Taken from historical work by Kathleen Klomp for RFN Heritage day, November 19, 2006.As we begin this day, let us look back to the time when we began. We have been so blessed for what God has provided for us. May we always remember Him in His Glory.

1930's:

Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Knight, formerly from Columbus, Georgia, had come to Raleigh. Mr. Knight was a sergeant in the U. S. Army and was a Reserve Officers Training instructor. They searched for a church that preached “Entire Sanctification”. When they couldn't find such a church, they contacted Rev. Raymond Browning, who at the time was District Superintendent of the Southeast Atlantic District of the Church of the Nazarene. They talked of possibly organizing a church in the city. In the spring of 1939, a tabernacle, at the corner of Franklin and Halifax Streets was purchased by the Southeast Atlantic District for $250.00. It was a sixty by ninety foot frame structure purchased from the Business Men’s Evangelistic Club. On May 14th, Rev. Browning began a nightly revival campaign that would end up lasting for eight, long weeks. At that time, the First Church of the Nazarene was organized in Raleigh. There were only ten members to start the church.

On October 15, 1939, Evangelist “Jackie” Bums and his Musical Messengers came to Raleigh and began an interdenominational revival, with the cooperation of the Church of the Nazarene. Not only were hundreds of souls won over to Christ, but they were letting the city know they were in town to stay. The revival also had several who joined the Church of the Nazarene. Several revivals were held in the next few months and were even broadcast on WRAL radio. Revivals continued and Mr. Knight continued to serve. Some of the charter members were: L.M. and Mrs. Knight, Luther and Mary Lou Jenkins, Fred and Maggie Gooch, Rev. David Browning and E. Lumpkin. Others coming in that first year included Arthur Stoddard, Kathryn Wall, John and Jane Wallace, Worth and Anna Lloyd, Clara Wallace, Lillian Thomas and Watson Stegall. The charter was closed in June 1940. The Nazarene Young Peoples Society was organized and though it was still small, many improvements were made.

On the last Sunday in June, 1940, Rev. David Browning came to Raleigh First as the first full-time pastor. Rev. Browning was a man of vision and energy- yet he only earned $10.00 a week. There is no record to the exact number, but the first baptismal service was held at the Falls of the Neuse.

1940's:

In 1941, Rev. Browning married Elizabeth Lumpkin. Let’s look back to who some of the first members of the board were. Trustee: Pastor, ex-officio, L. Fl. Knight, Worth Lloyd, Watson Stegall, F. D. Gooch and H. H. Casper. Stewards: B. 0 Chatham, Arthur Stoddard, Anderson King, Miss Lillian Johnson, John Aldridge and Marguerite Houlder.

In 1942, America was at war and it was affecting all walks of life. Even the church felt the crunch. Young people of the church were called into the armed services. Others left the city to work in war industries. Though many were lost due to the war, young men stationed in the Raleigh area visited our church. Many became so interested that they transferred their membership. Despite the first, rough year of the war, every department of the church improved. A building fund had a total income of $595.00 for the year. Quoted from another source, “possibly one of the greatest revivals in the history of the church was conducted in April of 1943. The crowds thronged to the revival; a pastor in another denomination dismissed his prayer service so that his members might attend the Nazarene revival.”

The church had been looking for suitable property. Two lots were found at the corner of Mordecai Drive and Cedar Street. The land was purchased on May 24, 1943 for a total of $2,000.00. The church paid $700.00 down and paid $100.00 a month until the amount was paid in full. They made the last payment on January 4, 1944.

It was during the Eleventh General Assembly in June of 1944, that Rev, and Mrs. David Browning had applied for appointment to foreign services. They received a letter of acceptance and would be going to British Honduras. They, along with their daughter, left the church in October, 1944.

A verse in Nehemiah, “Let us rise up and build” became the watchword for the Raleigh Nazarenes. At the same time the last payment was made, plans were underway for constructing a new building. The old Tabernacle was torn down, saving some of the material for the new chapel with two Sunday School rooms. The pastor, members, and friends did much of the work.

When completed in April of 1944, the chapel was evaluated at $2,500.00. There had been a $500.00 loan from the Nazarene Church in Charlotte, NC. Yet, that also had been paid in full by October.

