On July 22, 2018, Ken and JoAnn McCormick, founder and senior pastor of Tri-City Baptist Temple retired after 45 years of pastoring one church.
McCormick accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in 1962 at Tucson Baptist Temple where he volunteered under Louis Johnson for eight years.
On a special Sunday service in July, McCormick remembers Homer Ritchie preaching the gospel of surrender and McCormick took that call to surrender to full time ministry. He moved his family to Springfield, MO in 1969 to attend Baptist Bible College where he graduated with a pastoral and theology degree.
In 1972-1973 he served on staff at Alice Avenue Baptist Church in Phoenix, AZ, pastored by Charles Vaden, as administrative pastor.
In 1973 he and his family moved to Gladstone, OR where he founded Tri City Baptist Temple, starting with 16 members.
In these 45 years he has served as Oregon State Chairman, Trustee for Baptist Bible College, and Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College. He also earned two Doctor of Divinity degrees and was presented an award from Elmer Towns for the fastest growing Sunday school in the Northwest.
The church also celebrated its 45thAnniversary on July 22, 2018 with many highlights of his accomplishments.
His motto, “Stick & Stay & Make it Pay” has been heard many times within and outside of the church. Tri- City has always focused on Missions with the church currently supporting over 125 missionaries and mission projects worldwide.
McCormick will remain as pastor emeritus. As he would say, “Straight Ahead!”