A Bilingual Church in the Yakima Valley
West Valley Church stands on West Nob Hill Boulevard in Yakima, Washington, on a ten-acre campus that has grown from a single meeting place in the middle of a pear orchard into a multi-cultural, multi-generational congregation known for its bilingual worship and warm welcome.
The church carries a simple motto: Love. Learn. Live. Its three-part mission is to introduce people to Jesus Christ, equip people with a faith that works, and live as people with purpose. Pastor Mike O'Neill and the staff describe it as a friendly, multi-cultural, multi-generational church where anyone can discover Jesus, grow in faith, and find community.
From a Pear Orchard in 1956
In 1956, ten people and Pastor Paul Hayden began meeting as Wide Hollow Church of the Nazarene in a small donated building on what is now the West Valley campus. The original property was given by Mrs. Clara Congdon. Two years later, the congregation adopted its current name, West Valley Church of the Nazarene. In 1959 work began on a north-end addition, followed a year later by a south-end addition. Both projects were dedicated on Easter Sunday 1961.
The 1970s brought the next major milestone. In 1978 the new Worship Center was dedicated, and the previous sanctuary was re-purposed as a fellowship hall and space for children's and youth ministries. In 1996 the church bought more land from the Congdon family, growing the campus to its current ten acres; the old building was later removed. By 2003 the church had opened a gym, youth space, commercial kitchen, and administrative offices.
The early 2020s were marked by financial breakthroughs and renewal. In 2021 the congregation raised one million dollars in a single year - much of it gathered during the pandemic - to retire the remaining mortgage from a 1999 expansion. By 2023 an additional $700,000 had been raised for renovations, with a leadership commitment to keep the church out of debt in the future. A 2025 renovation refreshed the main restrooms, a nursing room, children's and adult spaces with a kitchenette, the Worship Center, and other parts of the building.
Sunday Mornings at the Worship Center
Sunday worship happens at 10:00 AM in the Worship Center, with services running about an hour and fifteen minutes. Both in-person and livestream options are available, and services can be joined live on YouTube from anywhere.
West Valley worships in English and Spanish. Interpretation devices are available during the English sermon, and the Worship Pastor leads bilingual singing - seeing the congregation worship together in both languages is one of his favorite parts of ministry. A separate Noche de Alabanza, or Night of Praise, is held periodically in Spanish, drawing together the whole church for an evening of Spanish-language praise followed by pan dulce and aguas frescas in the foyer.
Before the service, classes for every age meet at 9:00 AM. Children from 1st through 6th grade gather for Kids' Sunday Class, middle and high school students meet for youth classes, and adults gather in The Quad for the Adult Sunday Class, a weekly study of Scripture designed to deepen community and grow faith.
The Children's Wing: Caravan, Quizzing, and Kid's Church
West Valley's Children's Department is a secure, separate wing of the building with its own check-in system. All children's leaders are background-checked and trained. Children move through several programs during the week and on Sundays.
Kid's Church runs every Sunday morning with worship, stories, and fun. Ages three through kindergarten and 1st through 6th graders take part; newborns through age two are cared for in the nursery. Kids' Sunday Classes meet on Sunday mornings when Bible Quizzing isn't in session. Caravan is a weekly program during the school year that adds another layer of learning and activity. Bible Quizzing lets kids memorize and recite Scripture in a fun, competitive format.
For families visiting, check-in takes place just inside the main entrance. Parents can drop off knowing each child has a printed name tag and each adult has a matching pick-up tag. A contact phone number and any allergy or medical information are collected at the kiosk, and a safety team monitors the building before, during, and after services.
Wednesday Nights on the Gym Side
For middle and high school students, the big gathering of the week is Wednesday night. Doors open at 6:30 PM on the gym side of the building, where signs outside the door help new families find their way. Students are greeted by an adult leader and - if it's their first visit - set up with a check-in profile. A "637" free time gives students their pick of open gym, karaoke in the lower youth center, the loft, or snacks and drinks from the cafe.
At 7:00 PM the group moves to the Worship Center. The Youth and Young Adult Pastor, Div Tosingilo, opens the night with welcome and announcements, followed by a segment called Wednesday Night Live. A student-led worship band leads singing, and then Pastor Div preaches a message. After the message, students break into small groups sorted by gender and grade, each led by an adult leader. After small group time, students head back to the gym to wait for pickup.
