River's Edge Assembly has a lasting commitment to serve the Lord and the people of the community of Orting.

This is a history of God working in and through the lives of people. As you read about some of the highlights of this church, there's a proven testimony that faith in God works! God answer prayers, changes lives, and makes dreams come true! And this is only beginning...

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Cor 2:9

History of Rivers Edge In Orting, Washington

The colorful history of Orting began with four donations of land in 1854. The Varners, Whitesells, Headleys, and Lanes were the first to settle in the town between the two rivers. Their initial enthusiasm was dampened in that first year when the Indians of the area went on the warpath. Only the Lane and Whitesell families returned to Orting from Fort Steilacoom after the uprising. Fort Steilacoom was important to the early settlers in that that was their closest contact for supplies and other commerce. The railroad built its lines through Orting to the coal mines at Wilkeson in 1877. Settlers began coming to take jobs in the coal and forest industries and to settle agricultural areas. The railroad completed its first trans-continental railroad lines through Orting to Tacoma in 1887. The town grew and prospered for a time. The town incorporated on April 22, 1889 with the name of Orting under the Territory of Washington a few months before Washington became a state. Though the town soon was challenged with economic hard times, it has in recent years begun to prosper again.

Church Roots

Pentecostal roots have a long rich history in the Orting community springing from a home Bible Study and Prayer meeting started in the 1920s Grace Grice Gately and Maud Marcell located on the corner of Varner Avenue and Leber Street. Today, there is a dental office in this building. They later held church meetings in the area near Van Scoyoc Avenue and Bridge Street. The first pastor that can be traced to serve this Pentecostal fellowship was Lincoln Wyman in 1927. He was married to Virginia, one of the Grice daughters. Lincoln and Cecil Grice were evangelists together on the road for a time. According to longtime Assembly of God minister, Eugene Born, Cecil had quite a following on the west coast, especially in Texas, for a number of years. Phil Wyman, longtime Assembly of God minister and Men's Ministries Director, recalled that Lincoln was one of the people who had encouraged him in his early ministry. The first church property with the aid of the Northwest District of the Assemblies of God was purchased in 1939. Church services started in the existing building on that property within two months of its purchase. It consisted of the land between Corrin Avenue Southwest and Van Scoyoc Avenue Southwest between the Dentist Office property across the street from our current site and the property where the American Legion Hall used to sit. Under the leadership of Pastor Clifford Munson in 1943 the church sold the first property, purchased the Free Methodist Church building, and the first three lots on the corner of Corrin and Calistoga. The Free Methodist Church building was moved from near the corner of Varner Avenue and Train. Later a parsonage was added to the back of this church.

First official Church Building 1943

Through the years the church continued to prosper and became an indispensable, vibrant part of the fabric of Orting. The church filled to its limit ministering to the citizens of Orting. The church used a bus to pick people up and eventually had to turn the bus into two classrooms to meet the needs of an overflow Sunday School ministry.

Pentecostal Assembly of Orting Became a Sovereign Assemblies of God Church

The Assemblies of God in Orting, also known as the Pentecostal Assembly of Orting, continued to grow and mature. In a Congregational meeting lead by Rev. Robert Webster on November 7, 1956, the fellowship voted officially to become a sovereign Assemblies of God Church under the name of Assembly of God, Orting. The congregation began to build a new church building, under the leadership of Rev. Robert Webster, in 1959 on the corner of West Calistoga Street and Corrin Avenue South West. For the first time the congregation had a nursery, classrooms and restrooms separate from the parsonage-church building. It was a great facility that served the needs of the church for over thirty years. As the congregation grew it became apparent that more space was required to meet the needs of the church. Not only did the church use this new facility plus the old church-parsonage building to minister on Sundays, but it used the American Legion Hall.

The Second Church Building 1959-1961

The church was busting at the seams as the congregation grew. It was decided that the church would demolish the existing buildings to build a bigger new building. The Cole house stood to the very end and served as church offices until it had to be removed for the construction project. The church, in 1985, purchased the house and property owned by its neighbor Lonnie Cole. The church's agreement with Mr. Cole was that he could live in the house for the rest of his life. When Mr. Cole passed away, the congregation started using the house for additional Sunday School classrooms. The planning and building of the current facility began in 1991 under the direction of Rev. William Starkey. During the construction, the congregation rented space from the Orting School District to hold services. The congregation continued growing through this labor filled time. Just as the 1960 church was built with the volunteer labor of the church body, most of the work on this new building was supplied from the volunteer labor from the church body. Additionally, volunteers from other churches gave a helping hand. After Cecil Grice passed away, the family, in 1993, sold the home to the church. It was and still is used as a parsonage for our pastor's family.

Reaching the Community

The church has been involved with many community interests over the years. We count it a privilege to have the voting in the town housed in our building. The community as well as the poll workers enjoys the hospitality table that the ladies of the church provide each election. We also helped in the establishment of the Foursquare Church in town by housing their services for several years. We have in the past open our facilities to after school enrichment programs. Fall Carnival and Pinewood Derby Races have been especially good tools to reach out to our community. The Carnival has become a mainstay in the community for offering a safe fun place for kids and parents to enjoy each October 31. The Pinewood Derby races that are held at the "Festival in the Park" each August has expanded to include the participation of residence of the Washington State Soldier's Home, the community, and the church family. It is open to all boys, girls, men and women. Many of the church activities receive funding from a very successful Fireworks Stand manned by the congregation each July. Members of the Church organized the "Jesus Fair" during these years. It became a huge summer draw. This was the forerunner to the "Festival in the Park" held each August. Also, the annual Sunday School picnic was enjoyed by all.

The Church Changed its Name to "River's Edge"

The Church literally at the river's edge during the Orting flood 1999

In 2000, the church changed its name to River's Edge. The name change came about to reflect the conviction that we as individuals and as a church to come to the edge of choices and must make decisions to follow God or turn from His direction. This is a parallel to the Children of Israel coming to the edge of the Jordon River and having to decide whether or not to follow God's direction to go to the other side of the river into the Promised Land. Compiled and edited from various church and community documents, web sites and interviews by Pastor Dale Stol for the Church's 50'th anniversary as a sovereign church - November 2006.