Church History: First Church of God, Inc. Oak Grove, Louiaiana Submitter: Joycelyn Standifer May 2001 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Golden Anniversary 1925 - 1975 A Brief History First Church of God, Inc. Oak Grove, Louisiana The First Church of God, Inc. in Oak Grove had its official beginning September 6, 1925 after years of preaching by ministers in the parish, Dan Green, W.F. Ward, I.J. Fair and others, whose teaching influenced the life of Dr. C.W. Smith and inspired him to begin cottage prayer meetings in his home. As early as 1923, Dr. Smith invited Mrs. Pearl Stanford of Alabama to hold a tent meeting in Oak Grove. This meeting was well attended and the message of the Church of God was preached in power. Some who attended came to accept this truth. The first church building erected was in a joint effort of the Church of the Nazarene and the small group which was beginning to develop under Dr. Smith's leadership as a congregation of the Church of God with general offices located now in Anderson, Indiana, but at that time were situated in Grand Junction, Michigan. In October of 1924 Dr. Smith and his family moved to Ruston, Louisiana where Frellsen, their son, had enrolled as a Freshman in Louisiana Tech U. The departure of Dr. Smith and his family made the small group look for a new leader. They continued limited activities for the next year until in September 1925 the group invited Rev. J.R. Tackett and his wife to become their pastors. Rev. and Mrs. Tackett accepted the call of God and of the small nucleus and with their infant son, Kenneth moved to Oak Grove. It was with a group of five people gathered for a prayer meeting that Bro. Tackett announced his acceptance, but it was Sister Tackett who preached the very first Sunday morning message on September 6, 1925 with approxi- mately twenty people in attendance. Amoung those in attendance were: The Wilson family - Eugene, Ovie, Cleo, Vera, Eugene Jr., and Palma. The Crowe family - Mansfield, Era, Ralph, Malcolm and Joycelyn. The Brown family - Roxie, Mamie, Luther, Dayton, R.A. "Ace" and Donald. Sister Tackett and infant son, Kenneth. Within a very short time other families joined the developing band of worshippers. Amoung these were: The two Castleman families - Annie and Pearl. The Sims family - John, Daisy, John Douglas, Thomas Ray and Sybil. During this first tenure of Brother and Sister Tackett a number of families were added to the church and attendance grew to approxi- mately seventy. In 1926 the Church of God congreagation represented by Eugene Wilson, Mansfield Crowe and John E. Sims, acting as Trustees, bought the Church of the Nazarene interesst in the church property and became sole owners of the lot and building. In the Spring of 1927, Rev. Benjamin A. Jenkins with his family came to fill the vacant pulpit. Under his energetic and dynamic leadership the church grew in attendance until there was 130 in Sunday School. The need for a parsonage was felt at this time and in August of 1927 Judge John R. McIntosh donated a lot on McIntosh Street to the church. On this property a six room frame dwelling was con- structed which continued to be occupied by succeeding pastors and their families until August of 1967. Rev. Jenkins continued to pastor the church until 1931 when he accepted the call of the First Church of God in Ruston, Louisiana. Following the resignation of Jenkins a lovely single lady, Grace Murry, accepted the leadership of the flock in 1931. She lived, for a time, in the homes of the Crowes and the Sims. After a year as pastor she married Rev. Elzy Brown. He then became pastor and remained until 1934. It was about this time that the Cam Smith family became part of the church family. 1934 to 1935 found and elderly minister, Rev. J.E. Rinebarger filling the pulpit and giving leadership to the church. The next pastors were Rev. and Mrs. E.C. Arthur, who with their son Edward, labored in the field from 1936 to 1938. Bro. Arthur had a dream for a new sanctuary, but his dream was not yet to be realized. Rev. Raymond Hull followed the Arthurs and pastored the church for a period of one year, 1938 to 1939. The D.G. Trimbles, who were then pastoring the Green Chapel congregation, accepted the call to also become the pastors of the Church of God in Oak Grove. After a time they moved into the Oak Grove parsonage and then devoted full time to the Oak Grove church. Under the leadership of the Trimbles a building program was accomplished. The old sanctuary was moved to the back of the property and converted into Sunday School facilities and a new frame sanctuary was erected on the site of the original building. The Trimbles served as pastors from 1939 to 1941. The next pastorate was for a duration of one year, 1942 to 1943 in which Rev. R.D. Spencer served as minister. He was succeeded by Rev. and Mrs. Harrison W. Smith who served as pastors from 1943 to 1945. Rev. and Mrs. Andy Carpenter and their family were to follow Bro. and Sis. Smith and assumed pastoral duties of the church in 1945 to 1946. The Harrison Smiths were recalled by the congregation in 1946 from Pryor, Oklahoma and they returned for a more extensive ministry. One of the accomplishments of this six year ministry from 1946 to 1951 was the establishment of a Negro congregation. In addition to their activities the church was responsible in helping purchase property for the church as well as assisting it in becoming independent of outside support. Under the able leadership of the Smiths the first man from the Oak Grove congregation of the Church of God dedicated his life to preaching the Gospel. That man is the dearly beloved and highly respected pastor and evangelist Earl Moore. 