The Maranatha Church was organized on Nov. 10, 1979, after 56 members of the Spruce Street Church volunteered to accept the mission of evangelizing South Seattle’s Rainier Valley. On Sept. 22, 1984, the members moved into their own building where they now have 273 members.
During the weekend of Nov.12–13, 2004, Maranatha celebrated her 25th anniversary. Former pastors Ewart Brown, Perry Jennings, and Byron Dulan were present to celebrate this silver anniversary. The services were very well-attended, with standing room only during the Sabbath services. Many former and missing members returned to commemorate the festive occasion.
Former pastor Roscoe Howard was invited as the keynote speaker for the weekend, but when he was detained in a political uprising in the Ivory Coast, Bob Moore, present pastor, became God’s spokesman for the morning. He reminded us that God has “some better thing” prepared for us and encouraged us to continue to molt until we become God’s “theater of race.”
Notable guests throughout the day included a community choir, Sounds of the Northwest, and Alphonso McCarthy, North Pacific Union Conference assistant to the president for regional affairs. Jefferson Butler, assistant pastor and charter member, gave the charge during the afternoon’s program which included music by choirs from each of the area's regional churches.
Most worshipers made a day of it, staying for the special dinner, the afternoon musical concert, and the gym night activities which followed.
