News - Local News

POSTED: Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009

Immanuel Bible Church says goodbye to Pastor Erickson

David Erickson grew up a Lutheran farm boy in central Minnesota, but his interest in religion waned by the time he left home.

When he enrolled at Western Washington University in 1969, Erickson was your basic wild and crazy college guy who played in a rock 'n' roll band. As such, he rolled his eyes at the prospect at sharing a place with some Christian students, but housing was tight, so he moved in.

He remained skeptical even as members of Immanuel Bible Church and Campus Crusade for Christ began saying prayers on his behalf, and still professes retrospective surprise that he chose Jesus Christ as his savior.

"All of a sudden, spiritual things became very important to me," Erickson said. "It was weird; I didn't want to be a religious person."

That time his faith took root, grounded in the conservative Bellingham church and its small circle of long-serving pastors.

Today, Sunday, Oct. 25, church members are honoring Erickson for his 20 years of service as pastor. His retirement begins the end of this month.

"He's a very caring man," said Randy Massey, a longtime Immanuel member and former church officer. "I consider it a blessing to have been shepherded by him."

It's a time of transition and landmarks for Immanuel. Church elders will initiate the search for a permanent replacement for Erickson, and will mark the church's 60th anniversary next June.

Founders started the independent church in 1950, with its first home on Jefferson Street. The current church at 2000 W. North St. was dedicated in 1958, with several expansions and remodels since. About 300 people show up for Sunday services.

Erickson is just the fourth pastor at Immanuel. Curiously, his predecessors - Clifford Hovda, Jerry Wilson and Jeff Grant, in order - each served for 13 years.

Each also served as pastors elsewhere, but Wilson and Grant have returned to rejoin Immanuel's congregation, and Grant will help as an interim pastor until Erickson's replacement is chosen.

Erickson began attending Immanuel in 1970 and soon met his future wife, Linda, there. She was Pastor Wilson's secretary, and now is the attendance secretary at Whatcom Middle School.

Together, they worked with youths at Immanuel for a few years, and then moved to Portland, Ore., when Erickson enrolled at Western Conservative Baptist Seminary.

He returned to Immanuel as associate pastor, was a pastor in Kent for nearly eight years, then began his two-decade run as Immanuel's senior pastor in the fall of 1989.

Young-looking at 63 with light-gray hair and rimless glasses, Erickson doesn't have immediate plans for his retirement. He will have more time for his seven grandchildren, and might hone his golf game.

Massey said church members will miss Erickson's scriptural knowledge, his sense of humor, and his hard work borne with a quiet sense of duty.

"He doesn't like the spotlight," Massey said. "He wants to be on the sidelines and promote Jesus Christ."

OPEN HOUSE

What: Open house marking David Erickson's retirement after 20 years as pastor of Immanuel Bible Church, 2000 W. North St.

When: 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25.

Extra: A farewell service to Pastor Erickson will follow from 6 to 7 p.m.

Details: 733-0672.