1951 found the first pastor, Rev. J.R. Tackett, returning to lead the flock once again, this time for a period of approximately six years. Again the congregation was ready to embark upon a building program. The oldest buildiing that had been remodeled into a Sunday School facility was dismantled and a new frame building erected in its place. After a short duration this building was sold and moved off the location and the brick facility which is presently in use was completed. It was during this time that the church achieved its greatest enrollment, 158 to 225. Rev. J.J. Coody followed the second tenure of Bro. and Sis. Tackett in 1957. The building program started under the Tackett's leader- ship was continued. The frame sanctuary was torn down and replaced by a beautiful brick building presently in use. On March 15, 1959, a dedication service and corner-stone laying ceremony was held by a joyful congregation. 1961 was a difficult year for it saw Brother Coody's health begin to fail and due to this physicalproblem he was forced to retire from the pastorate. A young minister-school teacher, Rev. Dwight L. Grubbs with his wife Sylvia, the former Sylvia Kennedy, were to become overseeres of the flock. From 1962 to 1966 they served the congregation and it was through their leadership two young men of the congregation, H.D. Ainsworth and Mickey Kennedy, felt and responded to the call to full time Christian service in the Christian ministry. Both men are serving congregations of the Church of God. In September 1966, a Texan, Rev. Daulton O. Hutson and his wife and family accepted the call of the church. The need for improved living facilities was felt and a beautiful new brick parsonage was con- structed on Airport Road on a lot donated to the church by Mr. Joe T. Kelly. In August of 1969 the Hutson family became the first occupants of the much needed and long dreamed of building. Under the leadership of the Hutsons the outreach of the church was greatly enlarged through increased support of: Local Missions Louisiana State Budget Louisiana Kingdom Bible College and World Service. One of the greatest contributions to the local area was a school for retarded children which began in the Sunday School facility of the church. It has developed into the present MARY BIGGS DEVELOPMENT CENTER. Our present pastors, Rev. and Mrs. Russell M. Noss responded to the call of God and the church to assume the leadership role in February of 1973. Responding to their leadership and challange the church has attained goals that have been suprising to one and all. To the already existing programs, the budget has been expanded to include missions work in Central America. As part of this project the church helps support National Pastors. In August of 1975, six members of the congregation (Edward and Blanche Lamb, Paul and Ercil Harper, Faye Jone and Renee'Noss) accompanied Rev. and Mrs. Noss on an evangelistic mission of 12 days to Guate- mala and E. Salvador to conduct conferences and institutes as well as evangelistic services. Also during the summer of 1975 the church participated in the newly created Gulf Coast Bible College Summer Intern Program. William Michael "Mike" Withers, was called to serve as Assistant to the Pastor for ten weeks of in-service training. Much has had to be omitted to keep this historical report concise. From the humble beginning fifty years ago First Church of God, Inc. in Oak Grove has been wonderfully blessed with leaders who have said, "Follow me as I follow Christ and see what can be accomploshed." For what has been accomplished and what may be in the future we say--- TO GOD BE THE GLORY! 1925-Roster of Pastors-1975 Rev. & Mrs. J.R. Tackett 1925-1927 Rev. & Mrs. Benjamin A. Jenkins 1927-1931 Rev. Grace (Murry) Brown 1931-1932 Rev. & Mrs. Elzy Brown 1932-1934 Rev. & Mrs. J.E. Rinebarger 1934-1935 Rev. & Mrs. E.C. Arthur 1936-1938 Rev. & Mrs. Raymond Hull 1938-1939 Rev. & Mrs. D.G. Trimble 1939-1941 Rev. & Mrs. R.D. Spencer 1942-1943 Rev. & Mrs. Harrison W. Smith 1943-1945 Rev. & Mrs. Andy Carpenter 1945-1946 Rev. & Mrs. Harrison W. Smith 1946-1951 Rev. & Mrs. J.R. Tackett 1951-1956 Rev. & Mrs. Jessie J. Coody 1957-1961 Rev. & Mrs. Dwight L. Grubbs 1962-1966 Rev. & Mrs. Daulton O. Hutson 1966-1972 Rev. & Mrs. Russell M. Noss 1973-Present