Ministry:

1988 - 2001

A church in Spokane, WA became the next step God had in mind for Doug's ministry.  It was a medium size church that had a lot of great people in it from a wide range of ages.  The only problem was: the church enjoyed one another but didn't have a fire for unchurched people.  It was a traditional Presbyterian Church going through the motions every week, with a well oiled church machine and a comfort that was disquieting.  It soon became obvious that while this was no dead church, it was a church "playing church" without a compelling vision.

Doug began to have a vision for this church that had been simmering his whole ministry life.  He desperately wanted to be a part of a church that was alive in the Spirit and where people's faith had an impact on their lives.  Jesus made a difference in their lives!  He soon got the impression that this church could be that church!

(The following excerpt is from Manito's Centennial Celebration booklet.  It was written 8 years after Pastor Doug, his entire staff and the majority of the congregation left and formed a new church.  The writer was not predisposed to speak kindly of those years making the content of what follows even more insightful.)

Manito Presbyterian Church membership had called The Rev. L. Douglas Waggoner to be its new senior pastor. Waggoner, a father of five who had devoted six years to Mulberry Pres in Pittsburgh, challenged the congregation to devote greater energy and time to the Lord's work. He took over on November 6. Around the country, church attendance had been faltering. His new church had been caught in the downdraft, skidding in five years from more than 1,000 members to 290.

Waggoner brings change

From the start, it was clear that Waggoner's youth, vitality and persuasiveness would lead to change. He was in tune with contemporary forms of worship. He sought growth within an explicit organizational structure. He believed that expansion could and should be achieved by bringing unchurched people to church, particularly families with children. Youth-oriented, scriptural-based services might not revitalize congregations. But they were the trend, one that led to another trend, non-denominational Christian mega-churches that grew at the expense of their main-line predecessors. A suburban Chicago mega-church, Willow Creek, so greatly impressed Waggoner that he sent parishoners there on several training trips.

Waggoner inherited a clearly denominational church. Older congregants, some of them lifelong members, had little appetite for electronic music, film clips and dramatic skits. They were comfortable with Presbyterian practices. Nonetheless, under Waggoner's leadership, membership almost doubled in five years. But, when he departed in the congregational split after 13 years in the pulpit, the total was still below 700. What changed in between were the names and faces. Less-resilient mature members changed churches. Inactive members were dismissed. Younger, more active ones took their place. It has been estimated that, by the late 1990s, more than half of the congregation had been regenerated.

There were some astonishing accomplishments. Youth-related programs mushroomed. Sunday School expanded. Teen programs grew. Adult ministries flourished. Vacation Bible School, sparked by the antics of Andy the Ant and Corey the Cricket, attracted hundreds of children, many from outside the church.  Waggoner composed and performed the VBS music himself.

The Forward by Faith campaign, launched at a fancy dinner in the spring of 1994, raised money for a new office tower, the Latawah Street entrance and development of the Gathering Place.

Leadership format changes

On June 18, 1996 the congregation approved a new leadership structure based on Waggoner's process-oriented, 15-page plan, "Manito's Move toward the Future." The paper targeted what he saw as a lack of spiritual maturity and the opportunities for growth that could be realized through fellowship, discipleship, worship, ministry and evangelism. Existing elders would make way for leadership and shepherding elders. Ministering units would succeed commissions.

On July 23, the church paid $321,404 to buy the former public library building, across 30th Avenue from the campus. On Oct. 15, Session further wounded some older members by approving a worship schedule that placed the traditional service at 8:15 a.m. and the more-popular contemporary service at 11:15.

Expansion plans emerge

On February 4, 1998, amidst expansion talks that involved buying all 22 houses on the block west of Latawah, Session approved the purchase of 13 acres south of 61" Avenue and Freya for $375,000. The congregation gave its approval on March 15.

Given the altered congregational make­up, this up-tempo activity was bound to have consequences. It did. As the membership grew younger and less denominational, it became more socially conservative. Philosophical differences widened between the pastors and their members and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Then, the Presbytery's December 1, 1999, triennial report took exception with the church's finances. MPC owed a lot of money. As early as 1997, Session records showed long-term liabilities of $1,239,599.77, including remaining obligations from the Forward by Faith campaign and a loan to buy the library. By April 1, 1998, the debt had grown to $1.5 million. This seems to have become a turning point.

