The History of Sullivan First Assembly of God
- First Assembly of God church in Sullivan, Missouri, was set in order on June 4, 1917 by R.O. Miller. There were 42 Charter members. The first building was dedicated on March 18, 1923. It was located at 413 Maple Street.
- Bro. W.H. Boyles was the Pastor from 1923 to June 1927. After the resignation of Bro. Boyles;
- Rev. S.J. Miller became the pastor form July 1928 to April 1929.
- followed by Rev. David C. Plake from May 1929 to November 1932, during that time he enlarged the original building by making it wider and longer.
- In 1933, Pastor E. D. Cockman built the parsonage. He was pastor from January 1933 to September 1937.
- From November 1937 to November 1939, Rev. E.J. Hance completely tore down the old church building. A basement was dug and a new building constructed in 1938. Services were held in the city hall during time of construction.
- In December 1939, Rev. Otis Virgin became pastor of First Assembly until February 1946, when Rev. David Plake returned as pastor until September 1949.
- He was followed by Rev. Joe Ragsdale until December 1951. Bro. Ragsdale added the platform area and the much needed Sunday School annex in 1951.
- Following Bro. Ragsdales resignation, Bro. Virgin returned as pastor on January 1952 until December 1959.
- Rev. Albert W. Pettet took over pastoral duties December 1959. He added the nursery in the main auditorium in 1964. Purchased a 7 acre tract from Mrs. Florence Bailey for site of the present structure in 1966. Plans for a building selected and approved. He resigned in July of 1967.
- Rev. Gene Waterman became the pastor in September 1967, and took over the building project which was completed in 1969. Approximately 100 church members marched from the old church to our new structure on Elmont Road, north of Highway 66, (now Interstate 44) The new building contains a sanctuary for 630 worshippers and a balcony area that will house an additional 175; classrooms, youth chapel, living quarters for visiting evangelists, pastors study, fellowship hall, kitchen and missionary council room.Dedication services were held on September 14, 1969. Bro. Waterman remained pastor until February 1980.
- An interim Pastor Clifford Truitt helped us through the transition form November 1980 to May 1981, when Rev. John Davis took the Pastor position until June 1983.
- After the resignation of Bro. Davis, Rev. John Sewell was elected as Pastor from June 1983 to February 1985. An additional Nursery was added for the toddlers and new carpet was laid in the auditorium, platform and foyer.
- Rev. Gary Sherman was elected in March 1985 until his resignation in August 1986.
- In November 1986 until 1993 Rev. Paul Leasor was Pastor. During his pastorate a new organ was purchased and they voted to recover the pews and remodel the parsonage.
- January 1983 Rev. Dean Myers was voted in as Pastor until his resignation in July 1997. Extensive remodeling on the parsonage was done in 1996, as well as replacing all the stained glass in front of the church due to wind damage.
- January 1998 Rev. Tracy Barnett was voted in as Pastor until his resignation in May 2000. The present office area and sanctuary, foyer, ladies restroom, handicapped restroom remodeling was completed in 1998.
- August 20, 2000, Rev. Gary L. & Judy Oglesby were voted in as Pastors until their resignation March 22, 2007.
- On August 12, 2007, Rev. Kyle & Cascha Phillips were voted in as Pastors.
The Assemblies of God grew out of the Pentecostal revival, which began in the early 1900s in places such as Topeka, Kansas, and the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles. During times of prayer and Bible study, believers received spiritual experiences like those described in the book of Acts. Accompanied by “speaking in tongues,” their religious experiences were associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Jewish feast of Pentecost (Acts 2), and participants in the movement were dubbed “Pentecostals.” The Pentecostal movement has grown from a handful of Bible school students in Topeka, Kansas, to an estimated 600 million in the world today.
Many participants who were baptized in the Holy Spirit during revivals and camp meetings in the early 1900s were not welcomed back to their former churches. These believers started many small churches throughout the country and communicated through publications that reported on the revivals. In 1913, a Pentecostal publication, the Word and Witness, called for the independent churches to band together for the purpose of fellowship and doctrinal unity. Other concerns for facilitating missionaries, chartering churches and forming a Bible training school were also on the agenda.
Some 300 Pentecostals met at an opera house in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1914, and agreed to form a new fellowship of loosely knit independent churches. These churches were left with the needed autonomy to develop and govern their own local ministries, yet they were united in their message and efforts to reach the world for Christ. So began the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
Assemblies of God churches form a cooperative fellowship. As a result, the organization operates from the grass roots, allowing the local church to choose and develop ministries and facilities best suited for its local needs.
