New name, new pastor mark relaunch of North Bend church

Calvary Chapel North Bend has remade itself in recent months, in the image of what members believe to be a modern community of faith.

By Carol Ladwig • November 1, 2016 4:58 pm

Calvary Chapel North Bend has remade itself in recent months, in the image of what members believe to be a modern community of faith.

It’s still a non-denominational church, in the same location on Boalch Avenue, but the name is now Calvary Mount Si, to reflect its more diverse membership, and “how we do what we do has completely changed,” said Pastor Jack Arnold, who has been leading the church for the past two months.

He stepped in to replace the former pastor, Walt Cesmat, at a time that the church members were ready for a reboot, he said.

“The relaunch is just to express that hey, we want to reach out to the community around us and talk to people, get to know them, to say ‘hey, we’re just like you,’ …. part of our heart as a church is to assess the community, make sure that we’re involved in reaching out to the next generation.”

Church members gathered for a work day Sept. 24 to refresh the church’s physical appearance, and officially relaunch the organization.

“We have been in the Valley for over 20 years and it is time for a new focus,” said congregation member Kathy Boyd. “We still are focusing on God first and people second but we have a new energy and excitement about Calvary Mount Si that we want to share with the entire Valley.”

Arnold came to the church from a 10-year role at a church in California, he said. He knew the fit was right when he met the congregation in early August, to discuss the future of the church and the changes they wanted to make.

“I just moved up here to do this,” he said. “Everything we do changed in concept, philosophy and structure, to kind of simplify and streamline. We’re doing it very simply, as God intended.”

The small congregation of about 40 people has already seen changes since the relaunch, Arnold said. He added a mid-week service, and saw attendance increase at the regular Sunday service to about 120.

More changes are coming, too, Arnold said, once the church determines how best to meet its own mission statement.

“Our motto, our mission statement, is very simple. It’s what Jesus talks about in the gospel, it’s loving God and loving people,” Arnold said, “… so what does that look like for us? How can we deliver on that message of love?”

Service to the community will be a strong component of everything the church does. For instance, Arnold said, instead of offering a vacation bible school program each summer, the church could offer a monthly free babysitting night, allowing parents throughout the community to enjoy a night out together.