By the end of 1999, the church's annual report showed that the debt had been significantly reduced. On June 13, 2000, Manito Land Stewardship LLC, a partnership of members, bought the 61" Avenue property. Debt fell below $700,000 by year-end, leading longtime members to speculate that Waggoner, associate Galen Doughty and congregational leaders were considering options that relied on a cleaner balance sheet. The church's debt was completely eliminated by the summer of 2001.

A vote to end the congregation's association with the denomination finally occurred at the worship services on Saturday, September 8, and Sunday, September 9, 2001. Some thought the outcome would be nearly unanimous.. Still, 85.2 percent elected to leave PCUSA. Among the eligible electorate, members and regular attendees, 461 voted "Yes" and 80 voted "No:'

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Breaking with the Presbyterian Church (USA) was a long and difficult decision.  The denomination had struggled for decades with the cultural pressure and became more and more influenced by the world rather than stand fast with the Word.  The year 2000 became a dividing line for Pastor Doug.  He attended a gathering of 1,000 concerned pastors in Dallas.  It was supposed to be a strategy session on saving the denomination.  Instead it turned into a giant moaning session.  Nothing came of all the money spent for those 1,000 pastors converging on Dallas.

Pastor Doug was through spending so much time and energy trying to influence the denomination when there were so many other pressing issues to focus on - namely, reaching the unreached.  The church went through a 6 month study/exploration period focusing on the issues facing the denomination.  It all lead to the pivotal vote 2 days before 9/11.

2001 - 2004

September 9 came … the vote was overwhelming.  85% voted to cease to be Presbyterian … 15% voted to stay.  We began the process of moving ahead with the formation of a new church.  The target was January 15 of 2002.  The new church could probably secure a facility (they had none) and work out all  the details with Presbytery so that a smooth transition could take place.

That didn’t happen.  What seemed like endless day after day was spent maneuvering with Presbytery with all the details.  It became apparent within a short month that a 6 month transition time was not going to be reasonable.  The church was becoming a seedbed for sin, gossip and rancor.  They needed to leave sooner.   There was only one problem.  They had nowhere to go!

Miraculously, the rear half of a shopping center that previously held a 4 screen movie theater opened up.  The negotiations were in high gear.  But once the property was secured, it needed an enormous amount of work.  It would be a doable project within a 4 month time frame.

On Sunday afternoon, October 14, the church came together and all agreed.  We needed to leave.  A wonderful opportunity of another interim facility had opened up and we could move there momentarily.  The sentiment was unanimous.  We needed to leave and seize the blessing God had given us.  However, it needed to be sooner rather than later.

The elders on October 16 made a decision that we would begin our new church on November 1, 2001. They would move to the new facility.  Four months of preparation needed to be compressed into two weeks!

So for a period of two weeks, hundreds of people came together to ready a new facility – to pull seats out of three of the four theaters, pull carpet, empty the lobby of ticket booths and concession stands, paint, repair, ready, the facility to house a center for life change. And God enabled it to happen so that on November 4, 2001, Southside Christian Church had their first service in their new facility … and it was good!

The provision of God was evident from the beginning and affirmed that this move was of God.  Immediate need was for housing for children's and nursery ministries.  Basic preparation included leveling the floors of two theaters and then constructing adequate housing for these ministries.  The initial need was $250,000.  God provided $250,000.

Community support was overwhelming.  There were offers of office equipment, phone systems, paint, carpet, office supplies, etc.  It was an exciting time.

Ministries continued.  Youth ministries grew.  Children's outreach grew.  VBS continued to be a major source of evangelism and church growth.  It grew to reaching over 1200 kids.  Small groups continued.  Lives continued to change by the power of Christ.  The church grew.  Easter worship in 2004 was over 2,000 in attendance.

Doug resigned as Senior Pastor on April 24, 2004.

2006-2016

Doug invited a small group of 16 to join he and Chris to pray about what Doug's next step should be.  It wasn't long before it became clear to those who were in prayer that a new church should be launched.  Doug had a dream for a grace filled church that wouldn't just talk about grace but live it as well.  When 2006 came, the team was intent on putting all the plans together for a new church to emerge in Spokane.  They wrestled with what the name should be that would describe the essence of what they desired the church to become.  It would be a mainstream, non-denominational, Christ centered, Bible centered, evangelical church.  Doug's wife, Chris, finally blurted out Beyond Grace Fellowship and all were in unison that this should be the name ... all except Doug, but he was outnumbered.  It was now up to him to describe what the name meant!

