MONROE CITY FIRST CHURCH OF GOD HISTORY
The Monroe City First Church of God had its beginning as a nondenominational congregation that worshiped in a small community building known at the time as “The Little Brown Church.” This small structure once stood adjacent to the Brown Church Cemetery which is located five miles north of Petersburg just off Highway 61 across from Reels Chapel Church and cemetery.
The Church Of God Reformation Movement heavily influenced the small congregation. This full gospel movement, with offices in Anderson, sent itinerant preachers to the area as early as 1896. In many cases revival services were held over a period of days.
Being a farming community it was most convenient to hold revival meetings in the winter when farm chores were less strenuous and took less time. In addition, there weren’t the numerous social and recreational activities of today. The church was the hub of family and social activity. A two-week revival meeting would be announced with an evangelist called to conduct the meetings. Usually the evangelist would stay in local homes. At the end of the scheduled services, God’s blessings were manifested in great ways; souls were saved and the revival would be extended another week.
The first minister of the “Little Brown Church” congregation was Reverend Cannan. Through his efforts a number of people were converted, repenting of sin and accepting Christ as their personal savior. Among those early converts were Tom Wilson, Ed Wilson, Frank Cockerham, and George Gates. These men, among others possessed a vision of church unity and fellowship. There is no doubt that God increased their understanding and fellowship as they began to work toward the dream of a unified church and a new church building.
In the early 1900’s the congregation continued to feel God’s call and grew in size. Out- living the usefulness of the “Little Brown Church”, the group began to meet in homes or schoolhouses when available. The Monroe City Rural Church of God was officially founded in 1912. There were many pioneering ministers who lead the early church.
Among those were:
Reverend Hedden Reverend Craig Reverend Whaley
Reverend Moore ` Reverend Fleenor Reverend Rowe
Reverend Pruitt Reverend Rodarmel Reverend Roberts
Through the tribulation, hardships, and faithfulness of these men and the strength of the small congregation the vision of a new church advanced toward reality.
In 1921 the small congregation erected a country church on a hill in southern Knox County, Indiana near the White River and just around the corner from the “Little Brown Church. This new church would be known as Saints Chapel Church of God.
Tom Wilson gave a small parcel of land where the church would be built. At the time, this piece of land was an ideal location for the small farming community. Pete Cockerham volunteered to mold the concrete blocks that would make up a majority of the structure. Other men of the church hauled sand from a nearby sandbar along the White River. The sand was used to make cement and mortar used in construction. Tom Wilson also donated lumber from a wooden silo to build the rafters. Through many hours of volunteer work, a small rural community built a new house of worship which consisted of a small concrete block structure.
In the early 1940’s men of the congregation dug a full basement under the church building. This area served as Sunday school rooms. Later, in the late 1940’s, a balcony was added at the back of the sanctuary. Space for a church office and nursery was made available under the balcony. Also during this time the congregation became known as The Monroe City Rural Church of God.
For many years the newly dedicated Saints Chapel Church of God did not have a full-time pastor. Lay ministers would conduct services when available or members of the congregation would lead worship.
Over the years many more ministers served as pastor of the small country church. They include:
Brother Tom Wilson Reverend A. J. Haste Reverend Robolt
Brother Clarence Perry Reverend Fletcher Reverend C.Knight
Reverend Harold Stiff Reverend J. E. Williamson Reverend Denton
Reverend Malcolm Rigel Reverend Silas Mefford
Reverend Tom Pickens Reverend Edward J. Smith
The Reverend Albert Bridwell was the last pastor to serve the Monroe City Rural Church of God. During that time a coal company was buying land around the small country church. Population in the area was decreasing and the congregation had to make a decision to disband or move to a new location nearer Monroe City. By a narrow margin, the congregation of 35 to 40 people voted to relocate. The last service in that location was Sunday, November 24, 1968.
Several potential building sites were discussed, some too small and others not for sale. However, God was at work. John and Betty Belcher would often stop to give Ruth Sanders a ride to church for Sunday and Wednesday night services. She lived in a small house across from the old Monroe City School. Many times while waiting for Ruth to come to the car, John would mention how the corn field with an old barn and cattle trough across the road would be a great building site for a new church. As God’s grace would have it, the three acre parcel of land became available upon request and was purchased from James Kensler.
The plan for a new church building was now set into motion and a building committee was formed. The members of that committee were: Paul Wilson, chairman, Robert Schuckman, and Harold Wilson.
Along with the building committee, members of the Board of Trustees at the time were: John Belcher, chairman, Don Berry, secretary, Herman Wilson, John Perry, and Harold Wilson.
Contractor for the new building was E & H Builders, Freelandville, Indiana.
The new church building was over five times larger than Saints Chapel the building that had housed the congregation out in the country. The small congregation dedicated the new building to the service of the Lord on June 15, 1969 with Reverend Albert Bridwell leading the service. A press release highlighting the church’s move read as follows:
The original church building in Monroe City consisted of a sanctuary, a chapel, four classrooms, and a small kitchen and fellowship hall. In later years, the original kitchen and fellowship hall would become the pastor and secretaries offices. Three of the original classrooms later became the library, the associate pastor’s office and the expand-ed nursery.
