About us
Our History
The Illinois Valley Praise Center was founded on October 1, 1990 by Douglas and Debra Wilson. Starting in The Kerby Belt Building where services were held regularly, it grew in attendance by those hungry for Jesus alone! In 1996 we were blessed to be able to purchase the old drive-in theater that was closed down and located on the main highway where we currently reside. Slowly we have been able to improve on the 8.9 acres. We first remodeled the old snack bar into an office and Sunday School class rooms. Later we cleared the back corner and built a Praise Platform, planted grass, put up a shade cloth, built benches and held our services outside during the summer. In 2001 we purchased a large red and white circus tent. We poured a cement foundation and erected the tent where we met for 6 years. We saw mighty moves of God in that circus tent and He was faithful to those seeking His face and not His hand. It was a time of growth and blessing. In mid 2006 our building was complete; a 40' x 80' metal building that we have called home ever since. God has blessed us with this location and through all the ups and downs, God has continued to sustain us! We believe there is much more in store for the land God gave us and can't wait to see what the future holds!
​
Our Vision
We know that God has plans for this valley and believe that the salvation of lost souls should be the priority of a Church who are to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are passionately seeking revival and fervently contend for the truth of the Gospel. We expect that God will come with signs and wonders and transform this valley for His glory.
​
Our Statement of Faith
We believe that the bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God.
We believe in One Eternal God existent in three persons. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, His substitutionary death for our sins, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven, in His imminent return and our gathering together to Him.
We believe that all have sinned and come short of God’s Glory and are in need of salvation.
We believe that you must be born of the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God and be saved.
We believe in water baptism by immersion. That it is symbolic of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and our being crucified and resurrected with Him.
We believe in Justification and reconciliation to the Father by faith in Jesus’ shed Blood alone and not by any righteousness of our own.
We believe in the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. That by His power working in us, we are able to live godly lives that are well pleasing to God.
We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are alive and working in the Children of God today.
​
Our Government
Jesus Christ is the only Head of Church and has the pre-eminence in all things pertaining to His Church which is His Body.
We have Elders who are our acting Pastors and are called of God and recognized and set in office by the existing Elders. The Elders seek the Holy Spirit in prayer concerning the matters of the Church. They work on the principle of unanimity. There must be complete agreement before a major decision is made. We believe the Holy Spirit still speaks and guides the Church in this way.
We are a New Covenant Church. Not governed by the Old Testament law but led by the Holy Spirit.
We believe that God sets members in the Body as it pleases Him. Therefore, all ministries are based on a call and appointment to it. We discourage any and all self-ambition. All ministry should be “as to the Lord.” We look for humility and a desire to serve when acknowledging ministry.
We do not have a formal membership. All those who are members of His Body are our brothers and sisters and are accepted into full fellowship. We recognize and fellowship with all those who call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity and Truth.
​
If you share our values and desire to be a part of a body that is seeking change and intimacy with Christ above all else, we invite you to join us!
our pastors:
Tony and Holli
Hess
Lead Pastor
​
Tony and Holli have been dedicated members of IVPC since 1999. They raised their four children in Cave Junction and now enjoy their grandchildren in the same community they have dedicated their lives to ministering in. Tony became a pastor in 2009 and currently coaches basketball and football at the local High School. They are both active and respected members of the community. Holli leads the Children's Ministries at IVPC and plays an active role in the Women's Ministry as well. With a passion for the lost and a vision for the future, they are continuosly seeking God for His direction.
Doug and Debra
Wilson
Pastor/Founder
​
Doug and Debra founded the IVPC in 1990. They have built this ministry from the ground up at the direction of Christ and have discipled many families in our valley over the last 33 years. They have sacrificed and dedicated the best years of their lives to the service of Christ's mission in Cave Junction and throughout Oregon. Through much adversity they have seen victory in salvations and miracles! They continue to minister to us and contend in prayer for our body and community. Doug is dedicated to raising up the next generation of leaders and followers of Jesus Christ and is eager to see what God has in store!
Travis and Mariah Griess
Pastor
​
Travis and Mariah have been members of the IVPC since 2004. Having spent more than half their lives in this body and community, their roots run deep and their desire and passion to see revival in Cave Junction is a driving force in their ministry. Travis became a pastor in 2021 after years of service to the body and has been seeking God and developing the call on his life fervently since. Mariah has been the Treasurer and Secretary for the IVPC since 2015 and has played an active roll in event coordination and day to day business. They are dedicated to God's direction and excited to see a mighty move of the Spirit in the valley!