FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD A mortgage burning ceremony will be held in conjunction with First Assembly of God’s 25th anniversary celebration set for Sunday, September 25, beginning at 10:45 a.m.

By God’s grace, the church has managed to pay off a loan of $700,000 in less than 10 years. The funds were used to build a new sanctuary and a family life center.

Built in 1996, the 400-seat sanctuary contains 22 stained glass windows, each of which depict different scenes from the life of Christ. Likewise, overlooking the baptistry is a 5 x 11’ stained glass portrait of the ascension of Christ.

Just two years later, First Assembly began construction on a family life center. In addition to a social room that can seat 80, the building also features a commercial kitchen, a walking track, two restrooms with showers, and a full-size basketball court which doubles as a fellowship hall.

Prior to the mortgage burning ceremony, Dr. Samuel R. Chand will be the guest speaker at the morning worship service. Dr. Chand is the chancellor of Beulah Heights Bible College in Atlanta, the largest predominantly African-American Bible college in the United States.

The First Assembly Sanctuary Choir will provide special music for the occasion.

The mortgage burning ceremony is scheduled to take place during a fellowship luncheon held following the worship service.

Lanis Lewis and Terry Bonds, copastors of the church since 2000, invite members of the community to join with First Assembly in celebrating these two milestones in the church’s history.

“We are grateful that as a congregation, we can burn our mortgage and celebrate our 25th anniversary at the same time,” said Rev. Lewis, adding, “God has richly blessed us.”

What would soon become Lincolnton’s First Assembly of God began on September 4, 1980, when a group of local residents met at the home of Lamar and Barbara LeRoy for the purpose of branching out into a new work for the Lord in Lincoln County. After much discussion, the group voted to work with the Assemblies of God movement. Twenty-six families were represented at the meeting.

The church’s first worship service was held on September 14, 1980, at the home of Bill and Alana Burke. Sunday School was conducted with 70 in attendance. Rev. Aaron Wall, superintendent of the Georgia District of Assemblies of God, was the guest speaker for the morning worship service.

The following Sunday, group members met at the Lincolnton Clubhouse which would be their home for the next nine months. Rev. Mike McBride was the guest speaker with 70-plus in attendance. Two Sundays later, he was voted in as the church’s first pastor.

A listing of the charter members of First Assembly of God is as follows: Don Fletcher, Reba V. Fletcher, William E. Burke, Alana G. Burke, Buddy Freeman, Eugenia Freeman, Peggy Saggus, Lamar LeRoy, Barbara LeRoy, Marvin Banks, Betty Banks, Jimmy Edmunds, Denise Edmunds, Phil McGahee, Carol McGahee, Helen D. Burke, Al Saggus, Grady L. Reed, Dovie I. Reed, Joel Free, Debbie Free, and Cathy LeRoy.

In November of 1980, the congregation purchased land on the Thomson Highway where the church now stands. The group’s first sanctuary and Christian education building were dedicated in September of 1981. Rev. Wall was the guest speaker.

Since that time, the congregation has undertaken several other building projects including the construction of two educational wings and a parsonage.

Currently, the church has a membership of 190 and an average attendance of 225 at its Sunday morning worship services.

During its first 25 years, the Lord has enabled the congregation to average giving over $40,000 a year to world missions. Likewise, a MAPS Mission Team annually travels overseas for the purpose of building a church or assisting with other construction projects.

In regard to home missions, the members of First Assembly regularly support the Lincoln County Food Pantry and other ministries in the community.

In his comments, co-pastor Terry Bonds said, “A long-standing vision of First Assembly has been its emphasis on missions whether local, state, national or global. We believe that if we take care of God’s people, He will take care of us. If we indeed seek His kingdom first, He will add to us all that is needed to do His work.

“All of the glory goes to God for what He has accomplished, not because of us but in spite of us.”

In addition to Rev. McBride (198084), Rev. Lewis, and Rev. Bonds, other pastors of the church include Rev. Tim Holcombe (1984-87), Rev. Bob Johnson (1987-89), and Rev. David Riner (1989-2000).

For more information about Sunday’s celebration at First Assembly, call the church office at 1-706359-7237.