Parents are always welcome to stay, with a heads-up to Pastor Div beforehand if they plan to remain on site. The only prerequisites are an open heart and a curious mind, though students are encouraged to bring a Bible, a notebook, and a friend.
Young Adults and Life Groups
Life Groups are the heart of small-group ministry at West Valley. Groups meet on different days and rhythms, from Bible study to craft projects to caregiving support.
- The Young Adult Life Group meets Mondays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the Youth Center, beginning with dinner and fellowship before moving into study. Some semesters follow a book of the Bible, others a contemporary book study.
- The Stone Life Group meets Mondays from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Zoom, a virtual option for those who prefer to connect from home.
- The Ladies Bible Study also meets Mondays from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Adult Classroom, working through Priscilla Shirer's "Discerning the Voice of God" over seven sessions.
- Knitted Together gathers on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Members knit or crochet together, pray, and create items like hats and scarves for those in need. Beginners and experienced crafters are both welcome.
- The Hubble/Newport Life Group meets Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in Adult Classroom S404.
- The Adcock Life Group gathers Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:30 AM in the same building.
- A Dementia Caregivers Life Group meets monthly on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at Pastor Roger's home, offering support, encouragement, and practical insights to those caring for loved ones with dementia.
- The Grief Recovery Support Group, led by Pastor Roger Allen - a certified Grief Recovery Specialist - uses the eight-week Grief Recovery Method to walk participants through unresolved loss in a setting that is warm, safe, and judgment-free.
Core Classes: 101 to 104, and Beyond
A four-part Core Class sequence introduces newcomers to West Valley's beliefs, mission, and structure and walks them toward membership. The 101 Core Class covers the basics of following Jesus and what's distinctive about the church, taught by Pastor Mike in the Conference Room. The 102 Core Class focuses on habits of faith and tools for spiritual growth; 103 helps members discover and deploy their spiritual gifts; and 104 helps them discern and live out their calling. A Baptism Class is also available for those ready to take that step.
Two Conversational Spanish classes - one on Wednesday nights and one on Sundays - give English speakers an opportunity to practice Spanish and build cross-cultural friendships, reflecting the church's growing bilingual identity. New Here Lunch is held periodically after the Sunday service for anyone wanting to meet the pastors and ask questions about how to get connected.
Compassion on the Front Lines
Congregational Care at West Valley is more than a program. Pastor Roger Allen, an ordained deacon in the Church of the Nazarene, oversees a team of nine trained lay ministers who meet monthly and communicate weekly to coordinate care. Roger and his wife Joy have been married since 1992 and have three adult children.
The team responds to births, deaths, job changes, divorce, grief, illness, and other life crises. Their care looks like prayer support, regular phone calls and texts, in-person visits at homes, hospitals, and care centers, meals, transportation, and practical help with tangible needs. Anyone in the church family can request care through a Request Care form.
Volunteers can join the work by sending cards, making phone calls, visiting the sick, preparing or delivering meals, providing transportation, helping with house cleaning, lawn work, snow removal, auto or simple home repairs, moving help, or supporting special events. The leadership describes care as a climate cultivated across the entire congregation, not just a team of specialists.
Serving in the Church and the Schools
West Valley partners with two local elementary schools, Wide Hollow and Mountain View, providing backpacks and supplies at the start of the school year and supporting the Homework Club that serves 4th and 5th graders after school. Upward Soccer brings families together on the back fields during soccer season. The school outreach team serves students through encouragement and hands-on opportunities.
A long list of service teams keeps the church running week to week. The Worship + Tech Team uses music, media, and production gifts to shape Sunday worship. Guest Services helps newcomers feel at home from the moment they arrive. The Safety Team monitors the parking lot and building before, during, and after services. Chapters Cafe Team creates a welcoming space with coffee and hospitality. Spanish Outreach supports Spanish-speaking guests and families; the Prayer Group lifts up needs throughout the week; and Office Volunteers handle behind-the-scenes work. Each team exists to let the congregation live out its faith in practical ways.