After 2 years of refinement, restoration, enlightenment, contemplation and prayer, Doug knew what God was placing on his heart for this new church. The vision was clear! After Bible study and prayer, the group affirmed the vision.

Beyond Grace Fellowship is a vibrant church with an encouraging message and a refreshing emphasis!

It is a church ... comprised of people walking through life together seeking to bask in the undeserved love of God and to live in the power of His grace.

We're on the journey of life together.

It is a church ... admitting that sin is a problem for all of us – not only people living far from God but also for those seeking to walk with God. The cold hard truth is that we all are sinners in need of a Savior.   The heroes of the Bible ‑ Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, Peter, et al stumbled in sin again and again.  We are no different!  Authentic followers of Christ are sinners until the day they die, and the more authentic Christians further up the slope are the ones who are beginning to realize the distance between their perfection and the perfection of Christ.

We are imperfect people and don’t expect perfection from others.

It is a church ... knowing first hand that life is difficult and is fraught with hardship; failure, disappointment, setbacks, trauma and storms.  It’s in the midst of these that God's grace is most real and trust in Him is built strong.  It’s also in the midst of these that growth is most possible and we have the greatest opportunity to strengthen one another as we rest in the arms of the One who loves us!

God's amazing grace is sufficient for all of us!

It is a church ... that proudly proclaims it’s motto:  "This is who we are: prone to wander, slow to learn, still in process, far from having `arrived,' grateful for mercy... so don't expect anything else."

Therefore, Beyond Grace Fellowship is a church ... for the lonely, the well-intentioned, the lost, the found, the disillusioned, the self-sufficient, the downtrodden, the unchurched, the over-churched, the wounded, the strong, the failure, the successful, the young and the old.  It's a church for those looking  to come into the hospital with other invalids.  It's for those who seek the Great Physician's care.

Those who desire a museum of saints will be disappointed with this church, because this is  a church ... that won't focus on sloppy saints like me and you ‑ but rather onto a God whose patience and love are utterly beyond comprehension - a God of grace and love worthy of our deepest gratitude and most intense admiration.  Because of it we embrace the fact that not only is God one who loves unconditionally but He expects His people to love in the same way.

God loves ... therefore, we love!

Now that the vision had been set, they set a reasonable date to launch.  They hoped they could launch the church on April 16, 2006 - Easter Sunday.  One small detail that they needed God to solve was a place to meet temporarily.  Very soon into the search, they found a large hall that was available for our use.  The couple that owned it, had been praying that God would lead a church to use their facilities.  It was a match made in heaven.  The entire lower level of the facility could be used by them.  It was a large hall that was divided with floor to ceiling dividers.  One half could be used for worship while the other half could be used for the children's ministry.  There was even a small room that was perfect for a nursery.

The owners were most obliging to the church.  While the church bought a trailer to keep equipment in, the owner also allowed the church a large closet to store musical equipment, AV equipment, computers, etc.  It was a gift from God.

Those 16 people that met in Pastor Doug’s basement for months praying and planning had collected an offering from themselves during those months to provide the seed money for this new church.  They purchased the necessary equipment to launch the church (computers, a/v equipment, children’s ministry equipment, signage, etc.) and planned out their launch for April 16, 2006.  They went through a dress rehearsal the previous week from start to finish making sure they were prepared.  Newspaper ads were placed and 5,000 professionally prepared brochures were mailed to people in the community inviting them to this new church.

April 16 came and it was a great day of celebration!  Two services and over 200 people came and worshipped and participated in the launch of this new and unique church.

The church continued on a strong basis and continued to use the facilities provided them.  There were numerous weeks when they would have to go early and set up the entire room since there had been a wedding the day before in the hall.  Many times they would have to take everything down and store it in preparation for a wedding that was coming the following Saturday.  They constantly referred to their moment in the history of the church as “camping” and the Center on Sixth was their campground.

Camping is fun but it gets old.  It was obvious after about a year that they needed to look for a permanent home.  They began to pray that God would provide them a home.  They began looking!  Over the course of a year and a half they looked at church after church.  None seemed appropriate.  They even strongly considered a rundown 100 year old church.  It was owned by a local denomination.  It would require tens of thousands of dollars for renovation, yet there was a wild vision in Doug’s mind (similar to Pittsburgh) of how it could be as a finished product.  Doug sat down with the President of the denomination and made Beyond Grace’s offer for the property – in exchange for renovating the property and renewing the Christian presence in that neighborhood, Doug asked him to give it to them free!  Unbelievably, the offer was declined.  Later Doug would drive by the property and thank God that the offer wasn’t accepted.  The work would have killed the church!

