John VanBelle was Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity's first hired Executive Director. His leadership in our early years continues to be recalled by those who ministered with him.

John and his wife Esther are two of God's saints. Their trust in the Lord is an example for all.

Micchael R Nixon, Executive Director, Yakima Valley Partners Habitat for HumanityWhy do churches have steeples, stained glass windows, and church bells?As representatives for HFH, we traveled Wyoming, Montana, Washington State and Oregon. During our trips we were introduced to church groups from different churches and different denominations.

The churches that were constructed around 1900 and before had all the same type of construction style as the churches in Europe. This type of construction was brought here with the immigrants arriving in the United States at that time.

This gave us the suggestion to answer the questions I asked my dad, and while doing that, we found some great stories: why the churches were built and the challenges the church goers encountered. .