OUR HERITAGE
 

The CrossPointe Prayer Tree In 1939 Carey and Ruth Milam bought five acres of “old growth stump” property on a gravel road in Bothell. Carey and Ruth were Christians who dedicated this property to the Lord. This would later become the corner of 104th NE and NE 195th , the site of The First Baptist Church of Bothell currently known as CrossPointe Church, SBC.

As they were clearing the land and building their home they left one large Cedar tree on the North East corner of the property. During World War II, with two of their sons in the military overseas, a spot under this tree soon became the “quiet place” where Ruth would go to pray.

Since Ruth and Carey’s fathers were both pioneer Baptist preachers in the North West their dream was to have a Baptist Church in Bothell. Carey was a public school superintendent but he and Ruth were strong supporters of Christian Schools where the teachers are free to teach from a biblical perspective. Ruth was a dreamer and visionary who would regularly pray under this tree for God to one day use their property for a Baptist church and a Christian school.

This tree still stands near CrossPointe’s office and the upper entrance of our property.

In 1957 when WD Williams started the Bothell First Baptist Church, Carey and Ruth became charter members who actively participated in supporting the new church. They also gave the corner portion of their land to build a church building. During construction, although she was terminally ill, Ruth regularly provided meals for the workers and Carey worked tirelessly on the construction.

God wonderfully answered their prayers. Ruth lived long enough to attend the first service in our first church building and Carey lived to see the Heritage Christian School in operation.