Looking Back at Bethesda, Finding More Ties to Grace City Church
The Wenatchee Valley’s OG “indie” church has more connections to GGC than originally thought
The Wenatchee Valley’s OG “indie” church has more connections to GGC than originally thought
Throughout my investigation of Grace City Church in Wenatchee, Wa. I have had many folks come forward with file folders full of old newspaper clippings and other things they saved from the days of the Bethesda Christian Center imbroglio, which made national news at the time.
It’s been an interesting development, and one that I thought was relatively unconnected at first. But folks who were here in Wenatchee in the 70s and 80s as this story was unfolding keep saying that Grace City reminds them of Bethesda.
“It’s Bethesda all over again,” more than one person has said about GCC.
There are certain similarities, most notably the money thing. Ex-GCC members have told me pastor Josh McPherson exhorts his congregation to “Pay my bills!” and one former member said GCC leaders tell members to pay their tithe to the church before their mortgage or any household bills.
Bethesda Pastor Larry Titus and that leadership group was also very keen on making sure the church, and therefore the leaders, got paid. I have already reported on the fact that Titus and Bethesda leaders urged people to take out mortgages on their paid-off homes and give the money to the church. There was also a check kiting con and diamond importing scheme that involved the local sheriff, but we’ll save that for later.
What really made me stop and think: “Hmm, these stories might actually intertwine” is the fact that I am discovering more and more families who were Bethesda followers and are now GCC followers. So I am following up on that angle and should have more interesting things to report on that front soon.
The other interesting thing I got my hands on recently is this tape recording on a special series from former KPQ radio reporter Jeff Smith called “Take II.”
On it is about an hour of interviews with Larry Titus and James Eyre themselves, before the fall of Bethesda. Smith also spoke with former members who had left the church and loved ones of those who were still followers, as well as other religious leaders in town.
Smith even went to a service at Bethesda and you can listen to that here.
Jeff Smith was a real deal reporter who had the juice, and it was frankly cathartic to listen to a journalist practicing his craft without apologizing for asking hard questions. It’s a shame that KPQ has not lived up to the high standards set by Jeff Smith, and has even given people reason to believe they are in the pocket of GCC.
And it’s a valid concern to raise after the station tried to hold its recent candidate forums at GCC compound in Sunnyslope. Ostensibly that was because the compound is “centrally located” and convenient to get to. Convenient for who, though? Certainly people who live in Sunnyslope or North Wenatchee. For the residents of South Wenatchee and Rock Island, not so much.
It was enough to pique my curiosity about the KPQ/GCC connection though and low and behold, what did I find on GCC’s Instagram feed? This photo of KPQ’s Dave Bernstein cutting the rug at a GCC “home team” Christmas party at the Wenatchee Convention Center in 2017.
Here’s another shot, from “the red carpet.”
The more I learn about GCC and its influence, it’s not hard to understand why local media outlets like KPQ have refused to ask any hard questions about the organization. Thankfully, we don’t have to rely merely on local media at this point. I know The Seattle Times and other large media outlets have started taking a look at GCC since I started this series. Whether or not GCC leaders have responded to any media inquires is another matter though.
GCC leaders have not responded to my repeated attempts to contact them and ask questions.
If you follow me on social media you probably expected me to write on the fact that I was doxed this week.
But playing the victim isn’t my style.
In good time I will reveal why Mr. Eddy is displeased with me. For now though if anyone would like to visit me at my “private office” because of Mr. Eddy’s post, good luck with that because it’s one of the most secure buildings in town.