In 1969 Pastor Bridwell left Monroe City and a new, young, energetic pastor named Ralph Watts took charge of the Monroe City congregation. Pastor Watts was instrumental in laying the foundation for a Christ centered children’s program that continues to flourish today. Every Saturday morning he would lead children’s classes that focused on Christian education. These classes included songs, games, puppets, snacks, and more.
Pastor Watts and his wife Karen were also responsible for increasing the youth programs as well. During these first years the congregation became known as the Monroe City First Church of God. Pastor Watts, Karen and sons, Robbie, Paul, Timmie, and JJ stayed with the Monroe City congregation until 1974.
As the congregation continued to grow throughout the early 1970’s, additional space was needed. In 1974 an education wing was added to the present facilities. This new addition opened the opportunity for additional children, youth, and Sunday school programs. It also provided a new large kitchen and fellowship hall to meet the needs of the growing congregation.
Reverend Charles Warner and his wife Janet pastored the church from May, 1976 until November, 1979.
The congregation continued to grow under the leadership of Reverend Mark Nielson who became pastor in March 1980. Average Sunday attendance had reached nearly 200. The church had out grown the current sanctuary and fellowship hall.
In 1991 it was decided that a new larger sanctuary should be built to accommodate the growing congregation. The former sanctuary would then become a fellowship hall. A building committee was formed as follows to plan the new addition: James Croy and Winifred Berry, co-chairpersons, Stan Robertson, John Miller, John Belcher, and Rex Ready. The first service in the new sanctuary was Sunday, January 31, 1993. On March 28, 1993 the congregation dedicated to the Lord this newly built sanctuary that seated over 150 more people than the former sanctuary. It included a baptistery, new organ, an expanded platform and choir storage area. Beautiful stained glass windows were hand-made by a member of the congregation, Rex Ready.
In 2005, the congregation, needing more educational and youth space, voted to build a Family Life Center. A building committee was again formed as follows: Bruce Wyant, chairman, Andy Myszak, Craig Small, Rebecca Miller, and Rick Snider. Plans were drawn and bids went out with D.C. Metals of Montgomery, Indiana being the lowest bidder. Construction was to begin in March 2005.
On Friday, February 18, 2005, a fire completely destroyed most of the church building. The education wing, offices, chapel, fellowship hall were lost, while the sanctuary was heavily damaged. The origin of the fire was not determined. The official record of the Indiana State Fire Marshall’s offices stated that the fire was of “accidental, undetermined origin.” Speculation is that the fire began in the attic of the education wing.
The congregation decided not to repair the fire damaged church building, but to build a brand new functional facility that would better meet the needs of the church. The building committee that designed the plans for the family life center took on the responsibility of designing and implementing plans for the new building. In May of 2005, the plans to build a new facility were ratified and passed by a congregational vote with a +90% confidence level. Ground breaking for the new building was held on Sunday afternoon, September 18, 2005.
Through the trials of the fire the church family continued to see and feel the guidance of the Lord’s upon the congregation. They learned first hand that the church is not a building, but a group of people working together to serve the Lord.
During this time, the Monroe City First Church of God was alive and well meeting at South Knox High School auditorium for Sunday morning services. The Monroe City Blue Jean Center was used for youth and children’s activities. Offices and other smaller group meetings were held in the Monroe City Methodist fellowship hall and Sunday School rooms.
PARSONAGES
In the years of the early church traveling ministers stayed in the homes of church members. One of the early pastors of the church was Reverend Cecil Knight. He and his wife lived in a small trailer home on the church property next to the Saints Chapel Church of God.
The first official church parsonage was built approximately one mile north of Saints Chapel on Indiana State Road 61. Pastor Malcolm Rigel and his wife Martha were the first to live in this structure. Next door to the home a fellowship hall was added. The new fellowship hall allowed additional space for church dinners, parties, baby showers, wedding showers and the like. The former parsonage still stands across and just south of Martin’s Used Car Lot on Indiana State Road 61.
In 1969 it was decided that a new parsonage should be found closer to the new church in Monroe City. The church purchased a house from Paul Like on Main Street in Monroe City. Pastor Ralph Watts and family were the first to call the new parsonage home. This all brick structure served two other pastoral families including Pastor Charles Warner and his wife Janet and Pastor Mark Nielson and family. The former parsonage is located diagonally across from Thompson Family Clinic in Monroe City.
In 1988 a new parsonage was constructed on an additional 2 acres adjoining the existing property. Pastor Mark Nielson and his family were the first to occupy this new home located across the parking lot from the church building.
The facilities and ministries of our church continue to evolve as God leads us forward. Every generation will write a chapter in our history. We all realize how vital it is that we pass our faith on to the next generation. People of faith and vision will continue to serve and work together as we strive to share God’s message of love with our community and our world!
