Foothills Community Church sits on the north side of Spokane, Washington, where Peck Road runs just north of Forker Road. Two buildings stand across from each other on that stretch of pavement, and the people who call this place home have made those buildings a hub for worship, discipleship, mentoring, missions, and a few surprises, like a free homeschool library open to families across the area. A non-denominational church with an evangelical conviction, Foothills is shaped by a simple five-word rhythm that runs through everything it does: Connect, Grow, Serve, Go, and Make disciples.
Sunday Mornings at the East Building
The main worship gathering happens twice each Sunday morning at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. in the East Building. The service lasts about an hour and follows a familiar shape: a time of group singing, a prayer, a Bible teaching from one of the pastors, and a closing prayer with one more worship song. Words to the songs are projected on a screen so newcomers can sing along or simply listen. Once a month the church shares communion together as a reminder of Jesus' death and resurrection.
After the service there is a connection time for coffee and conversation, and a Connection Center staffed by friendly ushers who can answer questions, hand out a welcome gift, and help with anything from finding a seat to learning about ministries.
The 10:30 a.m. service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for those at home or in the hospital or on the road. Giving is collected during services, but guests are not expected to contribute; offerings support the work of the church and can also be made online through PayPal.
Kid's Church on Sunday Mornings
Children are a central part of life at Foothills. During the 10:30 service, kids age 0 through fifth grade are dismissed after the opening prayer and head downstairs to the check-in area with their leaders. The children's ministry uses The Gospel Project curriculum and walks through the entire Bible on a three-year cycle. Teachers engage kids with games, Bible story teaching, and learning activities aimed at their age level.
The program is split by age group. The nursery welcomes infants and toddlers from 0 to 2, with a request that parents label personal items, pack disposable diapers, a pacifier, a change of clothes, and a bottle if needed. Preschool covers ages 3 to 4, and Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade. Parents are welcome to keep their children with them in the main service if they prefer, and the congregation is described as comfortable with the ordinary sounds that come from families. For the protection of all the kids, children with a fresh cold, fever, rash, persistent cough, diarrhea, or other signs of illness are asked to stay home until they are well. Andrea coordinates the program and can be reached at andrea@fccspokane.com.
Thursday Nights for Middle and High School
Foothills runs a combined youth group for middle school and high school students on Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the West Building. The format is straightforward: games, snacks, fellowship, and Bible study. The schedule, including combined events with both age groups, is posted on the church's events calendar. Information about the current program is available through the church office.
GROW Groups: Discipleship Around Spokane
Small groups at Foothills carry the name GROW Groups, picked up from the second step in the church's disciple-making process. The conviction behind them is that following Jesus is a team sport. To learn from him, to grow into his likeness, and to do what he did, his first disciples did it together, and so do the people at Foothills today. Anyone interested in joining a group can call the church office at 509-926-4971 or email office@fccspokane.com to be matched with a group in their area.
Women's Ministry Across the Seasons
The women's ministry offers a variety of ways for women to connect. Bible studies run on Wednesday mornings and Thursday evenings during the fall. The Foothills Fabricators quilt group welcomes quilters of every skill level, with monthly meetings listed on the church calendar. A widows fellowship gives single women a chance to gather for lunch and activities. A newcomer connection hosts small gatherings in homes for women new to the church to meet each other. The ministry also leads service projects, including Operation Christmas Child shoe box packing and ongoing support for East Valley Middle School, where women collect needed items, write encouragement notes to teachers, and mentor students weekly. A hospitality team supports the church's special events with cooking, decorating, and preparation.
Local Outreach in the Spokane Valley
Foothills has poured significant energy into the surrounding community, especially East Valley Middle School. The church runs three ongoing efforts there. Prime Time Mentoring matches adults with students once a week for a half-hour lunch, with two hours of training provided. A prayer team meets weekly to pray for teachers and administration and to write personal encouragement cards. At Thanksgiving, the church provides full holiday meals to nominated students and their families.
