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About Us /History History
The Nazarene denomination first began its ministry in the Rock Falls-Sterling area in 1919 with a series of revival meetings. It wasn't until 1941 that an actual church building, with a seating capacity of 150, was constructed in Sterling. Reverend J. Wilbur Silvers was pastor at the time. On November 30, 1941 the building was dedicated by Doctor E. O. Chalfant. Revival services were in progress at the time of the dedication and on the last Sunday of the revival, Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941, the Sterling First Church of the Nazarene was officially organized with 15 charter members. In July of 1945, Reverend H. C. Hatton replaced Reverend Silvers, when Reverend Silvers was called to pastor in Marseilles, Illinois. The church continued to grow and in 1951 the basement of the original structure was remodeled to provide more Sunday School rooms and plans were drawn to build a new sanctuary. Work on the new sanctuary began in April of 1954. On February 27, 1955, Dr. Hardy C. Powers, General Superintendent, dedicated the new church building with a record attendance that Sunday of 650. In 1964 under the direction of Chuck Hoover, N.Y.P.S. President, a Bible quiz team was organized and participated in district quizzing events. In 1969 Wendy Parsons held Sterling's first Bible quizzing tournament at the Jordan School Gymnasium with six teams involved. On June 13, 1971, the official church library started under the supervision of Maxine Anspach and Diane Stockton, librarian. The library was named the Woods Memorial Library in 1979 as a memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Woods. In 1972 plans were drawn up to build a Nazarene Center. The Center was opened for use in May 1974 and was named Hatton Center in honor of Dr. H. C. Hatton. The new building included a gymnasium, kitchen, parlor with a fireplace, and an area for Sunday School classes. A covered walk-way connecting the Hatton Center and the church was added in 1977.
In the fall of 1978 the church extended its outreach and
established a private school called Twin City Nazarene School to provide
"Education with a Christian Purpose". Classes were held in the church
basement and Hatton Center. Principal Wendy Parsons had a staff of four
teachers and five aids and a first year enrollment of 59. In 1979 the church building was expanded again. The new addition added offices for the assistant pastors, a new room for the library, new Sunday School rooms and additional sanctuary seating. In May 1981 four boys and girls were the first winners from the local church to win the denomination's Caravan awards. Receiving the Phineas F. Breese awards were Marty Schmall and Eric Smoot. Michaelle DeMolli and Tracy South received the Esther Carson Winans award. After 46 years of being the pastor of Sterling First Church, Dr. Hatton retired in July of 1991. At the time of his retirement the church board of Sterling First Church bestowed upon him the title of Pastor Emeritus. The church called Reverend M. Kim Smith to provide the leadership after Dr. Hatton's retirement. From 1991 to 1999, Reverend Smith emphasized the vision of "SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST", through PRAYER, EXALTATION, ABIDING, CARING, and EVANGELISM. Feeling the call to pastor another church Reverend Smith resigned in 1999. The Reverend Michael Williams served as pastor from 2000 to 2002. His ministry was highlighted with an in-depth study of the book of Revelation and his favorite saying was "Always Look Up". The Reverend Scott Wade served as pastor from 2003 through December 2005. His motto was "To Know God and to Make Him Known". During his tenure the heating and cooling in the main church building was restructured and some modifications were made to the platform in the sanctuary. A new chapter in the life of the church began on July 2, 2006 with the Reverend Bob Hasselbring's first Sunday as Senior Pastor. A new chapter and a new beginning with God remaining faithful to His Word. |
