How it all started...
In 1924 a lady evangelist, Mattie Crawford, came to Emmett. She held evangelistic meetings in the Ed Hayes prune orchard which is now the City Park. Many folks were saved and filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit at these meetings. Out of those revival meetings several churches had their roots: The Foursquare, The United Pentecostal (Abundant life on Washington Ave. next to AutoZone), The Assembly of God and The Church of God. Rev. Anna Bogrot, pastor of the Nampa Foursquare Church held meetings at the home of Lucy Kefauver and they later used the school on the South slope. Rev. Waldvogel came to be pastor. Miss Genevieve Harper and Betty Heidner held tent meetings and then in 1932 Rev. Gladys Winn and Rev. Betty Heidner came to be pastors. The church met then in the dining hall/cook shack at the Mill. It was under their ministry that the church was chartered into Foursquare in the summer of 1933. Rev. Winn left shortly after to move to Portland. Rev. Heidener married Rev. Harry Wilson in Salmon, Idaho and they were asked to come and pastor. Rev. Wilson said they arrived on the train with a suitcase with his trombone and her saxophone. They left Emmett four years later with about the same possessions, but with wonderful memories and lifelong friends.
The building of the mill was no longer available, so they met in a room over at George Martin’s feed store next to the hotel. The mill contacted them that they would sell them the boarding house if they would move it. Mr. Kefauver bought the present site. There was a windmill on the lot, which he kept and sold the land to the church. House movers were secured in June of 1934; the building was 92 feet long, so it was cut in half to move. The men got everything ready and the women cooked meals at the home of Pearl Buster (Martz) on Cascade Road. They had just gotten across the railroad tracks when the sheriff stopped them. He was very nice but informed them That to move anything into the city they had to post a bond- this was a problem.
As they were waiting to see what to do Dewey Bowman, a local orchard owner came by. He talked to the sheriff, posted bond and the move was again under way. Everyone worked hard to transform it into a nice church. Once the work was done you could not tell it was cut in half. Knotty pine wood covered the wall behind the pulpit (that was used in the new church in the upstairs rooms). There was a beautiful painting of a landscape back of the stage with light blue damask curtains. Many plays and Sunday school programs were presented over the years. The church had theater seats and an organ was purchased from the old Liberty Theater. A pit was prepared down in front of the platform. Grace Downing from the Presbyterian Church came and played it for us and helped our organist, Meta Rains learn all about it. When Ruby Martz came, she played the organ and Meta played the piano. (That same organ was also used in the new church in a pit in front of the platform. The pit was covered over when a new organ was purchased in the late 1970s.) There was also a good orchestra for several years. Horns and violins helped much to add to the worship. There was usually a choir as well. In the old Sanctuary behind the platform was a large room that was used for Sunday school. An old house was purchased and moved between the church and the parsonage (the present to youth house) to be used for Sunday school. An old school bus was purchased and used for many years to pick up children from all over the valley for Sunday School. In 1950 under the Ministry of Rev. Dorothy Jean Furlong and Rev. Juanita Conger the Sunday school had outgrown everything so the annex was built (the building behind the present church). It was dedicated March 21st, 1951. The Sunday school grew and that year a float was built and entered into the Cherry Festival Parade. It was a real testimony to the community.
In those early days the women canned much produce from their gardens and operated a successful commissary for many years. They also sewed clothes for needy families. On July 27th, 1957, under the pastorate of Rev. Flay and Nadine Walker, ground was broken for the new (present) church. The men of the church worked on it as they could, and the ladies had fundraisers. One lady made hats and sold them. Dora Smith, a faithful lady confined to a wheelchair made donuts and Hazel Martin made bread to sell. Some of the farmers donated a beef to sell. The First Baptismal Service in the new church was April 29th, 1962. Previously we had used the Brethren, Baptist, Christian Churches, River or the Canal (weather permitting). Our new church was dedicated November 15th, 1964, under the pastorate of Rev. Henry and Dorothy Davis. NW District Supervisor Roy Mourer, Emmett Mayor Lee Bolt, former pastors Fred Collins and Flay Walker were special guests.
Over a period of many years this church has had an outreach to the nursing home. Bill and Ruby Martz and others were faithful for many years.
In 1963 the women’s group was chartered into United Foursquare Women. This is a support to our missionaries, to our local church and to our pastor. Many are baby quilts, baby clothes, quilts, Sunday school materials, and other things lovingly sent. Many of the “extras” we have in our church were acquired through this ministry. Some of our pastors have gone into the mission field: Rev. Gladys Winn served for a few years at L.I.F.E (Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism) Bible College in the Correspondence Dept. Rev. And Mrs. Wayne Mcintosh served in Australia. Rev. Dorothy Jean Furlong and Rev. Juanita Conger both taught at L.I.F.E. Bible College in California and also L.I.F.E Bible College East. Rev. Henry and Dorothy Davis served in Ecuador and established the “Houses of Happiness” orphanages. This is a ministry that is still going forward. Rev. Ken and Bobbi Wold served in Papua New Guinea and are now missionary representatives. Also fill in for missionary pastors on furlough.