The Team That Leads West Valley Church
Pastor Mike O'Neill, the Lead Pastor, grew up in an unchurched Oregon home and became a Christian at 17 while pursuing a career in law enforcement. After fifteen years as a youth pastor, he has served as a lead pastor since 1998, with ministry across southern California, Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. He and his wife Shelly - a CTE/Career Pathways Coordinator who coordinates multiple school districts and industries in Washington - have three adult sons and two granddaughters, and the family has lived in Yakima since 2010. Two of their sons work in medical professions and the third is a pastor.
Pastor Roger Allen, the Congregational Care Pastor, moved to Yakima in 2017 after spending the first 48 years of his life in the Kansas City area. He earned degrees in Music Education and Education at MidAmerica Nazarene University, taught in public schools for ten years, and moved into full-time ministry in 2000. He led worship at West Valley for two decades before stepping into his current role and is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist.
Pastor Div Tosingilo joined the West Valley staff in 2023 as the Youth and Young Adult Pastor, after serving in St. Charles, Missouri. He and his wife Ella met at MidAmerica Nazarene University and married in 2022; they have a daughter named Norah. Div loves hosting students and young adults at his home and is passionate about helping people find their place in God's story.
Pastor Israel Villalobos, the Worship Pastor, grew up in Kansas City where his love for worship began. He and his wife relocated to Yakima in 2023, and he is especially passionate about leading bilingual worship. He is working toward ordination through Northwest Nazarene University.
Pastor Casey Wilkerson, the Children's Pastor, has served West Valley since 2012 and has been in children's ministry since 2005. He grew up in Yakima and earned a BA in Religion and an MA in Christian Education from Northwest Nazarene University. He and his wife Alyssa have four children.
Melissa Peart, the Executive Pastor, joined West Valley in 2009 as a part-time bookkeeper and rose through the role of Business Administrator before responding to a call into ministry. She and her husband Bruce have been married about 30 years and have two adult children.
What Nazarenes Believe
West Valley holds to the historic beliefs of the Church of the Nazarene:
- One God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- The Old and New Testament Scriptures, given by plenary inspiration, contain all truth necessary to faith and Christian living.
- Human beings are born with a fallen nature, inclined to evil.
- Those who remain finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost.
- The atonement through Jesus Christ is for the whole human race; whoever repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is justified, regenerated, and saved from the dominion of sin.
- Believers are to be sanctified wholly, subsequent to regeneration, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- The Holy Spirit bears witness to the new birth, and also to the entire sanctification of believers.
- The Lord will return, the dead will be raised, and the final judgment will take place.
The church's six core values are evangelism, prayer, worship, intentional discipleship, stewardship, and community. Evangelism is described as showing genuine love and concern for everyone and welcoming all, no matter who they are or where they are from. Prayer is valued as God's way of hearing and answering the church, the family, and the individual believer. Worship is presented as more than singing, encompassing every act of service to others. Intentional discipleship emphasizes training and equipping followers of Jesus to grow mature in faith and actions. Stewardship recognizes God as a giver and invites members to be generous with time, talents, and treasures. Community is described as a growing Christian family united by joy, acceptance, encouragement, love, and healthy relationships.
Planning a First Visit
West Valley's campus sits on West Nob Hill Boulevard with a large parking lot. Two main entrances on the west side of the building open into the campus, where greeters meet visitors at the doors. Inside, the Foyer Welcome Center is the place to ask questions, get bearings, and find coffee at Chapters Cafe before service. The Sunday service runs from 10:00 AM to about 11:15 AM, with Sunday classes for every age at 9:00 AM.
Dress ranges from jeans to Sunday best; come as you are in whatever is comfortable. The building and restrooms are fully wheelchair accessible, and greeters are happy to assist anyone who needs a hand. New Here Lunch is held periodically after the service for anyone wanting to meet the pastors and staff, and a 101 Core Class is offered regularly for those curious about church membership.
Giving is available online through the church's PushPay platform, with options for one-time gifts, recurring gifts, appreciated stock, retirement gifts, and legacy planning through the Nazarene Foundation. Each fall the church publishes an Annual Report that shares how generosity has shaped ministry and community work over the previous year.