A TIMELINE OF A MIRACLE

MAY 30, 2008 – someone in the church heard that Centenary Methodist Church planned to merge with Moran Prairie Church.  Pastor Doug was called with the possible availability of a building

JUNE 2 – It was confirmed that Centenary is indeed merging and the property will be placed on the market sometime after July 1.

JUNE 23 – The Church Search Team takes a tour of the property.  Unanimous conclusion, “they hope this is the home God has in mind for them.”   It was felt immediately by all the members that this was home.

JULY 8 – The property is listed at $650,000.  Centenary has inspected the building and has determined the repairs that need to be done on the building.  They have determined that $197,000 represents depreciation/repair and they have deducted that amount from the asking price. Conclusion: the price is way out of Beyond Grace’s reach.  They truly felt that perhaps this isn’t the property God has in mind for them.  Possibility of this being their home seemed dead!

JULY 10 – Laura Skaer met with the Centenary realtor re. the property.  He outlined how they had arrived at the asking price.  Laura relayed that they were interested but the asking price was far beyond their capability.  He said they would consider all offers. He also relayed there were two other churches seriously interested in the property and that he MAY even have an offer by the weekend.

JULY  13 – Began to talk seriously about financing any property.  They are not in a good position to receive financing from any lending institution due to their brief history and bank lending rules.

JULY 14 – The realtor calls and informs them that the Methodist administrative council was meeting that night and wanted to know if they wanted to make an offer.  Laura relayed that the property is significantly over priced and they were not prepared to make an offer.  He urged them to make their best offer.  This seemed curious since they had been consistent is relaying that the asking price was way beyond their ability.  There was strong indication that they needed to make an offer and there was a possibility they would consider taking significantly less than their asking price.

JULY 20 – Because of the information they have received, they decide that it is time to show the potential church home to their entire church.  After church they invite everyone to tour the property.  they gather for prayer and reflection in the auditorium.  It seems there is a consensus that this feels like their future home!  they receive affirmation to pursue the property.

JULY 22 – The Church Search Team already has scheduled a meeting to discuss financing issues of any project God made available.  The meeting now morphs into determining an offer to make on the property.   A figure of $300,000 is arbitrarily decided.  In addition they are going to ask them to carry the note for a period of 5 years with full payoff to occur at the end of that period. It also seems prudent to make this offer in person with the church rather than rely on the realtor to convey the offer since it is so far under the asking price.

JULY 23 – they call the realtor and ask for an audience with the committee for the purpose of making an offer.  He said he would try to get a hold of everyone and set up a meeting.  He called later in the day and scheduled a 10:00 meeting the next day.

JULY 24 – Laura Skaer and Pastor Doug have a very uncomfortable meeting with 7 people from their committee.  After giving some history of their church and a history of their search, they offer them $300,000 and ask that they carry the loan.  When they finish there was silence.  The realtor said they weren’t allowed by the Methodist conference to carry a note.  So that part of the offer would have to be rejected.  they pray together and then leave … awaiting their response to their offer.

10 days elapse since their meeting with the committee and they hear nothing from them re. their offer!  They decide they better put the offer in writing to force a response.

AUGUST 4 – the realtor informed them that another church was meeting with the committee on the next day to make an offer.

AUGUST 5 –Beyond Grace formalizes their offer in writing and fax it to the realtor.  That same day Pastor Doug and Laura meet with Washington Trust Bank and are told that banks don’t like lending to churches because they don’t want to have to foreclose on them – makes front page news and isn’t great advertising.  They also have rules that must be met.  They want a church to have at least 5 years history and 200 giving units.  Beyond Grace has a 2 year history and 65 giving units. Not very encouraging.

AUGUST 6-   Centenary makes a counter offer for $500,000.  The realtor relays that the other church has received the same counteroffer.

AUGUST 7 – Church Search Team/Deacons meet to pray over this and discern how to proceed.  They examine all the financials of Centenary as well as their own.  They determine that they can offer $350,000 for the property and this is their final offer.  They cannot, in good conscience and in light of their stewardship responsibilities, go any higher.

