Welcome to First Assembly!

On behalf of the First Assembly family, thank you for checking out our church’s site.  We are honored that you would consider us, and it’s our hope that you would join us this Sunday! First Assembly has a rich history of impacting the Greater York County area with the gospel of Jesus Christ through compassion, generosity, and engagement. We strive to be a church full of real people, living in community with and encouraging each other, while reaching our community and the world with the Good News of the love of Jesus Christ!

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Church History

 

First Assembly of God was begun in September of 1942.  The Reverend and Mrs. Fred C. Perry of Greenville, South Carolina came as home missions pastors. They began to have services on White Street near the Bleachery, with the Reverend and Mrs. William Vaughn of Greenville as the first evangelists.

In the summer of 1943, property was purchased at the corner of Annafrel and Springs Street and a tent was erected. The First Assembly of God came into being at this site. B. F. Reynolds, Betty Dabney, Frank Dabney, Jorene Ford, Kay Priv-ette and many others were the first persons to attend the services in the tent. Later, during a revival meeting conducted by Reverend Leonard Page, Mrs. Lucile Dabney Furr and her sister, Mrs. Elaine D. Hegwood, began to attend. The Church organized and conducted services in the tent throughout the winter of 1943.

When the Reverend Mr. Perry entered the U. S. Navy, the Reverend C. W. Quattlebaum of Greenwood, S. C. came and work was completed on the building that had been started next to the tent. Following Mr. Quattlebaum's resignation, two or three other ministers came for short periods of time. In 1945, the Reverend Fred Perry and his family came back to pastor and during their stay a parsonage was built.

In 1951, Pastor Perry received a call to a church in Charleston and the Reverend and Mrs. Walter A. Clark and his family came to pastor the church. Mr. Clark pastored for seven years and in 1958 received a call to the mission field and appointment to Japan. The Reverend and Mrs. J. R. Cohn came to pastor the church from 1958 until 1964. Following them in the pastorate were the Reverend and Mrs. Lyman B. Richardson. Under Pastor Richardson's leader-ship, the church purchased property on Edwards Street and a beautiful sanctuary was erected and completed in 1966.

Following Mr. Richardson's resignation, the Reverend and Mrs. C. L. Quinn of Greenville, S. C. came to pastor. In 1968, the Reverend and Mrs. Walter A. Clark returned to the pastorate where they served until 2001.  Under Pastor Clark's leadership, a Family Life Center was built that includes offices, classrooms, and a gym.  In June 2001, Rev. Wm. Bernie Lewis was elected as senior pastor after serving as associate pastor for ten years.  He and his wife Susan served as pastor until his retirement in 2021.  The Reverend and Mrs. L. Steven Pittman pastored the church from 2021 until 2024.  Reverend Shawn Boliner and his wife Hannah are currently serving as interim pastor.

From a very humble beginning, the church has grown to a position of influence in the community, and God has richly blessed the efforts of the people who began with just a few children. It is with grateful hearts that we thank each minister who had a part in leadership of this church and every person who contributed in any way toward its building and its continual growth.