11/03/08

CHURCH HISTORY

1929   -   Present

In the decade after the turn of the 20^th Century, following the mighty Azusa Street Revival, the Pentecostal message was preached in Jackson County.  As a result of the preaching and subsequent baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost, an infant church, which was originally called “Rams Horn Church”, was founded adjacent to the Seven Pines Cemetery grounds.  The building was destroyed by fire and the Letter Box School House became the temporary meeting place for this body of believers.  Realizing the need for a permanent house of worship, several families gave of their time and substance to build Seven Pines Pentecostal Church.  The building (Pictured Below) was erected at it’s location in 1929. 

Asa & Lillie Cornelius furnished the land for the new church.  George and Nan Parrett donated lumber from a dismantled store building to build the church.  Asa Cornelius served as overseer (thus, the church was known as “Asa’s Chapel” for a number of years)  from its 1929 beginning until he became disabled and moved away in 1960.  Burl and Mary Belle King bought the farm, which included the church building, and from that time continued the church services as general overseers.  Later, Burl and Mary Belle deeded the land and church building to the Seven Pines Pentecostal Church.  The trustees appointed were Charles King, Lige King and Bill Parrett.  Over the years pastors included Rev. Dillard Dunigan, Rev. Lawrence Cornelius,  Rev. Jim King and Rev. Billy Thomas.  Other ministers filled in for short periods of time.

In 1980, at the age of 45, Elmer Green was called by God into the preaching ministry.  On August 13, 1981, after recently moving from Ohio, Elmer and his family accompanied Margie’s mother, Cora Parrett, to a weekly pray meeting at the Seven Pines Pentecostal Church.  Although there was only a few in attendance that night, there was a great outpouring of the Spirit of God and a revival started that night.  The revival continued for approximately two weeks with the crowd increasing each night.  As the church was presently without a pastor, God began to deal with the congregation and Elmer to pastor the church.  He accepted this Pastorship and the first Sunday School was held on the first Sunday in September, 1981, with only 18 in attendance.

The church continued to grow and the need for more room became obvious.  A new addition was added in 1982 which provided space for a new platform, pulpit area, and four Sunday School rooms.  Also, a new television ministry, originally over Channel 65 in Beattyville and presently over the County’s local cable systems, was added, as well as a bus ministry, and an expanded youth ministry.  Rev. Donnie Parrett was added at Youth Minister in 1989.

By 1989, the need again became apparent for more space.  Peak crowds numbered to over 175 and on occasion the building was not large enough to accommodate all the people.  Thus a building fund was instituted and plans for a new church got underway.  On September 23, 1990, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new church building just north of the old church, with a seating capacity of 240 and a full basement for the Sunday School rooms and other activities.  The new church was to follow the example of the builders of the original church, with the in kind services and donations from the members and friends, it was completed in the fall of 1991.     

The church as it is today.   March 2006.