HISTORY
2023 Marks 77 Years of God's Faithfulness to Applegate Community Church
In the early years of the last century, the spiritual needs of the settlers in the Applegate Valley were mostly served through Bible classes held by the American Sunday School Union (now known as the American Missionary Fellowship). Sunday School classes were held at the Applegate School in 1932, as well as the Thompson Creek and Missouri Flat schools.
In 1944, John and Neva McEndree invited the Rev. and Mrs. Earl Book for revival meetings, which were held in the old Applegate Grange Hall, located directly across from the present Applegate Store. The need of a church facility was a common desire of all the people. Therefore, the people prayed seeking God’s will and guidance. As God directed, a parcel of land was purchased on the hillside where the present church facility stands.
In 1945, with money and building material available, construction began as the men put up the first church building, which included a sanctuary, 2 classrooms, and an attached 2-bedroom parsonage also used for classrooms. By August 4, 1946, seventeen people were listed on the church membership rolls. Later that month (Aug. 23), a meeting was called at the “Applegate Assembly of God” Church by the pastor, Earl Book, for the purpose of setting the church in order. Book served as pastor until January 1950, followed by Harold Casper who served until June 1951.
In August 1951, Thornton Gapen became the pastor. By 1954, the church had grown and it became apparent that a larger facility was needed.
In April 1963, our church purchased 6 adjacent acres from the John Nielson family. In May 1963, a building committee was appointed; in 1964, the “Country Store” and Barbecue were set up as a means of raising money; and in 1965, the actual construction began.
On March 13, 1964, the church family agreed that it change its ministry from the Assembly of God Church to a non-denominational community church.
All agreed and the name of the church was changed to the Applegate Community Church. Pastor Gapen began devoting all his time to building the church and laid all the blocks in the building. In June of 1968, without windows or doors, the wedding of Susan Head was held, initiating services in the new facility.
As the church continued to grow and additional classroom space was needed, Pastor Gapen approached John Horner, a property owner adjacent to the church, about obtaining adjoining property for expansion of the church’s facilities.
Mr. Horner donated the land to the church. Construction of the Christian Education wing was begun in 1977 and completed by 1981. Thornton Gapen served over 30 years until the Lord directed him to resign his pastorate in order to serve as a Hospital Chaplain.
In January 1981, the church welcomed Ken Schubert as its pastor. Under Pastor Schubert’s leadership, the church began a longtime relationship with the rural home missions’ ministry, Village Missions. With this new partnership in place the church continued to reach out to the community resulting in numerical, spiritual, and ministry growth.
Along with the growth came the need for additional space to accommodate larger ministries and ministry events. In July 1998, following 18 years of a very fruitful ministry, Pastor Schubert retired.
By August 1998, along with the leadership of Village Missions, Applegate Community Church called Pastor Kurt Krowel and family to lead the church through this time of transition and into the Gospel ministry of the new millennium. Pastor Kurt, his wife Linda and family arrived in Applegate in 1998. In 2002, the church became independent. Pastor Krowel retired in September 2007.
At that time, Brian Johnson was called to serve as our senior pastor. Pastor Brian faithfully served our church until October of 2016. Since that time we have had two additional pastors, Pastor Parker Reardon (October 2016 to April 2019) and Pastor Will Petersen (October 2019 to July 2023).
As we enter our 77th year of ministry, we excitedly look forward to how God will continue to use ACC to glorify himself through the exaltation of his people. s