The Beginnings of the First Church of Bible go back to April 15, 1934, when Rev. W.E. Menold founded the Revival Center Tabernacle at 411 W. Indiana in Spokane, WA. Rev. Menold’s dream was to have a place where continuous evangelistic services could be held six nights a week, with three services on Sunday – and that’s exactly what they did for many years.
A new era began when Rev. Crawford Jones, an Open Bible minister, became the pastor in 1949. Under his leadership the building was remodeled, the church officially affiliated with Open Bible Standard Churches, and was renamed “The First Church of the Open Bible”.
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In 1964, Rev. Norman LeLaCheur, his wife Norma, and their four children came to Spokane to pastor the church. During his 29 years of leadership the church continued to prosper and grow.
In 1979, the church broke ground for their new facility at 8303 N. Division Street and the first service was held in the new building in 1981. Throughout the years, many new ministries were developed and countless lives were touched with the love of Jesus Christ. |
In 1993, Pastor Norm’s son, Monte, who has served as his assistant, was elected the new senior pastor. Pastor Monte is a graduate of Open Bible College in Des Moines, Iowa, and also has a master’s degree in counseling from Whitworth College here in Spokane. Monte and his wife, Amy Jo, have three children.
Today the First Church of the Open Bible is getting ready to build again. Our new property is just 2 miles north of our current facility on Hwy 395 and we are looking forward to getting settled in our new neighborhood. If all goes as planned we hope to have our grand opening sometime in the Spring of 2009.
