Elim Lutheran Church

We are a place… Like the biblical oasis, we seek to be an oasis amid the challenges of life where people can gather to be renewed, nourished and refreshed by our Lord, Jesus Christ. Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they encamped there by the water. Exodus 15:27

We are a family… We support each other, depend on each other, respect each other and encourage one another. We share in each others joys, sadness and triumphs. We freely give of our time, talents and resources to those who are in need without reservation or expectation.

We are a community… We seek to be a community in service of others. We accept the responsibilities of being a part of this community, and helping to strengthen it through our service. Now serve the Lord in all faithfulness... But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:14-15

Elim Lutheran Church, is a member of The Association of American Lutheran Churches, a conservative yet comfortable, loving and accepting Church. We accept the Bible as the divinely inspired, revealed, and inerrant Word of God and joyfully submit to its sole authority in all matters of life and faith. At the heart and center of this faith is our love and confidence in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Hear Biblical preaching from Pastor Steve Smeback, sing with devoted Christians, fellowship with other believers, feel the power of God’s awesome love and grace. We are a friendly small Church that is committed to serving our community, helping and supporting our friends here and around the world.

In 1884 Reverend L.O. Lindh arrived from Minnesota. He came to the valley in search of a home in the mild climate of western Washington. He began to gather the Swedes and the Swedish speaking Finns in homes and school houses for Christian worship. In this work he received much help from the two leaders of the community, Mr. Hokanson and Mr. Charles Brown. On March 22, 1884, a congregation was organized at a gathering in the log house of Mr. Ambrosius Hokanson (later changed to Ambrose Hockinson). Mr. Hokanson donated a half acre on which the church building was begun in 1889, the same year the state of Washington was admitted into the union. The church was not finished until 1893 and for some reason was not dedicated until 1899.

The Elim Church Council petitioned the Synod for support of $250.00 to which the congregation pledged to add at least $50.00 annually for the pastor’s salary. Alex Lindh was elected janitor of the church at a salary of 50 cents per month.

In 1949 Pastor Hubert A. Hanson accepted the call to Elim and was installed on September 26th of that year. During his ministry the new church building was planned and built on the hillside overlooking the village of Hockinson (at first known as Eureka). The corner stone was laid on September 17, 1951 and the new sanctuary was dedicated in May 1952. Many minds and hands working together made the building a reality.

Again Elim felt the need to build, this time the Parish Hall. It was started in 1955 and dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1956.

Community Groups that meet here include: Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, A.A. and Alanon, T.O.P.S, & Spinners Group.

We contribute to the Family Resource Center of North County Food Bank, The Women’s Shelter, The Share House, & Lutheran World Relief.

Members are involved in various community & world organizations including supplying wells and sewing machines in India.

From the farmlands surrounding Hawley, Minnesota Pastor Steve's family moved to the orchard rich Yakima Valley in Washington State. School days were accented with sports, band (trombone), orchard work, hauling hay, and riding his horse ‘Morning Star’ in the Red Hot Riders 4-H club. He attended Concordia Jr College in Portland, OR, received his Bachelor's degree at Concordia Sr College in Fort Wayne, IN and graduated with a Masters at Christ Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Steve has worked in restaurants, trucking companies, a roller rink (floor guard) landscaping, construction, hospitals, as well as outdoor and youth ministries. He spent over nine years with the Thurston County Sheriff's office and the Yelm city police as a police chaplain before moving to Battle Ground Washington.

Elim is Steve's fourth congregation in 26 years of ordained ministry. He was ordained at St Paul's in Vancouver, served 10 years at Emmanuel in Yelm, Washington, and 10 years at Bethel in Brush Prairie, Washington. He has enjoyed singing in various worship and performance groups and often uses drama and a selection of characters to communicate the Gospel. Steve will present both a traditional robed depiction of Biblical characters and humorous presentations in full costume as characters like "Professor Ludwig Von Schmartypanz" and even "Hilde, the Norwegian church lady." His hobbies include horses, martial arts, motorcycles, and remodeling the home that he and wife Helen bought in 2006.

Pastor Smeback began serving Elim as our part-time pastor in 2005 and is working to establish us once again as a full time viable congregation. In the last year or so Elim has changed synods, added a cell tower, replaced the heating system, developed an exciting youth ministry, and grown the membership steadily and faithfully. As Elim approaches its 125 anniversary in 2009 there is a vibrant air of excitement as the congregation feels itself being reborn and revitalized for a new era of service and ministry.