Rev. Jack Moore was elected by the church board to become the next full-time pastor. He was given a new salary of $45.00 a week. (Rev. Moore was a student in the Divinity School of Duke University). He had a wife, a five-year old son and a baby daughter. New Board Members were elected shortly after that. He would start his position in October, 1944. An apartment was rented as a parsonage. He continued his education at Duke. The first VBS was held in October. The second baptismal in the history of the church was held on July, 1, 1945.

As each year passed, Raleigh First Church increased. Though finances aren’t a true mark of an improved church, there was a steady rise of the church in general. In 1940, the total income was $909; 1941, $2,496; 1942, $2,564; 1943, $4,394; and in 1944, $6,948.

Rev. Moore only stayed with Raleigh First for ten months. He had given his resignation on June 24th in an evening service. He was moving to Oklahoma as a professor at Bethany Peniel College. Though the church felt a great loss, they accepted his resignation. It is reported that they came to Raleigh with an outstanding record of past achievements and they left the church a short ministry, having made their contribution to the future of Raleigh Nazarene. They left the church during the last week in August.

That same summer, Rev. and Mrs. Reeford Chaney of the Greensboro White Rock Church won nomination by the Board to succeed the Moores. On July 11th, church membership unanimously elected them. He preached his first sermon in the pulpit September 1, 1945. In November, the first revival in over a year was held. There had been revivals constantly in the life of the church, The church needed this one and God blessed it.

The church had been looking for new locations to build; yet time and again, the idea was dismissed. Discussions on the new building took up much time of the board meetings. A building committee was elected with Mr. Hal Aidridge was appointed as chairman. This had become the third building committee. The first group, whose names were not recorded, served at the time the chapel was being built. The second group was to build the Sunday School rooms at the rear of the chapel, a project that was never completed.

In the spring of 1946, a building fund drive took place in the church, which brought in $5,000. It was not the goal, but the increase was still good. During that same time, the church also had a project with WRAL airing a thirty minute program called “Showers of Blessings”. It aired from May 11th and ran only thirteen weeks. There were not enough funds to continue this ministry.

In June of 1946, Rev. Chaney was elected unanimously to serve for a three-year period as pastor. Up until then, all pastors served a term of only one year.

It should be noted that during the summer, the church was awarded a reproduction of McConnell’s Head of Christ. It is a two hundred fifty dollar gift received from Trevecca Nazarene College, in recognition of the church giving the largest contribution in the state of North Carolina. In fact, though the amount was very small, a tenth of what the award cost, it showed the interest of Raleigh Nazarenes in Christian education.

On July 30, 1946 and going through August 11th, the first mid-summer revival in Raleigh Nazarene history was conducted.

The church never had given up on the idea of building a permanent church. The church solicited the thousands of Raleigh citizens asking for contributions of one dollar or more. There was a good response and the drive was profitable. Finally, at the end of the year, construction on the new building was started. But by February, the tack of funds caused the building to be discontinued. The church purchased a barracks at Camp Butner for $400.00. Men from the church disassembled the barracks and brought the material to Raleigh. There was enough lumber to finish the church and build most of the parsonage. The parsonage had five room and a bathroom downstairs, plus two rooms, a kitchenette and upstairs bathroom. With an outdoor stairway, they could rent out the upstairs. The church’s pot-bellied stove was replaced by an oil-burning floor furnace. Yet there was no bathroom, so the people had go to the Seaboard Railroad Station to use the facilities.

Also of great interest was that during the summer of 1948, North Carolina had the worst epidemic of polio in history. All young people under the age of sixteen were not allowed to attend any public gatherings.

In 1947, Mrs. Chaney became very ill and Rev. Chaney was unable to continue his regular visitation program. At that time, the first weekly newsletter was published on July 12th, 1947.

In January of 1948, work was started on a permanent sanctuary. In April, the board voted to purchase a lot on the corner of Poplar and Person Streets for a parsonage at $500.00. The church now had 80 members. In 1948, during the month of April, Rev. Browning and his daughter, Molly, took a brief emergency furlough, leaving Mrs. Browning to continue the work in British Honduras.

1950's:

As the years progress, so does the church. Rev. Chaney remained as the pastor from September, 1945 through September, 1952. His wife, Mary Ella Chaney, passed away in 1951 at the age of 33 following four years of illness.

