For seventy-five years; helping people relate to God and to each other
 Our first home, August 28, 1932 - July 25, 1952 |
The
Spirit of God moving in revival in the late 1920's brought many St.
Paul people to life-changing faith in Christ. They came together in
home Bible studies and prayer meetings in the months and years that
followed. With vision and much prayer, faith, hard work and
sacrifice, a church was born. The old Plymouth Congregational Church
building at Holly and Mackubin streets was secured and prepared to
house the new congregation. Evangelist Ben Hardin was called to be
the first pastor. On Sunday, August 28, 1932 the congregation,
taking the name Saint Paul Gospel Temple, began its ministry in the
heart of the city.
The seventy five years from that day to this are filled with stories of men and women and boys and girls who have come to know the Lord through the witness of this congregation - the stories of people learning to walk with God and to work together for Him. There have been hard times: One of the early deacons mortgaged his home to help the church through a financial crisis. During a couple of pastoral changes in those beginning years the doors might have closed but for the perseverance of God's faithful and the timely provisions from the Lord of new ministerial leadership. On July 25, 1952 the bold headline on the front page of the St. Paul Dispatch read, "Fire Destroys Church." In the middle of the night flames raged through the building on Holly and Mackubin, but the "church" was not destroyed! The Lord brought them through the fire and with renewed faith and vision helped them to build a lovely new place of meeting on Summit at Victoria. Taking the name Summit Avenue Assembly of God, this very special group of people has continued to earnestly worship the Lord and to reach out to others. Congregational growth has led to building expansions in 1965, 1983 and 1986. Though people now come from a wide radius encompassing the whole Twin Cities area, with overwhelming majority votes, they have expressed their commitment to stay in ministry in the central city. Through so many devoted families and singles the influence of the church reaches neighborhoods near and far. Joining together in the Lord's work, the blessing of God's love in Christ is being shared with inner city children, handicapped adults, refugees, the victims of broken homes and many others who need His healing touch. Musicians blend voice and instrument in special presentation of the Gospel. Teams are trained to go out introducing others to Jesus. Compassion for those away from God reaches around the world, with financial investments in world evangelization over the years now totaling far in excess of a million dollars. Many families/singles out of this congregation presently serve in international missions:
Many others from Summit are presently serving in home missions:
Pastor Ben Hardin (1932-33) was followed by Rev. Marvin Miller (1933-35), W.H.Boyes (1935-1939), J. McCochie (1939-1940), Rev. Albin Johnson (1940-43), Rev. Ivan 0. Miller (1944-49), Rev. Wilbur Weides (1949-63), Rev. Richard Dresselhaus (1963-70), Rev. Kenneth Swenson (1970-77), Rev. Ed Tedeschi (1977-2007). Alongside them were their wives, special women of God; and in more recent years capable secretaries and a growing staff of ministers. Deacons with a true New Testament spirit of serving have blessed the congregation generation after generation. In the most important sense of the word ministry, everyone who is a part of the family of believers at Summit is ministering. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we continue helping people relate to God and to each other. That in all things He might have preeminence. |
||
 Fire destroys the building. |
|||
 Summit Avenue Assembly of God on the corner of Summit and Victoria. |
|||
 The current building we call home. |
|||
