INDIANOLA — With the recent transition of leaders within Indianola’s faith community, members of the old church facility on Midway and Division have witnessed new energy coming from the building.
That is part of the latest efforts of Pastor Rick Ellis and his wife Sue, who have been revitalizing the former Indianola Community Church during the past few months. The church is now the Indianola Living Hope Church, which is a Foursquare Church denomination.
“The board of ICC saw a need of change for stability and continuity of the church,” Sue said about the church’s recent dissolution.
At the same time, after Rick worked on Bainbridge Island for 20 years as a Foursquare pastor, the couple decided it was time to seek out a new church community and discovered Indianola’s unique offerings.
“The church has a wonderful history of being involved with the community,” he pointed out.
After Rick started holding services at North Kitsap Fire & Rescue headquarters last year from April to December, former members of the ICC joined the congregation. In January 2004, the couple moved to their new home on Midway and Division.
While the Ellises have been settled in their new church for just a few months, several changes have already taken place — the interior of the community hall received a fresh coat of paint and the sanctuary was remodeled with a new lectern, a grand piano and microphones.
The couple also plans to restart the annual Indianola Strawberry Festival, the “Old Kids” dinner club on the first Monday of the month, pancake breakfasts and holiday celebrations. Every Friday, Rick holds a youth night in the church with dinner, games and fellowship. The couple is putting together a history of the church, with old articles, book excerpts and pictures.
“We’re trying to bring out the past as well as the present,” Rick said.
The church is also continuing ICC’s program that sends missionaries to the Dominican Republic.
Rick said several of his long term goals include working with members of the faith community, both inside and outside Indianola.
“Identify with the other churches in the area, maintain relationships with the pastors, be a part of the church network,” he explained. “Our goal is to be able to reach to a generation of younger people that don’t go to church … not to fill the pews with only church people but also people who don’t attend church or don’t have a church home.”
The couple’s favorite parts of the community are similar to what attracts most people to the area.
“The beach. The dock. The community,” Sue quickly listed with a laugh. “It is so incredible — it’s a real community. It’s so different.”
Rick said when he first viewed the area, he was impressed.
“When I looked at the bay from Eddie Carriere’s home, you could see this whole community … all within the circumferences of what was a beautiful spot,” he explained.