Albert Loeber was elected as pastor in October of 1952, a position he held until August, 1956. His wife became the church organist. He and his wife had two daughters. He was best remembered, not just for fostering plans to move the church to its new location, but for his organization. He emphasized the fact that members must use their own wealth of talent without relying on the pastor. Also in 1952, Arthur Stoddard became NFMS president. There were now 91 members.

James F. Sansom became Sunday School Superintendent and Forrest Reel NYPS president in 1953. Mrs. Loeber directed a 24 voice volunteer choir. Ethel Shaw became the church pianist with now 100 members.

In 1954, Lewis Strouth became NYPS president and Hugh Casper NFMS president.

In 1955, James Gooch became NYPS president with membership at 104.

In September of 1956, Carl Flanks was elected as the new pastor. Membership was at 110. He was a minister of music, too, directing a 24- voice choir. While he served as pastor, he engineered moving the 30 x 50 foot building. Six men helped with the initial operation. The men took off up to four days of work to help with the move. The building was cut in half, with half of the building being moved one day, and the second half on the second day. Up to forty-five more people helped with painting, carpentry and other projects.
The church was moved from the corner of Halifax and Franklin Streets to the corner of North and Wilmington Streets. Approximately $13,000 worth of labor was donated by the church membership of 79 people. The church was completely remodeled, doing painting, carpentry and putting in cushioned theatre seats, carpets and new lighting. While here, membership dropped to 84 members. Rev. Flanks remained until September, 1958.

Next in line for pastor was Rev. C. M. Kelly. He came in September of 1958 and had been a Chaplain at the South Carolina State Penitentiary. Bill Hillstrom had become Sunday School Superintendent, lolee Stouth NFMS president, Mae Hillstrom junior fellowship director and Ruth Perry became choir director and held that position for 20 years.

Along the way, in 1959, Ethel Shaw became NFMS president and Eva Truelove church secretary.

1960's:

In 1960, J. B. Shaw became Sunday School superintendent, Ethel Shaw junior fellowship director and James Gooch church treasurer. Membership was up to 96. Following along in 1961 Ellen Follett became NFMS president and CST director and Lewis Strouth became church treasurer. He held that position until he passed away in 1986. Again, membership was up to 113. Now to the church at its present day location.

In January of 1962, construction began on the educational two-story building. The people who worked on the church will remember how they worked late into the night using their car headlights to see.

The educational unit consisted of a nursery, an 160-foot auditorium on the first floor, 13 classrooms upstairs, two assembly rooms and two restrooms.
The church sat on four acres of land. The value of the building was $65,000. It was dedicated September 16, 1962. The sanctuary had not yet been built. When it was completed, it was valued near $50,000. It had air-conditioning, dial-controlled indirect lighting and a baptistery. It could seat 350 people. The sanctuary was then dedicated on December 5, 1965. Membership was up to 148.

1970's:

While Rev. Kelly was still pastor, the driveway and parking lot were paved; the sanctuary was re-roofed and they purchased the parsonage at 3817 Vesta Drive. He resigned his position in Raleigh in December 1972 with a membership of 212.

In December of 1972, Rev. Robert J. Andress and his wife, along with their two children came to the church as new pastors following the resignation of Rev. Kelly. He stayed until April, 1982. In the beginning of 1974, Kelly Hall started being built and was finished later in the year.

Lois Weldon, NWMS president; Andy Johnson, adult director; lolee Strouth, children’s director, Blenda Lowther, children’s director and Juanita Printup, director of music, are just a few from the flock who oversaw our programming.

One of the most exciting events was the mortgage being paid off and the mortgage papers burned.

1980's:

In 1981, J. Thomas Wingard became assistant pastor, Randy Shaw, director of youth ministry, J.B. Shaw, director of adult ministry and Reed Goe, choir director.

Rev. Andress initiated the Wednesday evening offering for missions. It started as sacrificing a twenty-five cent drink, bringing in five to six dollars a week. By eight years later, twenty-five to thirty dollars a week was coming in. The men’s prayer breakfast also began at that time with Ed Hill, Earl Perry and Burlie Slaughter directing.

In April of 1982, Rev. Andress resigned and Bill Webb filled to pulpit until June 1 ~ of the same year when Rev. James Stewart, his wife and three children arrived. Nick and Joyce Carter selected “The Enlightener” as the new weekly newsletter. Ann Mastin became church office secretary. Almost $12,000 was spent on renovations for the parsonage. Some of the new programs included: Marriage Enrichment Seminar; a class in church doctrine; Toddler’s church, with Joyce Carter; a men’s quartet; a ladies’ trio; four visitation teams, headed by Susan Parker, Julian Walker, Willard Baker and Ray Walt; Saturday visitation; a ten-week Bible study; a new senior adult ministry called the Joy Club, directed by Earl and Ruth Perry. Reed Goe resigned as assistant pastor to pastor a church in Greensboro. It was a busy, productive year.

