About

“I don’t want my kids raised in a place with no church.” With those words, one woman
expressed an urgent need in the midst of this rough logging community. While we
cannot know what initial attendees' expectations were, we can be thankful to God that
this little country church continues more than 100 years later.

A lot has changed since 1912. The city of Longview wouldn’t even exist for another 11
years. What started as a Sunday school would soon become a thriving church. And that
one-room schoolhouse where the church met would cease to be a school.
The discontinuation of the school afforded the opportunity for the church to organize
itself under the name Coal Creek Valley Mission and purchase the very building it had
used for meetings. Through the years, the church would function under a series of
denominational umbrellas until God would bring stability and doctrinal integrity.
Sovereignly orchestrating events, God would begin what would serve as the framework
for the church that exists today.

Returning to the area once again just before 1960, Floyd and Jean Shulke were
convinced they needed to find a Bible-teaching church. When they showed up at Coal
Creek Church, Floyd couldn't have known that he would soon become the primary Bible
teacher, but that's what happened in a church that lacked qualified leaders. One
document says that the local leadership deserted the church, handing Floyd the keys and
never returning. For ten years, he faithfully led the church, but as a layman responsible
for a family and farm, time was limited. It was time to search for a full-time pastor.
They found one in Jerry Coon, who served as the first official pastor of the church until
he was called elsewhere just a few years later. Through Jerry, Coal Creek Church would
begin to take shape.

Seeking their next pastor, Floyd guided the church toward Northwest Independent
Church Extension (NICE), a like-minded and theologically solid organization. And in
1972, NICE recruited Evert & Gloria Atkinson and began a testimony of faithfulness that
defines the church today. For 49 years, the Atkinson family would sacrificially serve the
church and community by sharing God’s truth. During his tenure, Pastor Atkinson
would teach the Bible verse by verse, seeing God use that to impart truth into the lives of
those in the church. He would do the same for 30 years on the local radio station. Gloria
also imparted ministries onto the church, most notably using her love of quilting to
draw together ladies who not only quilted but donated those quilts to those in need, thus
expressing God's care and compassion to those who needed it most.

Attentive to God's call to step aside and retire, it became time to search for someone to
fill the role of shepherd of the church. Early in 2021, God once again showed his
faithfulness by calling Robert and Bethany Zink. Finding them in the South American
country of Argentina, they now have the privilege of serving Coal Creek Church.
In the hills of southwest Washington State, you will find the beauty of creation testifying
to God’s goodness. And nestled in those hills along a flowing creek, you will find this
church also testifying to God’s goodness.