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In the words of Rev. Charles Lane: "To look back into the past can be very exciting, as we recall fond friendships, pleasant memories and particular events that have been a part of us.......Let's do just that - let's take a look back into the past................................
The Church of the Nazarene began in Russell in 1935 as a mission sponsored by the Young People's Society of the Ashland First Church under the supervision of the Rev. Gene Phillips. Services were held Sunday afternoons and Thursday nights in the old First Methodist Church building, a frame building that had served as a garage when purchased from the Methodist. The young people cleaned the building and brought in homemade benches.
Services began in the late Spring, continued until Fall; and then closed until the Spring of 1936. Great services were had all Summer and two good revivals were held. Several families were attending now. Services continued until the flood of '37. After the cleanup from the flood, services were resumed and the church officially organized in May 1937. The church had eight charter members then: E. C. Bratton, Elmer Bratton, Ellen Bratton, Ethel Craft, J. C. Craft, Lillian Prout, Herman Pruitt, Martha Pruitt, Edward Shope and Mrs. Edward Shope. (Pictured to the right are three of the original charter members: Lillian Prout, E. C. Bratton and Myrtle Kearns).
Early records indicate the Rev. W. B. Chandler was pastor when the church organized. Then Rev. Stanley Wagner became pastor in August and continued until 1940 when C. L. Childers became pastor. The pastoral salaries during the early years were approximately $10.00 per week. The Easter offering in April 1938 was $6.65. Information taken from the Golden Anniversary Day Bulletin in 1987 indicate the offering that year ours was $2,000.
Early church family names included: Rice, Craft, Basenbach, Pruitt, Bratton, Maddy, Prout and Flocker. They were loyal supporters and the church grew both spiritually and financially. Pastors during the '40's included: LM. Hoard, Ralph Morgan, J. L. Seel, H.E. Meredith and Dorothy Maddy. During the pastorate of Bro. Seel, the church purchased property on Etna Street and later the building was extensively remodeled during 1949.
From the September 10, 1948 church minutes: "It was moved to have the phone taken out of the parsonage - as it wasn't being used." Can you imagine a silent parsonage telephone, especially a Nazarene one? And from the July 12, 1949 business meeting: "A rain came up and all left in a hurry with much unfinished business." Nothing compares to dedicated board members!
Pastors during the '50's included: Harry McCubbin, Allen Ralls, Everette Robertson, Melvin Abney and Garnet Sexton. The auditorium was built on Etna Street (left) in 1952-53. The church remained on Etna Street until 1973, when the old First Christian Church property on Beech Street (right) was purchased. The property was remolded after a major fire did extensive damage to the building. The old church on Etna Street was converted into a fellowship hall.
One of the longest pastorates was held by W. Earl Mays. He served from 1962 until 1975. Several area churches have been pastored by ministers who were called during his ministry: Raymond Keaton, Charles Sparks, Tom Jackson, Jean Rose Ratliff, Denver Prater, Bruce Williams, Marvin Cecil and Rob Hale. Rev. Mays had a very successful pastorate and as of the Golden Anniversary was still active in God's work. His youngest son, Jonathan, was also a minister.
Warren F. Toler assumed the leadership of the church in 1976. Property was purchased on the corner of Rude Cemetery and Bellefonte Roads in Flatwoods to erect a new church which would officially become the First Church of the Nazarene, Flatwoods. Kentucky. The church moved there in 1979. Rev. Toler pastored until 1984, assisted by Rob Hale and Bruce Williams.
In January 1985 Charles F. Lane became the pastor. Our church was active in the community, with a Senior Adult Ministry open to all over 55 years of age; church membership was not required; an active Missionary Society, supporting our local and overseas missions. In 1987, our longest serving church member was Mamie Edwards, who took membership February 19, 1950.
On November 10, 1996, Rev. Rich Wagner was assisted by Rev. Dorothy Maddy, Rev. Charles Lane, Rev. Vernon Adams and Rev. Warren Toler for a special "Burning of the Church Mortgage" ceremony.
March 12, 2000, the church continues to expand as they broke ground for the church's Family Life Center. Newspaper article is shown below:
We were then and are still today a growing church and hope to see added improvements that it may continue to be what it was always meant to be: A SYMBOL TO ALL OF GOD'S AMAZING LOVE AND GRACE.
To quote Rev. Charles Lane from the Golden Anniversary Day Program in 1987 again: "It was the vision of a few women and men to start a new work in the Russell area that led to the formation of a new church. That small group of people built, worked, prayed and trusted God as the church began to grow. Soon others were coming and the Russell Nazarene Church was here to stay."
"Today that same church is still on the move. Times have changed and faces have changed, but the vision is still the same. If those pioneer founders of 1937 could be with us today, I am sure they would be pleased with what they would see. God has truly been good to every congregation over the past fifty years"
Yes, those very words are still true today. That same church is still on the move today, now known as The First Church of the Nazarene, Flatwoods, Kentucky.
Pastors who have faithfully served the people of this church and have proclaimed God's Word from it pulpit are listed below:
Organized 1937 Rev. Stanley Wagner
1938 - 1939 Rev. Charles L. Childers
1940 - 1941 Rev. M. L. Hoard
1942 Rev. Ralph Morgan
1943 - 1944 Rev. J. Lester Seel
1945 Rev. H. E. Meredith
1946 - 1948 Rev. Dorothy Maddy
1949 - 1950 Rev. Harry McCubbin
1951 - 1952 Rev. Allen F. Ralls
1953 - 1956 Rev. Everett Robertson
1957 - 1958 Rev. Melvin Abney
1959 - 1961 Rev. Garnet Sexton
1962 - 1975 Rev. W. Earl Mays, Sr.
1976 - 1984 Rev. Warren Toler
1985 - 1991 Rev. Charles F. Lane
1992 - 1996 Rev. Vernon Adams
1996 - 2005 Rev. Richard Wagner
2005 - present Rev. Roger Bonzo
HISTORY