Then comes 1983. Extensive renovations began for the church. Some of these changes were; removal of walls, framing the entire upstairs, a new church office, a new pastor’s office, upstairs plumbing, extension of water and sewer lines, installation of heating and air-conditioning, new telephone cables, installation of chalkboard, bulletin boards and cabinets for the Sunday School rooms.
Mark L. Brown arrived on June 16, 1984 to become Minister of Music/Youth Director. A speaker system was installed in Kelly Hall, new carpet was installed in the sanctuary, sheet rock and doors were hung, old restrooms were torn out, a concrete floor was poured in the foyer, a new doorway was cut into the sanctuary, new light fixtures in the sanctuary and a new air-conditioning compressor was installed. All these renovations didn’t come cheap. It came at a cost of $120,000. Then the church purchased the corner property for $75,000. New hymnals were provided. In September 1987, Ira Pound arrived with his family to serve as Minister of Youth and Music Director. Ann Mastin was office secretary.

In 1988, Raleigh First Church was listed in the December edition of Herald of Holiness as among the five largest Sunday School in average attendance from each district. We placed third with an average of 178. Arthur Stoddard received the Distinguished Service Award.

1990's:

1990 - 50 Years of Raleigh First. The Celebration schedule was set for June 28 - July 1. The carpet was replaced in Kelly Hall.

It has been a outreach program for kids from kindergarten through the sixth grade.
The Rev. Stewart and his family left in 1990 and Pastor Riley Powell came in November of 1990. He brought with him his wife and two daughters. Nancy Luhrs started as office secretary in 1993, a position she still holds. During the years Pastor Powell was here, a new sanctuary was built and dedicated in 1995. The Sonshine Learning Center, started in January, 1998. The Learning Center, along with part of the old building and the old sanctuary, were destroyed when a tornado hit the church on March 20, 1998. The Learning Center held classes in mobile classrooms for almost two years while the board set out with Pastor Powell on plans for a new addition. All of the church offices, choir room, gym, downstairs rooms and main level room at the west wing were all built as a result. It was completed in 2000.

2000's:

Upward Basketball began in January 2001. Another note of interest in history: Our country was put in jeopardy by terrorists crashing planes into the World Trade Center buildings in NYC. Lots of people started coming to church, hopefully turning their lives to Christ.

Pastor Powell left the church in January of 2003 and moved to Ohio, after being here for 12 years.

In the interim of finding a new pastor, Rev. Roland Harrell came to our church and helped hold us together. He was a strong leader at the time when we needed one. He stayed with us until the end of October, 2003.

Pastor Joe Roberts, his wife and two children came in November of 2003 and stayed fourteen months. He did bring several people into membership ~ while here. He left in January of 2005.

When Pastor Joe left, Pastor Jonathan led our church, not only in his music and worship, but as Interim Pastor as well. He operated the church with such a love and devotion for the Lord. He always made time for us. He will be remembered for his part in keeping us together. Pastor Jonathan’s wife, Kara, serves as the director of the children’s church. Pastor Jonathan and his wife have two daughters.

Pastor Brian Powell, along with his wife, son and daughter, came to Raleigh First in October of 2005. He has given us a truly, wonderful first year, with many more yet to follow. He has a vision for what this church and its people can become. Under his direction, we held our first Hallelujah House for five nights at the end of October 2006. Over 1,200 passed through the drama and more that 290 people received Christ as their Savior or dedicated their lives to Christ. Pastor Brian has a passion for the Lord and His Word. Average attendance is 400 weekly. Pastor Brian and Pastor Jonathan have a passion that is spreading throughout the church family. We need to have that passion spread throughout the community.

Let us give Thanks at this time of Thanksgiving to remember all that we have and thank the Lord for the vision of the pastors’ who have led this church from 1940 to become what it is today. May the Lord know how grateful we are for the past and for the present and for whatever may come. That all that we have is His Will. We also give Thanks for all the Servants of this church, without whom we could not have made it.