History

Elk Creek was the vision of Pastor Troy Bates and family and the people of Broadway Avenue Baptist Church of Boise, Idaho. After 10 years of student ministry and a long time history with the McCall area, God called Pastor Troy to start a brand new work in the city of McCall. With the help of just two McCall families, Elk Creek held its first service on June 13, 1999 with 21 people in attendance. Even in the early days of inception, the power of God was evident in the Elk Creek family seeing lives changed and the seeds of faith planted in the heart of a community.

The first days of Elk Creek were precious days of daily walking by faith. Words cannot convey the expectancy that was felt as a small group met together on Thursday nights to plead for God’s will to be accomplished in the lives of people. Every Sunday service was a celebration of surviving and thriving against the odds. Pastor Troy worked in the community as a carpenter, volunteered as a football coach, and as an E.M.T. in order to embrace the people of McCall. His goal was to be salt outside of the salt shaker. With God blessing and God’s people reaching out to those around them, the family of Elk Creek abounded more than anyone ever thought possible.

Due to miraculous growth, Elk Creek was propelled to relocate 3 times in 4 years to accommodate new believers. It became a common jest, that if you could find us, you could worship with us. Finally in 2003, Elk Creek stepped out on faith, purchased 5 acres south of McCall and built its own 14,000 square foot building. Elk Creek continues to worship at 14102 Hwy 55, just two miles south of McCall, with plans in the near future to expand our building to create additional classroom space.

There is no greater place on earth than McCall, Idaho, and we believe that there is no greater church than Elk Creek. We’ve got it all; a great and mighty God, a loving Savior, an abundant life, and the sweet fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We often look around us and say, “All this, and Jesus too.” It’s almost more than a heart can hold.