Wasilla Bible Church

The Wasilla Bible Church is a non-denominational, evangelical Christian church in Wasilla, Alaska founded in 1977. It is now where the Palin family considers as their home church. Pastor Larry Kroon describes it as a "simple community church that is not Pentecostal." He says the congregation is basically “socially conservative”. Palin describes herself as a non-denominational Christian. After the national Convention, the McCain campaign issued a statement that said: Palin “doesn't consider herself Pentecostal”.

The following excerpts can be found on the Wasilla Bible Church website. They speak volumes on the religious orientation of Sarah Palin.

“”We Believe….

...the Bible is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God.
...Jesus Christ is the only Divine Son of God.
...man is inherently sinful and in need of the grace of God.
...salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from works.
...the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues is given to believers who ask for it.
...in Miracles of Divine healing in response to the prayer of faith.
...in the imminent return of Jesus for all Christians. We believe…

We believe…

…in our responsibility to be disciples of Christ, to love all people and to fulfill the Commission of Christ to go and make disciples of all nations by bearing witness of Christ through life and word in the power of the Holy Spirit. Lk 9:23-26; Mt 22:36-40; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Rom 1:16“.

The Wasilla Bible Church website lists five "Core Commitments" on its website:

The Centrality of Christ
The Authority of Scripture
The Priority of Prayer
Authenticity in our Spiritual Life
Community in our Congregational Life

Wasilla Bible Church advocates a strict and literal interpretation of the Christian Bible including creationism and viewing homosexuality as a sin to be "overcome". The Wasilla Bible Church doctrine resolutely teaches the traditional belief in marriage as a union between a man and a woman. In a recent church bulletin, there was an announcement of a conference in Anchorage designed to "help men and women dissatisfied with living homosexually understand that same-sex attractions can be overcome”.

The church maintains a low profile in its approach to the role of religion in the political arena; there are no cries for youth to train as the army of God, there is no witchcraft, although speaking in tongues is mentioned in their statement of beliefs.. It does rely on a strict interpretation of the Bible but not as an ‘end of times’ doctrine that has the world imploding on the return of Christ. However, Wasilla Bible Church does have extensive dominionist links, one of which is the Focus on the Family organization that has programs for "degaying" homosexuals. Another affiliation is the Alliance Defense Fund which is a prominent dominionist legal group. The Wasilla Bible Church also promotes "Christian investment" companies like Melaleuca MLM that operate in the pyramid style where mostly money trickles up rather than down.

On Palin’s part, it is not a secret that she has recruited members of the church to run for political positions. When she was looking for candidates to fill an empty representative seat two of them were from Wasilla Bible Church. Once in office they ensure that the teachings of the Church underscore public policy.

Representative Wes Keller is one of ten elders of the church. Keller has sponsored bills that would make performing some abortions a felony. He believes in censorship in libraries to preclude material that is considered “inappropriate”. Keller says it is his goal to see Alaska mandate that intelligent design be taught alongside evolution.

Although the Wasilla Bible Church is not a member of the Assemblies of God, there are many similarities and its members often have extension religious affiliations that come with some real radicalist characteristics of groups such as the Third Wave Movement and Joel’s Army. Either way, the Governor of Alaska is a dominionist in every sense of the word and she is a creationist who believes in a literal interpretation of the Bible. The Wasilla Bible Church in the wee town of Wasilla, Alaska now has a ‘star’ in their midst, put there by God as surely as Jesus Christ will come again.