Foothills is also connected to and supportive of Union Gospel Mission in Spokane, joining the wider Christian community's effort to reach people experiencing homelessness and addiction in the region.
Global Ministries: From the Pacific Northwest to the Ends of the Earth
The conviction that the good news is meant for those closest and those furthest away is lived out through partnerships with missionaries across the world. Danny and Amber Mason and their family serve with Village Missions in Dallas, Oregon. Rich and Joyce Mattocks work with Tyndale Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea. Lee and Shanon Higdon serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Entebbe, Uganda. Greg and Susan Petrie serve with Village Missions in Spokane. Mike and Suzanne Imus serve with Village Missions in French Gulch, California. John and Vikki Wright and their family serve with YWAM in Arua, Uganda.
The Practice of Communion
Foothills treats communion, also called the Lord's Table or the Eucharist, as a practice given by Jesus during his final week and recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and 1 Corinthians 11. The church teaches that the bread represents Jesus' body given for his people and that the wine or juice represents his blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Anyone who trusts in Jesus is welcome to participate, and the church explains that there is no wrong way to take it as long as it is taken in faith. For those joining the livestream, the elements are led virtually, and a simple order of worship, confession, assurance from 1 John 1:9, the bread, the cup, and praise is encouraged for those leading it at other moments.
A Homeschool Library Open to the Community
One of the more distinctive resources at Foothills is a homeschool resource library located in the West Building. The library is free to all area homeschool families and holds school supplies and curriculum for every subject from kindergarten through twelfth grade, along with classic books, chapter books, and manipulatives. Karen Morrison oversees the library, and appointments can be made by email.
What Foothills Believes
Foothills holds to a doctrinal statement that centers on the Bible as the inspired, error-free Word of God; one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the deity, virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and return of Jesus Christ; the work of the Holy Spirit to convict, regenerate, sanctify, and empower believers; the universal church as the spiritual body of Christ with all regenerated persons as members; and the local church as a gathered company of believers, baptized on a credible profession of faith, set apart for worship, work, and fellowship. The church holds that all people are sinners by nature and choice, and that those who repent and trust in Jesus Christ are made new by his grace.
Values That Shape the Practices
Six values describe the church's daily practices. Whole Hearted Worship means responding to God with all of who they are. Outgoing Love means becoming a church not for themselves. Biblical Proclamation means representing the God of the Bible truthfully. Sacrificial Community means learning and spreading God's goodness through genuine relationships. Desperate Dependence means delightfully abiding in Jesus, the one through whom his people bear much fruit. Bold Faith means trusting God to the extent of his character.
Pastoral Leadership and Elders
The pastoral team at Foothills includes Pastors Joe Hendrickson, Justin Hill, Rob Fischer, and Jerry Kennedy. An Elder Board composed of Ed Arnhold, Matthew Morrison, Greg Petrie, Barry Roth, Jim Strandy, and Royce Van Gerpen provides spiritual oversight. Amy Mariner serves on the church staff.
Visiting Foothills
Anyone considering a visit can expect a welcoming atmosphere. Dress ranges from casual to more put-together, and no one will be put on the spot. Parking is available around either the East or West Building, with handicapped spots close to the doors. The worship service happens in the East Building. Children are welcome to stay with parents in the service or join Kid's Church after the opening prayer. First-time guests are invited to stop by the Connection Center to pick up a welcome gift and a packet of information about the church and its ministries. A Connection Card is available for anyone who wants the pastoral team to follow up. Communion is observed once a month, and guests are not expected to give financially during the service.
Across two Sunday services, a Thursday night youth group, GROW groups meeting around the Spokane area, women's Bible studies, a thriving Kid's Church, and partnerships with missionaries on multiple continents, Foothills Community Church has shaped itself around one central pursuit: making disciples who go on to make more disciples, in Spokane and beyond.