Category Archives: NTCC

RW Davis, founder and leader of the New Testament Christian Church, dies

Posted on March 4, 2014 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith The Mountain News received a report this week that RW Davis, the controversial leader of the New Testament Christian Church, died this week. The NTCC is headquartered in Graham, Washington, and locally the congregation is known … Continue reading →

Posted in Graham News, NTCC, Uncategorized | 150 Comments

Update on Kelly Merz – an interview with his brother, Keith Merz

Posted on April 9, 2012 by brucesmith49

  By Bruce A. Smith  Last week, Keith Merz, the brother of convicted murderer Kelly Merz, contacted the Mountain News and shared personal information that he felt was missing from our initial reportage.

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, NTCC | 3 Comments

Former NTCC lay pastor convicted of homicide and sexual violations

Posted on March 30, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith Kelly Merz, 51, has been convicted of First Degree Murder in the shooting death of his roommate, Cori Lewis, on September 11, 20011, the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office announced this week.

Posted in Cops and courts, NTCC | 13 Comments

Top Mountain News Stories of 2011

Posted on December 28, 2011 by brucesmith49

~ 1.  The Mountain News-WA launches on February 7, 2011 After months of planning and preparations, the Mountain News-WA flickered into life upon our computer screens with our first posting on February 7.  Eleven months later we’ve reached 100,000-plus hits and posted 230 … Continue reading →

Posted in Bethel News, Business, Cops and courts, Culture, DB Cooper, Eatonville News, Environment, Frederickson, Graham News, Judy Spiers, Newbie in Graham, NTCC, Paula Morris, Pets and livestock, Politics, Self Reliance, South Hill, Spanaway, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Former NTCC church worker convicted on child rape charges

Posted on October 12, 2011 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  Michael Fontenot, a former lay minister of the New Testament Christian Church in Graham, and also a part-time choir leader and the former publisher of the church’s pamphlet, The Trumpet, has been convicted on child rape … Continue reading →

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, Graham News, NTCC, Spirituality | 53 Comments

A deeper look at the South Hill – Graham homicide: a profile of Cori Lewis

Posted on September 22, 2011 by brucesmith49

  Although the homicide of Cori Lewis has triggered an enormous interest in the life of her confessed murderer, Kelly Merz, very little is actually known about the deceased.

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, Graham News, NTCC, South Hill, Spirituality | 1 Comment

The New Testament Christian Church of Graham: an overview

Posted on September 19, 2011 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith  A look inside the “church behind the fence”  Across a sloping field along the Orting-Kapowsin Highway in Graham sprawls the world headquarters of the New Testament Christian Churches of America, Inc.  Embracing an old-fashioned style of religion … Continue reading →

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, Graham News, NTCC, Politics, South Hill, Spirituality | 49 Comments

Update on Lewis homicide: Shooter had strong ties to Graham

Posted on September 17, 2011 by brucesmith49

  While very little information is known about Cori Lewis, the woman whose body was found last Monday buried in a shallow grave in Graham, more is known about her assailant, Kelly Merz and much of it is disturbing.

Posted in Cops and courts, Culture, Graham News, NTCC, South Hill | 21 Comments