Reaching Out

When the Rev. Woody Garvin leads the service at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, he will conclude by reciting a familiar message:

Go out into the world in peace.

Be strong and have courage.

Hold onto what is good.

Support the weak.

Help those who suffer.

Honor all people.

Garvin has ended each service – and lived – by those words for the seven years he has served as senior pastor at the downtown Spokane church.

Sunday will be his last sermon there. He has accepted the senior pastor position at Valley Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Ariz., and will begin the transition in July.

The adult membership at FPC is about 1,700. The adult membership at Valley Presbyterian is 2,400.

Garvin will be remembered for his involvement in the city. Over his career, he has worked on issues involving the homeless and has been a strong advocate for Habitat for Humanity.

“His heart is for the heart of the city,” said FPC member Curt Shoemaker. “His simple plan was to promote the church in the downtown area.”

Among the ways Garvin reached out to the city was by organizing the Spokane City Forum, a program that features local and national guest speakers on community issues. The monthly program, held at the church, has featured former Mayors David Rusk of Albuquerque, N.M., and William Hudnut of Indianapolis, and Harvey White, founder of Qualcomm. The program, which does not run in the summer, will resume in the fall.

Garvin also was one of the driving forces behind the movement to spruce up downtown residential buildings such as the St. Claire Apartments at 222 S. Howard St. Five years ago, 21 First Presbyterian volunteers were among those who cleaned, replaced plumbing and painted the rooms and halls in the low-rent building.

“They kind of adopted us. They took us under their wing,” said Mary O’Connor, who owns the apartments with her husband, Don O’Connor.

“I think Pastor Garvin is a great advocate for the Christian community. He inspires people to do more and to be more than they can be.”

Leaving Spokane will be hard for Garvin, 57. He and his wife, Stephne, live next to his in-laws, Chet and Louann Davis, on the South Hill. The Garvins’ two sons, their wives, and three grandchildren have also made Spokane home.

“I loved the winter sports. I loved the four seasons. I loved the Northwest,” said Garvin, who began working at FPC on March 15, 1997.

Garvin grew up in Santa Maria, Calif., and spent his early ministry years in California. Valley Presbyterian will be the fifth church he will serve.

“As a person who seeks to follow Jesus and the teaching of Jesus, I felt he led me here in the very same sense (he is leading me to Scottsdale),” Garvin said.

He said when he reflects on his years in Spokane, he’ll remember “the tremendous relationships people forge here.”

“You can have access to people. That’s Spokane in general. That’s true of our church congregation,” he said.

“It’s a very real place. It’s not a pretentious congregation. They are real genuine about their faith and their understanding of following Jesus Christ.”

First Presbyterian pastor Charles Ayars will act as the head of staff. Kevin Finch and Don Meekhof also will continue to lead.

An interim pastor could be in place by winter, and it could take as long as three years before a senior pastor is named. Before hiring Garvin, Valley Presbyterian was led by an interim pastor for two years.

Garvin is the FPC’s 13th senior pastor.

The congregation was formed on June 10, 1883. Its first building was constructed in 1882 on what is now the site of The Spokesman-Review.

The congregation moved to 318 S. Cedar St. in June 1910.