The Goldendale (Wash.) Church members voted in 2012 to build a multipurpose building. Our fellowship hall was much too crowded. We also needed a place where we could hold outreach programs such as health seminars. To expedite the project, funds were borrowed from the North Pacific Union’s revolving fund. The building was erected with much help from members, under the direction of Carlyle Mason. Upon completion of this beautiful facility, it was voted to name the building the Better Living Center (BLC).
Weekly Sabbath potlucks, ladies’ prayer group, women’s ministries, Bible marking classes, Pathfinders and Adventurers clubs, and prayer meetings are among the weekly uses. It also accommodates the storage, refrigeration and freezer needs of the church’s soup kitchen program. The health ministries team uses the building for its monthly plant-based meal.
The BLC has been well-used for social events, outreach programs, lifestyle programs, medical screening events, evangelistic series, children’s church and many a wonderful program put on by our church school. Our school teachers have repeatedly packed the facility with members from the community coming to enjoy the programs and dinners put on by their children. The kitchen facility has accommodated our children in doing fun food preparation projects. Spacious and architecturally pleasing, the BLC has accommodated wedding receptions, baby showers, memorial dinners and even Gorge Camp Meeting potluck. Yearly events include the Adventist Book Center’s book and food sale and, in December, Journey to Bethlehem.
The Better Living Center has been used to meet the needs of not only our church family but also of our community. That is our goal: to share this blessing. When it was built, it was intentionally designed with a lovely commercial kitchen and showers in the washrooms so it has the potential to be used as an emergency shelter.
During the six years our building has been in use, we have looked forward to retiring the debt on the Better Living Center. On July 1, 2018, the church family met for a celebration that included the burning of the mortgage. It is such a good feeling to know we are out of debt! Praise God for His blessings! Thank you to those who contributed so we could experience this celebration four years ahead of schedule.
Goldendale members commemorate retiring the debt on their Better Living Center on July 1.