As I have worked on this as a matter of history for us. I cannot tell you of their overwhelming sense of awe and thankfulness for what God has done because people were faithful through the years. My family has had a great heritage as they received the benefits of their grandparents and great grandparents response to God’s call on their lives. God is to be greatly praised.
I was helped by Rev. Harry Wilson and my Mother, Eva Scybert, a charter member. Nellie (Hansen) Rader had also written some of it down several years ago. It is as accurate as I could make it and I lovingly submit it for the record.
-Jerry Rains
The building of the mill was no longer available, so they met in a room over at George Martin’s feed store next to the hotel. The mill contacted them that they would sell them the boarding house if they would move it. Mr. Kefauver bought the present site. There was a windmill on the lot, which he kept and sold the land to the church. House movers were secured in June of 1934; the building was 92 feet long, so it was cut in half to move. The men got everything ready and the women cooked meals at the home of Pearl Buster (Martz) on Cascade Road. They had just gotten across the railroad tracks when the sheriff stopped them. He was very nice but informed them That to move anything into the city they had to post a bond- this was a problem.
As they were waiting to see what to do Dewey Bowman, a local orchard owner came by. He talked to the sheriff, posted bond and the move was again under way. Everyone worked hard to transform it into a nice church. Once the work was done you could not tell it was cut in half. Knotty pine wood covered the wall behind the pulpit (that was used in the new church in the upstairs rooms). There was a beautiful painting of a landscape back of the stage with light blue damask curtains. Many plays and Sunday school programs were presented over the years. The church had theater seats and an organ was purchased from the old Liberty Theater. A pit was prepared down in front of the platform. Grace Downing from the Presbyterian Church came and played it for us and helped our organist, Meta Rains learn all about it. When Ruby Martz came, she played the organ and Meta played the piano. (That same organ was also used in the new church in a pit in front of the platform. The pit was covered over when a new organ was purchased in the late 1970s.) There was also a good orchestra for several years. Horns and violins helped much to add to the worship. There was usually a choir as well. In the old Sanctuary behind the platform was a large room that was used for Sunday school. An old house was purchased and moved between the church and the parsonage (the present to youth house) to be used for Sunday school. An old school bus was purchased and used for many years to pick up children from all over the valley for Sunday School. In 1950 under the Ministry of Rev. Dorothy Jean Furlong and Rev. Juanita Conger the Sunday school had outgrown everything so the annex was built (the building behind the present church). It was dedicated March 21st, 1951. The Sunday school grew and that year a float was built and entered into the Cherry Festival Parade. It was a real testimony to the community.
In those early days the women canned much produce from their gardens and operated a successful commissary for many years. They also sewed clothes for needy families. On July 27th, 1957, under the pastorate of Rev. Flay and Nadine Walker, ground was broken for the new (present) church. The men of the church worked on it as they could, and the ladies had fundraisers. One lady made hats and sold them. Dora Smith, a faithful lady confined to a wheelchair made donuts and Hazel Martin made bread to sell. Some of the farmers donated a beef to sell. The First Baptismal Service in the new church was April 29th, 1962. Previously we had used the Brethren, Baptist, Christian Churches, River or the Canal (weather permitting). Our new church was dedicated November 15th, 1964, under the pastorate of Rev. Henry and Dorothy Davis. NW District Supervisor Roy Mourer, Emmett Mayor Lee Bolt, former pastors Fred Collins and Flay Walker were special guests.
Over a period of many years this church has had an outreach to the nursing home. Bill and Ruby Martz and others were faithful for many years.
In 1963 the women’s group was chartered into United Foursquare Women. This is a support to our missionaries, to our local church and to our pastor. Many are baby quilts, baby clothes, quilts, Sunday school materials, and other things lovingly sent. Many of the “extras” we have in our church were acquired through this ministry. Some of our pastors have gone into the mission field: Rev. Gladys Winn served for a few years at L.I.F.E (Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism) Bible College in the Correspondence Dept. Rev. And Mrs. Wayne Mcintosh served in Australia. Rev. Dorothy Jean Furlong and Rev. Juanita Conger both taught at L.I.F.E. Bible College in California and also L.I.F.E Bible College East. Rev. Henry and Dorothy Davis served in Ecuador and established the “Houses of Happiness” orphanages. This is a ministry that is still going forward. Rev. Ken and Bobbi Wold served in Papua New Guinea and are now missionary representatives. Also fill in for missionary pastors on furlough.
As I have worked on this as a matter of history for us. I cannot tell you of their overwhelming sense of awe and thankfulness for what God has done because people were faithful through the years. My family has had a great heritage as they received the benefits of their grandparents and great grandparents response to God’s call on their lives. God is to be greatly praised.
I was helped by Rev. Harry Wilson and my Mother, Eva Scybert, a charter member. Nellie (Hansen) Rader had also written some of it down several years ago. It is as accurate as I could make it and I lovingly submit it for the record.
-Jerry Rains
REV. BETTY SEIDNER AND REV. GLADYS WINN
OUR CHURCH CHARTER
THE BUILDING WE GREW FROM
NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL BUILDING
Dedicated March 21, 1951
NEW SANCTUARY
Dedicated November 15, 1964