AUGUST 13 – The realtor informs them that the other church had bid in the upper $400,000 range and while they considered both offers extensively, they accepted the other offer.  He wanted to know if they could keep their offer as a backup.  He also relayed that if it were up to him, he would have given it to them.  That was a very strange comment.  The result: Deal Dead! The following Sunday Pastor Doug announced to the church that it was over.  Continue to pray for God to reveal our permanent home.

Ten days pass …………

AUGUST 22 – Realtor calls Laura Skaer at 1:27 pm and informed her that the other church had an inspection performed and they didn’t like the results and therefore pulled their offer.  The realtor believes they were using this as an excuse because there was nothing the inspection produced that hadn’t been already documented.  Pastor Doug and Laura conducted a speaker-phone conversation with the committee and they asked that the offer be resubmited and they would accept it!  Deal done!

AUGUST 24 – Announce to their church the miraculous turn of events and the acceptance of their offer.  Pastor Doug also announced that there would be a congregational meeting to approve the sale on the next Sunday, August 31.

AUGUST 26 – MAJOR HURDLE: The bank told us they couldn’t  consider a loan without the church identifying potential guarantors.

AUGUST 27 – Washington Trust is contacted.  They respond favorably.  The loan is based on a $350,000 sale price minus the 30% down payment of $105,000. Loan amount $245,000.

AUGUST 31 – Due to the holiday weekend, they postpone the Congregational meeting until September 7.

SEPTEMBER 2 – Washington Trust gives the church  a commitment letter for financing that can be presented to Centenary per their contract.  They also have secured the gracious commitment of 4 guarantors for the benefit of securing a loan for Beyond Grace.

SEPTEMBER 3 – Realtor relays that the other church called and asked if the property was still available.  They wanted it.  He relayed that the deal was in process with them.

SEPTEMBER 7 – HURDLE: CONGREGATION MEETING.  The church met for the purpose of approving the purchase of the property.  After laying out the details of the purchase and receiving numerous questions, Pastor Doug put it to a vote.  He made clear that saying “Yes” meant more than intellectual assent to a good real estate deal.  Saying “yes” meant “yes” to personal financial sacrifice and “yes” to personal involvement in the move, upkeep and making this new home their home.  It meant a commitment.  The vote was anonymous and written.  The result?  61 yes, 0 no!  3 people gave $2650 immediately!

SEPTEMBER 10 – MAJOR HURDLE: Raising $55,000 needed for the down payment over what is available from their reserves. Pastor Doug sent an email to leaders in the church and asked them to set the stage (ala 1 Chronicles 29) for the congregation’s giving.  They were to give or pledge an amount towards this goal by Saturday September 13 so the amount the Leadership gave could be shared with the church to inspire them to give sacrificially as well.

SEPTEMBER 14 – Pastor Doug announced his personal pledged amount and that the Leaders had given $44,000 toward the goal of $55,000.  Now it was time for the congregation to follow.  The offering was received.  After worship, the amount given was announced – an extra for a total amount raised in one week: $63,000.  Miraculous for this small body of believers. The total amount given totaled $73,833!

SEPTEMBER 17 – Launch Team/Deacons met to determine the process from here now that they have attained the necessary monies for closing.  Determined to close on September 29.   “Soft” opening to be October 19 with the Grand Opening November 2.  The congregation will be encouraged to continue giving and plans are being made to begin the refurbishing process.

SEPTEMBER 18 – Signed and submitted the approval of financial package from Washington Trust.

ALL HURDLES REMOVED!

GOD HAS PERFORMED A MIRACLE!

    For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

OCTOBER 12 – Final Sunday at the Center on 6^th Ave.

OCTOBER 18 – First Saturday work party to ready prepare their new church home.

OCTOBER 19 – First Sunday in their new home.

NOVEMBER 1 – Fall Harvest Festival to welcome the community to their church. Over 200 people came and celebrated and had fun together.

NOVEMBER 2 10:00 am  – GRAND OPENING of Beyond Grace Fellowship’s new home!  There was a full house worshiping and celebrating together this new phase of life for this church experiment.

Time passed and more and more people were added to the Beyond Grace family.  Consistently the fabric of the church was pressed: we are a church full of sinners.  We stand under the grace of Jesus Christ.  We accept you for who you are.  Jesus loves you just the way you are and loves you too much to leave you that way.  More and more opportunities came for this to be practiced by the people who called this church home.  The experiment was working.

Pastor Doug decided to retire in 2016.

After he left, it became obvious that the experiment takes the one who envisioned it in the first place to keep it going successfully.  Talking about grace is different than experiencing and living grace!