gratefulness from a congregation in great transition,

Rev. Dr. John F. Haberlin
First Presbyterian Church, Centralia, Washington