By Peggy Wallace, For The Mountain Times
More than 50 years ago, a pastor and his wife began worship services around a fire pit at Son Village off Arrah Wanna Boulevard. Because these services were held outside, it was quickly determined that a new location was needed in order to continue worship during the cold and wet weather that accompanied autumn, winter and spring. Fortunately, the administrators at Camp Arrah Wanna agreed to let the group use the big building at the back of the property on Sunday mornings. Stan and Mary Wall were the aforementioned “pastor and his wife.”
In 1978, with the help of Stan’s parents, the Walls purchased a large home on Lolo Pass that had a big basement and began holding services and bible studies there. Within a short period of time, those small groups grew to between 80-100 people. One of the attendees was the fire chief’s wife, and she had been inviting her husband to join her – but the job of a fire chief is busy and unpredictable, even back in 1976 when the Mt. Hood National Forest was considered a rain forest. When he did finally attend, he was shocked to see the number of people in attendance and told Stan this could not continue, noting that fire laws prohibited such a large number of folks from occupying the basement’s square footage: it was definitively a fire hazard.
Undeterred, the congregation explored other options, and in 1979 the property at the north side of the intersection of Highway 26 and Welches Road was listed for sale. But it posed a huge financial hurdle. A down payment would be required to get the ball rolling, so a fundraiser was held. More a meeting than a fundraiser, the numbers were presented and everyone was asked to contribute to the project as they were able. Stan again stated that if they were unable to reach the necessary amount, then it was God’s will. Mind you, this was not a dinner, a raffle, or an auction – simply a meeting. The hoped-for amount was not only met, but exceeded by $500!
Some people in the community were naysayers, noting that there is no way the permits would be issued, contributions would fall short, it would be a money pit. Permits were indeed obtained and in 1979, clearing the land was underway. Stan Wall had a friend from college, a gentleman named Stan Stanley (really) who lived in Idaho. Stanley had a portable sawmill and offered to come and assist. He stayed quite a while, converting logs to lumber. In the Spring of 1981 the foundation was poured and building began.
The logs used in the building were, of course, taken from the land, and labor was provided primarily by the members of the congregation: a logger, a roofer, carpenters, a plumber and others, all who had necessary skills and a desire to contribute. Most of the labor took place at night and on weekends. These people had regular jobs but felt it was a privilege to donate what talents they had to contribute. If the church had been built with outside labor, the cost would have been prohibitive.
At the end of the day, the Log Church (as it was first known) was relatively debt free and its first service was held in October 1981. Shortly after that first service, the congregation doubled to about two hundred.
In 1998, the congregations at Chapel of the Hills and the Mt. Hood Fellowship joined The Mt. Hood Bible Church and formed one church family named The Church on The Mountain, a place where everyone was welcome.
The impact of the log church on the community and attending travelers was huge! Word got around that if there was a need, help could be provided. Phone numbers of members of the church were posted on the door for people to call for specific needs. Food, clothing, lodging vouchers, gas vouchers, a consoling word, a prayer, and a smile could be readily found among the congregation.
I asked, “Who in particular can you say spearheaded this whole thing?” Unanimously, the response was that there was no one person: it was the many, led by the Spirit of God through His people and for His purposes.