Wasilla Bible Church
Encyclopedia
The Wasilla Bible Church is a non-denominational, evangelical
Christian
church
in Wasilla, Alaska
. Pastor Larry Kroon describes the congregation as "socially conservative." Wasilla Bible Church offers ministries devoted to family affairs, including the popular support group for Christian mothers of small children called Mothers of Preschoolers.
, The Authority of Scripture
, The Priority of Prayer
, Authenticity in our Spiritual Life, [and] Community in our Congregational Life".
The church's first building in Wasilla was completed in 1979, with capacity for seating 250 people. A second story was added in 1984, then a larger sanctuary added in 1996. The building was then sold to another church, enabling the church to buy 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) of land in Wasilla. A new church building was dedicated on October 1, 2006.
The church hosts up to 1000 parishioners. The church has strong recruitment practices. In Caring for the Harvest Force in the New Millennium, authors Tom A.Steffen and Fredrick Douglas Pennoyer describe Wasilla Bible Church as doing a "superb job" of bringing teenagers "to commit to Jesus."
Arson did over $1 million dollars in damage to the church on Friday, 12 Dec 2008.
as candidate for Vice-President of the United States of America, Wasilla Bible Church became a focus of the media. “When a presidential candidate surprises the country with a relatively unknown choice, then all hell breaks loose,” Larry Sabato
said. “It did with Ferraro
, it did with Quayle
, it’s happening with Palin."
A Time magazine correspondent reported a program insert announcing a program to help gays "overcome" their homosexuality
. The pastor, Larry Kroon, responded to this article in a FoxNews interview September 9. When Fox reporter Greta Van Susteren
asked for comment about inclusion of the announcement, Pastor Kroon replied, "When the subject of homosexuality comes up, people that matter to me come to mind. And over the past year, I've had different people in our congregation speak of homosexuals in ways that I did not want to hear our people speak." He went on to say, "And I wanted my people, if at all possible, to hear somebody in their tone and their manner because I don't think the church has done a very good job of speaking of this issue in a gracious tone and manner."
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
church
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
in Wasilla, Alaska
Wasilla, Alaska
Wasilla is a city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States and the sixth-largest city in Alaska. It is located on the northern point of Cook Inlet in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of the southcentral part of the state. The city's population was 7,831 at the 2010 census...
. Pastor Larry Kroon describes the congregation as "socially conservative." Wasilla Bible Church offers ministries devoted to family affairs, including the popular support group for Christian mothers of small children called Mothers of Preschoolers.
Theology and practice
The Wasilla Bible Church website lists five "Core Commitments" at its website, "The Centrality of ChristChrist
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, The Authority of Scripture
Sola scriptura
Sola scriptura is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, sola scriptura demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid...
, The Priority of Prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
, Authenticity in our Spiritual Life, [and] Community in our Congregational Life".
History
The church was founded in 1977. It asked Larry Kroon to become pastor in 1978.The church's first building in Wasilla was completed in 1979, with capacity for seating 250 people. A second story was added in 1984, then a larger sanctuary added in 1996. The building was then sold to another church, enabling the church to buy 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) of land in Wasilla. A new church building was dedicated on October 1, 2006.
The church hosts up to 1000 parishioners. The church has strong recruitment practices. In Caring for the Harvest Force in the New Millennium, authors Tom A.Steffen and Fredrick Douglas Pennoyer describe Wasilla Bible Church as doing a "superb job" of bringing teenagers "to commit to Jesus."
Arson did over $1 million dollars in damage to the church on Friday, 12 Dec 2008.
Media scrutiny and controversy
Following nomination of congregant and then-Alaska Governor Sarah PalinSarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
as candidate for Vice-President of the United States of America, Wasilla Bible Church became a focus of the media. “When a presidential candidate surprises the country with a relatively unknown choice, then all hell breaks loose,” Larry Sabato
Larry Sabato
Larry Joseph Sabato is an American political scientist and analyst. He is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, and director of its Center for Politics. He founded Sabato's Crystal Ball, an online newsletter and website that provides free political analysis and...
said. “It did with Ferraro
Geraldine Ferraro
Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American attorney, a Democratic Party politician, and a member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate representing a major American political party....
, it did with Quayle
Dan Quayle
James Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana....
, it’s happening with Palin."
A Time magazine correspondent reported a program insert announcing a program to help gays "overcome" their homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. The pastor, Larry Kroon, responded to this article in a FoxNews interview September 9. When Fox reporter Greta Van Susteren
Greta Van Susteren
Greta Van Susteren is an American commentator and television personality on the Fox News Channel, where she hosts On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren...
asked for comment about inclusion of the announcement, Pastor Kroon replied, "When the subject of homosexuality comes up, people that matter to me come to mind. And over the past year, I've had different people in our congregation speak of homosexuals in ways that I did not want to hear our people speak." He went on to say, "And I wanted my people, if at all possible, to hear somebody in their tone and their manner because I don't think the church has done a very good job of speaking of this issue in a gracious tone and manner."
Fire
On the evening of December 12, 2008, the church was damaged by a fire (confirmed as arson ) with damage estimated at about $1 million. Although some people occupied the building, no one was injured. Palin apologized to her fellow church members in case the fire was connected to "undeserved negative attention" the church has received since she became the vice presidential candidate Aug. 29.Notable congregants
- Sarah PalinSarah PalinSarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
, former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate.