Strait View Baptist Church History

---

In 2010, Steve and Kathy Owens joined Faith Baptist Church of Sequim, WA  after moving back to Port Angeles from Minnesota  (they were originally from Port Angeles). Their pastor in Minnesota had challenged them to plant a church in Port Angeles and they approached Pastor Lonnie Jacobson to see if he would be supportive of a church plant. Pastor Lonnie and his wife, Bobbie, had discussed this idea in the past and felt it might be the Lord’s leading at that time. The deacons were approached about sponsoring the endeavor and were very supportive. A decision was made to begin a Bible study to see if a core group could be established. Five of their church families who lived in Port Angeles agreed to attend the Bible study. They met together beginning in October of 2010 and continued to meet throughout 2011. Pastor Tom Nieman from Woodinville, Washington, provided valuable counsel to the church during this time. The church began setting apart funds that would be made available to the church plant when they were ready to move ahead. A store front facility was rented at 518 W. 8th Street. Several work parties were needed to prepare the space for church meetings.

The first service of the new church (Faith Baptist Fellowship) took place the last Sunday in October of 2011. The worship service was scheduled for 9:00 AM so that Pastor Lonnie could preach at the new church and then have time to travel to Sequim for the church’s worship service at 11:00 AM. He continued to act as a “circuit riding preacher” for the next 7 months.

A Sunday School was begun and the church leadership provided oversight and teachers for the new church. The funds that Faith Baptist had been setting aside were made available to the new church for rent, utilities, furniture, and equipment. The facility was remodeled and both churches began praying for a missionary pastor to lead the new work.

In April of 2012 a missionary pastor, Tim Kluver, from Continental Baptist Missions, was called to lead the new work. Pastor Kluver, his wife, P.J., and their children moved to Port Angeles in May and he began his ministry the first Sunday in June of 2012. Faith Baptist Church adopted a substantial part of his support.

In 2012-13 a church constitution and by-laws were developed with the oversight of Faith Baptist Church. Deacons and church officers were appointed. A recognition council was called in 2013 to examine the church’s doctrinal statement and by-laws. The council voted to recognize Faith Baptist Fellowship as an autonomous Baptist church. Subsequently, the church applied for membership with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. They later voted to adopt their permanent name: Strait View Baptist Church. The mother church, Faith Baptist, and their daughter church, Strait View Baptist continued to encourage on-going times of fellowship especially though joint sing-spirations.

Pastor Kluver continued in this ministry in spite of serious health problems that he developed until the end of 2018. In January of 2019 the church called Pastor Tim Mattison to become their second pastor. Pastor Mattison decided that he should retire from full time ministry at the end of that year.

The church called our current Pastor, Pastor Scott Fennell to be their 3rdpastor in January of 2020. The church is thriving under his leadership. We look forward to God’s continued blessing and guidance as the church seeks to lead people to Christ and disciple them to God’s glory.