Canyon Community's new pastor
GLADYS SHAY / For the Hungry Horse News
Ken and Kris Ainsworth were welcomed to Coram with a Sunday dinner at the Canyon Community Church. He is the new pastor of the church and described his wife by simply stating, "We are a team."
He was active in the Machias Community Church for years in North Everett, Wash. Over 10 years ago he became interested in the Bible School Association. Ultimately he was encouraged to attend the Bible School and go into the ministry. Ken stayed in the course and continued his career in the Marysville School District. Eventually he served as guest preacher in various Village Mission churches.
About five weeks ago, Vern Wilkinson, district representative of Village Missions, Edgwood, Wash., contacted the Ainsworths to inform them Ken would be serving as minister of Coram Community Church. Village Missions has headquarters in Dallas, Ore., (not Texas' serving Alaska, Washington, northern Idaho and Montana churches.
Their home was sold in record time and the couple headed for Montana. They are incredibly excited to be in Coram.
New careers await Ainsworths in Coram. He was a school teacher for 23 years with most of his career centering on computer science before becoming technology director for Marysville School District.
Kris, a biologist, was administrator of the Biology Department at the Everett Clinic before resigning to move to Coram.
Their son, Brian, their daughter, Karyn, and their granddaughter, Sonora, live in Hillsboro, Ore.
Sunday schedule for Coram Community Church is 9:30 a.m. Sunday school, and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. worship services. Worship service and Bible study start at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.
Board members are John Gillespie, chairman; Joe Rogers, co-chairman; Jody Lester, secretary; Beverly Cothran, treasurer; and Eleanor Franklin, Ernie Lommatsch, Jim Sutherland and Paul Snyder.
It was 92 years ago when a worship group was formed in Coram. The Rev. George McVay Fisher, Kalispell pastor, conducted services once a month in the Coram School building. Members of the Ladies Aid assisted with all phases of the new church.
Present building was completed in 1932 following two years of volunteer labor. Building improvements continued through the years. Congregation members voted to leave the Presbyterian affiliation in 1970 and become Coram Community Church. Ladies Aid was renamed Canyon Church Women. A former school became an education building in 1955 with many more volunteer hours donated for this project.
Church activity continued with purchase of a double-wide, three-bedroom mobile home in October, 1980, for a parsonage.
This is now the new home for the Ainsworths.
Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News