Fairfield church receives grant to improve wiring in its kitchen

By Mary Stamp

As community pastor in the 700-member town of Fairfield, 20 minutes south of Spokane Valley, Debbie Cato emphasizes the importance of people knowing how much God loves them unconditionally and that Jesus' call is for followers to serve and think of their neighbors.

"We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus," she said. "It's important not just to go to church but also to be the church and accept people even when they are different from us."

In her three years serving Fairfield Community Church, a federated Presbyterian-Lutheran church, she has been the community's minister. She conducts funerals and weddings for anyone and provides pastoral care, such as counseling the family of someone dying in intensive care, helping a mother hiding from her children's abusive father, or counseling and referring people struggling with addiction.

Debbie reaches out wherever she sees a need.

"That means caring for those who would not step through the doors of the church but are part of the community," she said. "It means attending town council meetings."

It also means that the church houses a preschool, offers a summer vacation Bible school, hosts a yoga class for women over 50, helps sponsor a town barbeque and movie night, co-sponsors a food co-op, leads worship at the local assisted living center, holds game nights and craft workshops, and on fifth Sundays helps do community service projects in Fairfield.

In October, the church will begin hosting community dinners every few months for about 75 people after upgrading the wiring and kitchen appliances with a $10,000 national AARP 2024 Community Challenge grant, a $3,000 grant from Agwest Credit Union and other funding.

Debbie said the church is one of 343 organizations nationally receiving $3.8 million.

"AARP Washington is committed to working with local leaders to make our communities more livable, especially for those 50 and older," said AARP's state director Marguerite Ro. "Projects like this can make already great communities even better places to live for people of all ages."

The funds will upgrade the church's electrical system to prepare for improvements to the kitchen.

The Fairfield church was one of four grant recipients in Washington receiving $68,000 as part of AARP's goal to make communities more livable.

Debbie said the frequency of the community meals will depend on recruiting volunteers from the church's 85 members and the community.

"We will offer a free meal to anyone in the community who wants to come. Our goal is to build community by being a place to gather," she said. "We see it as a service to people in the community and an opportunity for seniors, who do not often go out and be around people to socialize.

"It will help people in the community know each other better," Debbie said.

Debbie, who worked 24 years as a certified public accountant (CPA) in Tacoma after graduating in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Washington, became disillusioned with the focus on money and profits. Moved by her church surrounding her and her two daughters as they navigated through tough times, she became director of a nonprofit homeless center in Tacoma.

Those experiences led her to want to make faith part of "all of me," she said.

So, Debbie went to Fuller Theological Seminary, graduating in 2009, and then served Presbyterian churches in Casper, Wyo., and one in Eugene, Ore., three years each, before deciding to retire and move to Spokane Valley to be near one daughter and her two grandchildren.

"Frustrated by conflict in a previous church, I was not interested in pastoring a church again, but I missed preaching and pastoral care," she said. "I was invited to do pulpit supply for a month in Fairfield after they lost their pastor.

"I fell in love with the people, the compassion, kindness and generosity of the congregation and community," said Debbie, who lives in the manse.

When the churches federated, the Presbyterian building sold first, so they are using the former Lutheran building.

"We work to keep both traditions alive. When the churches combined, they agreed what parts of each denomination's worship to incorporate. The denominations are similar," she said, adding that Catholics and Baptists are among the average of 35 attending Sunday worship.

Fairfield is the town southeast of Spokane that celebrates Flag Day. In 2010 it was recognized for celebrating Flag Day for 100 years.

The rural town, which has two parks, not only has many farmers but also many people who live there and drive to Spokane to work. The church includes about eight farm families, many of whom were long-term members of the Presbyterian and Lutheran churches. Other members are teachers and retired nurses.

"We are here for others in the community if something happens. We jump in to help. People really care about one another," Debbie said, noting the church's outreach to the community.

Tuesday mornings, Debbie visits Fairfield's assisted living facility serving 70 residents. The church leads 2 p.m. worship services there on third Sundays every month and holds its regular Sunday worship there four times a year, on the third Sunday of every third month.

Other area churches bring worship services there other Sundays—Fairfield Seventh-day Adventist, Rockford United Methodist, Spangle Community Church and the Church of Latah.

On fifth Sundays, Debbie said the church worships "with our hands and feet." Instead of going to church, members do projects in the community such as doing yardwork for elderly and disabled people, washing windows and cleaning at the assisted living center, landscaping at the community center, raking leaves and other projects. Volunteers include members of church families who do not attend regularly.

"We do staff appreciation by taking snacks for assisted living staff. We also express our appreciation for first responders, firefighters and school teachers by taking snacks to them," Debbie said.

Many years ago, Fairfield and other rural communities combined to form Liberty Elementary, Middle and High Schools, serving 400 students in the county between Fairfield, Latah, Spangle and Waverly. The community has an education foundation that gives every senior a scholarship. After high school and college, many stay or return, especially those in farm families, she said.

In addition, some church and town families send children to Freeman High School, 12 miles north. Since the 2021 shooting that killed one student and injured several others, Debbie has provided some pastoral care for people who are still experiencing trauma from that.

In August, the church also collects school supplies to fill 25 backpacks for children of families who go to the food bank. At Christmas, church members fill wishes on gift tags on its Giving Tree for food bank children.

For the fifth Sunday of September, the church plans a food drive and hay ride to help supply the food bank that Second Harvest serves. The food bank is open two days every two weeks.

Church members volunteer and donate to the food bank. The director for many years is Sheila Dyer, a church member.

The food co-op meets in different locations to teach skills in gardening, cooking, canning and preserving.

Members also organize, cook and deliver meals to homes when a family member is ill or had surgery.

The church has a Sunday school for three-year-olds to sixth graders, a Wednesday evening adult soup and study and a preschool.

For 24 years, it has operated the preschool for three- and four-year olds. Four-year-olds come Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, and three-year-olds come Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Last year, there were 19 children.

Debbie meets with the preschool Thursday mornings to tell a Bible story, visit with them about what's happening in their lives and lead a prayer.

"They tell me about their families," she said. "It keeps me in tune with families in the community."

The church also sponsors a one-week vacation Bible school in the summer at the community center in conjunction with the free summer lunch. This year 18 volunteers from the church and community led sessions for 32 children.

"Fairfield has a strong sense of community, family values, and generosity to help people in need," she summed up.

For information, call 541-214-7098 or email dcato1237@gmail.com.