HISTORY OF THE FLEMINGSBURG CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

The simple but impressive brick structure that stands in rural Fleming County and points its snowy white steeple toward the Kentucky sky is known as The Flemingsburg Church of the Nazarene.

The church was established in 1972 when Rev. Sterling Jones and Rev. Mildred Jones followed the leading of the Lord to start a Nazarene congregation in Fleming County. Dr. Lawrence B. Hicks, who was Superintendent of the Eastern Kentucky District at this time, gave his approval for services to be held on the Mount Hope Campground in rural Fleming County. The first service was held on May 28, 1972, with eleven people present. By the following Sunday the number had increased to twenty-nine.

Worship services were held in the tabernacle during the summer and were moved to the camp dining hall in October for the winter months.

On October 22, 1972, Dr. Hicks officially organized the Mount Hope Church of the Nazarene with 15 charter members. The first year's attendance is recorded as being 23.

The church continued at Mount Hope until March 1, 1977, when a building, formerly housing a furniture store and originally serving as a livery stable, was rented in Flemingsburg. This resulted in the name of the church being changed to The Flemingsburg Church of the Nazarene.

Rev. and Mrs. Jones continued to serve as pastors until August 1980, when Rev. Charles Carter was called to serve the congregation. Rev. Paul Hedge followed Rev. Carter as pastor and served from March 1, 1981 until June 1983. During his pastorate the congregation purchased property on Logan Run Road approximately four miles from Flemingsburg with dreams of constructing a new building.

Rev. Clifton DeBord served briefly as pastor from July of 1983 until November of that same year. Rev. Tom Jackson came to serve as pastor on December 9, 1983. He had two purposes in mind: bringing the word of God to those in need; and continuing the church's building program to the point of completing a house of worship.

Work began on the structure in May of 1984 and was completed sufficiently to allow for services to be held on December 9, 1984. The construction work was done by members of the congregation, members of the community, members from other churches, and many other people interested in seeing a church built for the furtherance of the gospel.

Rev. Jackson was forced to take a leave of absence due to ill health and Rev. Eddie Burnem filled in as pastor during his absence. On July 1, 1986 Rev. Glennis Sloas succeeded Rev. Jackson as pastor. At that time the church had 53 members recorded. In 1985-1986 there was an average attendance of 92. During his ministry the church was able to pay off the building debt and celebrated with a note burning ceremony on September 25, 1988. Rev. Garrett Mills, Eastern Kentucky District Superintendent, was present for this momentous occasion.

Rev. Sterling Jones, founder of the church, went to be with the Lord on February 7, 1987. His funeral was the first to be held in the new church building. It was a sad occasion, but a victorious home-going.

In March 1990, Rev. Sloas unexpectedly passed away. He was a loving pastor and was well known and loved throughout the community. There was standing room only at his funeral service. Rev. Sloas once commented that when his time came to leave this life he hoped the Lord would take him quickly. He was a faithful servant and God honored his wishes. His was sorely missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Rev. Darrell Denton pastured the church from July 1990 to May 1992. Rev. Charles Haselwood succeeded Rev. Denton in July 1992 and served until August 1993. During his pastorate the church purchased a double-wide mobile home for a parsonage.

In April of 1993 Sister Mildred Jones went to be with the Lord. Sister Jones, who co-founded the church along with her husband, had realized her dream of seeing a Holiness Church in Fleming County.

Rev. Art Hobbs was elected to replace Rev. Haselwood in August of 1993 and assumed his duties in October 1993. During his first year as pastor a garage was built on the parsonage and a new roof was put on the church building. In 1994-1995 a utility building was constructed and the entrance to the church building was enclosed. Average church attendance increased to 127. The Lord had richly blessed our church and we were all very grateful.

During Rev. Hobbs ministry there was much accomplished. A multi-purpose building valued at $150,000 was constructed. Rev. Hobbs started early morning worship services for those who could not attend the 11:00 a.m. service. It was a great blessing to the church. Rev. Hobbs also had a vision of starting a Christian school and did all the preliminary paperwork for this endeavor. Unfortunately the school did not begin at this time due to a lack of interest from the general public. Rev. Hobbs felt his work at the Flemingsburg church was done and resigned in November of 1999.

The church remained without a pastor for 11 months. Rev. Paul Hedge filled in and did a wonderful job of keeping the church unified. During this time the church paid off the debt on the multi-purpose building. Committees were established to oversee every phase of the church work and everyone did his or her part to see that the church did not lack for unity.

A committee was formed to begin work again on starting a Christian School. Angela Hilterbrand was appointed as chairperson. Charlotte Fannin, Chris Maddox, and Vivian Meade were also chosen to serve on the committee. The Church set aside $50,000 to cover the school's expenses for the first year. Plans were put in motion and the Secret Crossing Christian Academy became a reality in August of 2001.

Rev. Darin Godby was hired as pastor in October of 2000 and resigned in October of 2001. Rev. Greg Grimes, a member of our congregation, filled in as pastor for the next 7 months and did a wonderful job. Rev. Rick Osborn was called as pastor and began his ministry on May 26, 2002. During his ministry an addition valued at $200,000 was added to the church. The addition provided a large foyer, a pastor's study, two bathrooms, a nursery, and two large Sunday School rooms. Four classrooms were also added in the basement for our school. The church assumed a 5- year loan for $150,000 to cover the costs of construction.

