A memoir by Curtis Dean, Sept. 2010
It was early September, 1950, and school had just started at Central Bible Institute, in Springfield, MO. I had frequently preached back in Kansas, and some at CBI knew this. A man therefore came to me and said: “We would like to have a church started at Pierce City and hear that you are a preacher. Would you be willing to be the team leader?” I replied, “No, I’m just a freshman, but I know a senior who might be willing.”
That senior was Forrest Farley, and he agreed to be the team leader and pastor. The team members were from Kansas, Mary (Hollis) Jones, from El Dorado, and the rest of us were all from the First Assembly of God, of Wichita: Forrest and his wife, Joan; Marjorie (Kloefkorn) Spikes; A.J. Fox (with us the first couple of months), and myself. Occasionally, others would go along to help.
Towards the middle of September, we began street meetings on Saturday evenings, at Walnut and Main St. The pharmacy next door let us plug into their electricity for our sound system. We also met with some residents who were interested in starting an Assembly. I do not remember the names of most of them, but do remember that a Bro. & Sis. Ray were among the original members and supporters.
Very soon thereafter, we rented the main floor of a store-front building on Main St, just west of Elm St. and someone donated the benches. Therefore, by early October, 1950, we had the first services in that building and the Assembly was established under the supervision of the Southern Missouri District Council.
Highway I-44 did not exist in those days, so it was a long trip over hilly, winding roads. Sometimes we had dinner with the Rays or others, but usually we brought sack lunches from the school. We were there for both the morning and evening services, and it would be late night before we arrived back at the school. Our trip to and from Pierce city was further from the school than any other student ministry assignments that year.
Services in that small building were unique in some ways. The children’s class met on the platform, the adult class in the auditorium, and the only sound-proofing was the curtain between. The church had its own “preacher alert” system—WASPS! Sometimes they dive-bombed the preacher. One preacher got stung twice—the second time he exclaimed, “He got me again, but this time I got him!” The church also had its own “listener alert” system, too—rickety benches. One man would often doze off and lean back in his bench. It would start to tilt and he would wake up startled. The bench would KLUNK back down with its own sound effects!
The people were faithful and slowly the church began to grow. In May, 1951, Forrest Farley resigned as he was graduating from CBI and moving back to Kansas. Orman (Ricky) Coats became the new pastor. One of his team members, Wilbur Schuessler, later became the pastor of the church. It was during Schuessler’s pastorate that the present church was constructed.
It was early September, 1950, and school had just started at Central Bible Institute, in Springfield, MO. I had frequently preached back in Kansas, and some at CBI knew this. A man therefore came to me and said: “We would like to have a church started at Pierce City and hear that you are a preacher. Would you be willing to be the team leader?” I replied, “No, I’m just a freshman, but I know a senior who might be willing.”
That senior was Forrest Farley, and he agreed to be the team leader and pastor. The team members were from Kansas, Mary (Hollis) Jones, from El Dorado, and the rest of us were all from the First Assembly of God, of Wichita: Forrest and his wife, Joan; Marjorie (Kloefkorn) Spikes; A.J. Fox (with us the first couple of months), and myself. Occasionally, others would go along to help.
Towards the middle of September, we began street meetings on Saturday evenings, at Walnut and Main St. The pharmacy next door let us plug into their electricity for our sound system. We also met with some residents who were interested in starting an Assembly. I do not remember the names of most of them, but do remember that a Bro. & Sis. Ray were among the original members and supporters.
Very soon thereafter, we rented the main floor of a store-front building on Main St, just west of Elm St. and someone donated the benches. Therefore, by early October, 1950, we had the first services in that building and the Assembly was established under the supervision of the Southern Missouri District Council.
Highway I-44 did not exist in those days, so it was a long trip over hilly, winding roads. Sometimes we had dinner with the Rays or others, but usually we brought sack lunches from the school. We were there for both the morning and evening services, and it would be late night before we arrived back at the school. Our trip to and from Pierce city was further from the school than any other student ministry assignments that year.
Services in that small building were unique in some ways. The children’s class met on the platform, the adult class in the auditorium, and the only sound-proofing was the curtain between. The church had its own “preacher alert” system—WASPS! Sometimes they dive-bombed the preacher. One preacher got stung twice—the second time he exclaimed, “He got me again, but this time I got him!” The church also had its own “listener alert” system, too—rickety benches. One man would often doze off and lean back in his bench. It would start to tilt and he would wake up startled. The bench would KLUNK back down with its own sound effects!
The people were faithful and slowly the church began to grow. In May, 1951, Forrest Farley resigned as he was graduating from CBI and moving back to Kansas. Orman (Ricky) Coats became the new pastor. One of his team members, Wilbur Schuessler, later became the pastor of the church. It was during Schuessler’s pastorate that the present church was constructed.
Thank the Lord for this ministry that began sixty years ago! It was a privilege to be a member of that original Pierce City student ministry team, and to be under the wise and cordial leadership of the founding pastor, Forrest Farley!
