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Kootenai
Community Church
The first efforts to form a church in Kootenai, Idaho
occurred in 1910 when a small group of believers began
meeting in what was then the new Kootenai School
building.
In 1914 the Kootenai Town Site Company deeded two lots
to the Church and in 1915 those two lots were mortgaged
to the Congregational Church Building Society of New
York for $800 to build the church building which is
still in use. This first church was incorporated as the
First Congregational Church of Kootenai.
The Church had many pastors in the early days due to the
fact that their pay was whatever the offering was. This
offering would range anywhere from 50 cents to $2.50 a
week. Much of the money needed to keep the church
running and pay for improvements was raised by the
Women’s Auxiliary.
The building was used continually through 1977 mostly as
a Sunday School. The group that was meeting in the
building at that time moved into Sandpoint and left the
building vacant until December 1979.
In December of 1979 a Sunday School was started by Dave
Kinne which in 1982 evolved into the Kootenai Community
Church of the present day.
In 1993 Dave Kinne retired as Pastor and his son John
Kinne took over and pastored until December of 1996. In
December of 1996 the current teaching pastor, Jim Osman
was installed.
A
Vision for the Future
It is one thing to look back at what Kootenai Community
Church has been. It is good to be in touch with the
elements that have made an organization what it is.
However, it is much more difficult to look forward and
answer the question, “What will we be in 5, 10, or even
25 years?”
The Kootenai/Sandpoint area is growing at an incredible
rate. Statistics from the last Census indicate that the
City of Kootenai has grown 10% between 1990 and 2000.
That growth is not likely to slow down! With more people
coming into our community, we have to ask ourselves,
“How are we going to reach all these people with the
good news of Jesus Christ?”
We desire that as Kootenai continues to grow, so will
the number of people touched by the ministry of Kootenai
Community Church and the gospel of Christ. We have a
mission that has been given to us by the Savior.
“Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and the son and the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of
the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
So,
what then, will Kootenai Community Church be in the
years to come?
In our immediate future it means the expansion of our
physical facilities in order to accommodate the growth
and blessing we are experiencing. This expansion through
the construction of a new building in Kootenai will give
us the facilities to minister to the community via
Sunday School, youth ministry and Sunday Morning Worship
Services. We are grateful to the Lord for all that He is
doing through Kootenai Community Church, and we are
looking to the future asking God to increase our
effectiveness and the reach of our ministry.
In the years to come, we want to be what we have always
been. Through God’s grace Kootenai Community Church will
be a place where . . .
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. . .
the Scriptures will be expounded.
We are committed to the serial, weekly exposition of
Scripture. Honoring and teaching the Word of God
always has been and always will be a priority at
Kootenai Community Church.
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. . .
the saints will be exhorted.
Through the faithful and consistent exposition of
the Scriptures, believers are equipped for life and
service.
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. . .
the Savior will be glorified. When
the Word of God is preached and the saints are
equipped to live holy lives of service, the Lord
Jesus Christ is glorified.
We are excited about the place that the Lord has for us
in His plan for the Kootenai area and beyond. Although
we don’t know the future, our God does and thankfully,
He guides us through it one step at a time!
Without Wax
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Jim Osman, Pastor/Teacher
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