Rev. Osborn felt led to return to teaching in the Martin County public school system and resigned as pastor in July 2004. Once again Rev. Greg Grimes, our faithful young minister, filled in as pastor until a replacement could be found. Rev. Clinton Stricklen was hired in November of 2004 and since then he, his wonderful wife, Mary Ellen. and daughter, Elizabeth, have won the heart of our church. The debt on the church addition was paid off in only three years. The church celebrated with a note burning ceremony, which was attended by Rev. Harold Berrian, Eastern Kentucky District Superintendent. The church continues to prosper, as does the Secret Crossing Christian Academy.

In January 2011 Rev. Stricklen announced his retirement with his final service being the first Sunday in June. Because of his love and concern for the church Pastor Clint wanted to allow plenty of time for the church to find our next pastor, always stressing to seek God's will. Rev. Stricklen will be remembered as a true pastor and loving friend to our church. God answered prayer and lead Rev. Art Hobbs back to the Flemingsburg Church where he had pastored from 1993 through 1999. Rev. Hobbs and his wife, Janet, acknowledged God's calling to return to the Flemingsburg church after serving the Richmond church for eleven years and began their duties July 1, 2011. The congregation is excited that Bro. Art and Sis. Janet have found their way 'home' and look forward to working with them in God's service.

In August 2011 a bright light went out in our community as the church board made the very difficult decision to close Secret Crossing Christian Academy.

THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF THE NAZARENE CHURCH

On October 5, 2008 over 1.6 million Nazarenes from more than 18,000 churches on every inhabited continent joined together in celebration of 100 years of holiness.

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness in His wonderful light.

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.

1 Peter 2: 9-10

One hundred years ago the Nazarene Church was made up of predominantly American families, but today we are an international family of congregations on every inhabited continent with no single language, race, or nationality claiming a majority of our membership.

OUT OF MANY, ONE – UNITY IN HOLINESS

The spiritual vision of the early Nazarenes was derived from John Wesley's doctrinal core:

•  Justification of grace through faith

•  Sanctification by grace through faith

•  Entire sanctification

•  The witness of the Spirit to God's work in human lives

The Holiness Movement started promoting these doctrines in the 1830's, but by 1900 the Movement had splintered. Committed leaders such as Phineas F. Bresee, C.B. Jernigan, and C. W. Ruth strove to reunite Holiness factions.

TRACING THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS

Parent Holiness groups with organized mission work in eight world areas united to form the Nazarene Church.

•  The first parent congregation, The Peoples Evangelical Church in Providence, RI began in 1887.

•  Ten New England congregations formed the first parent denomination in 1890, The Central Evangelical Holiness Association.

•  In 1895 the Local Church of the Nazarene was established in Los Angeles and grew to 40 churches by 1906.

•  Also in 1895 the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America was formed.

•  In 1896 the Central Evangelical Holiness Association and the Association of Pentecostal Churches merged.

•  In 1898 the Pentecostal Alliance was formed in Nashville, TN. It later became the Pentecostal Mission.

•  Work began in India in 1898 through the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America.

•  The first college by a parent group was opened in 1899 near Greenville, TX. Originally named Texas Holiness, it was later called Peniel University, parent of Southern Nazarene University.

•  In 1901 work began in Cape Verde through the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America.

•  Work also began in Guatemala in 1901 through the Pentecostal Mission.

•  In 1902 work began in Cuba through the Pentecostal Mission.

•  The Association of Pentecostal Churches of America began work in Canada in 1902.

•  Work began in Mexico in 1903 through the Independent Holiness church.

•  The Holiness Church of Christ began in 1904 in Rising Star, TX.

•  In 1906 George Sharpe founded the Pentecostal Church of Scotland.

•  In 1907 the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene, a merger of the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America and Church of the Nazarene, was formed in Chicago.

•  In 1907 work began in Japan through the Holiness Church of Christ.

•  In 1908 the Holiness Church of Christ merged with the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene in Pilot, TX.

•  In 1912 the Nazarene Publishing House opened and began publication of the Herald of Holiness.

•  During 1913 and 1914 General Superintendent H.R. Reynolds toured through Asia and Africa prompting a new era for missions.

•  In 1915 the Woman's Missionary Society was authorized. It is now the Nazarene Missions International.

•  In 1919 the official name was shortened to Church of the Nazarene.

•  In 1923 the General Board was created and the Nazarene Young People's Society was authorized. It is now Nazarene Youth International.

•  The first Nazarene hospitals were established in 1925; Bresee Memorial in China and Raleigh Fitkin Memorial in Swaziland.

•  In 1930 the first Easter offering was received for world missions.

•  In 1945 The Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO became the first graduate seminary. The “Showers of Blessing” radio broadcast also began.

•  In 1948 the first Alabaster box offering for missions was received.

•  In 1953 the “Le Hora Nazarena” radio broadcast began with H.T. Reza.

•  In 1964 the first mission team of college students, Nazarene Evangelistic Ambassadors, was formed.

•  In 1974 the First World Youth Conference was held in Switzerland.

•  In 1975 Washington, D.C.'s Community of Hope and New York's Lamb's Theater spark urban ministries emphasis.

•  In 1975 and 1976 the Guatemala earthquake and Haiti famine spurred Compassionate Ministries.

•  In 1980 the denomination was divided into regions as the General Assembly embraced “internationalism”.

•  In 1998 USA/Canada Nazarenes become denominational minority.

•  In 2008 a Global Ministry Center was built.