Our History.....

 Ever wonder if prayers get answered?  Rhoda Burton had no doubt.  Her belief was put to the test though.  Mrs. Burton, a widow living at 64 W 1st Street, Fulton prayed for more than 20 years that a Christian and Missionary Alliance church would come to her town.   The C&MA was then a fast growing  non-denominational movement, founded by A.B Simpson in 1887.   In 1954 Rhoda heard Rev. George Richter doing a devotional program on a local radio station. She met with him and shared her vision and offered her home as a meeting place.  Richter agreed to begin the work and Mrs. Burton donated her Victorian house for the undertaking, reserving 3 upstairs rooms as her private residence.

The first service was held Feb. 13, 1955 and the church became fully organized September 19 of that year with 25 charter members. Needing more space immediately, the congregation added a brick-face sanctuary alongside the house. Several members put up their own homes as collateral for a loan and did virtually all the work on the edifice. The expanded chapel could seat 100 and was dedicated in April 1959.  George and Arlene Richter moved on to another ministry and Rev. James and Alda Ruth Walls came to serve the growing congregation from 1960-1966. Frequent social events fostered a reputation for friendliness and warmth and the church was noted for it’s great music and good children and youth programs.

Rev. George and Marien Hall followed in service from 1966 to 1970. Vacation Bible Schools, a strong Sunday school program and solid evangelical teaching and preaching, swelled the church membership, which was fast outgrowing the building. The decision to purchase a six-acre lot on Curtis Street (Rt. 176) and raise a building to house the congregation, which had grown to more than 300 members, was made. The Halls moved on to another ministry and Rev. John and Marylu Fogal followed and stayed from 1971-1980. The Curtis Street building was enlarged 3 times as attendance and financial figures shot up sharply each year. Missions giving increased greatly and the staff was enlarged with assistant and associate pastors now needed. Marriage and family counseling became a priority and ministered to many families.

Rev. Glenn and Linda Thomas began pastoral ministry in 1983 and continued until cancer took Glenn's life in January 1992.  In 1983, with church attendance averaging over 500, the need for a larger building again became evident.  During the search for a site, the possibility arose that the church might trade buildings with the First Methodist Church on St. Rt. 48.  In a true win/win situation, the churches each voted to swap buildings. FAC had its first service in the present building Sept. 14, 1986. Extensive renovations, mostly done by the church family, enlarged the sanctuary to seat 750, removed and covered the meditation garden making a large narthex, and winterized the building. Easter Sunday 1987, the newly refurbished sanctuary was dedicated. Marriage retreats, women’s ministries and personal counseling marked the Thomas’ ministry.

Rev John and Mimi Soper pastored from 1992-1996 and emphasized the involvement of members into small groups. He also wrote and instituted a cassette tape study of the entire Bible called Know the Word, still available through the church library.

Since 1997 Dr. Marc Haynes, his wife Cheryl, Associate pastor, Rev. Robert Ether, and his wife Judy have been ministering to the Fulton Alliance Church. They emphasize using creative ways to minister to our community through such things as Grief Share; Divorce Care; the motor cycle group, Riders of the Son; and community blood drives.

Through all its years the Fulton Christian and Missionary Alliance has emphasized missions. All Christian and Missionary Alliance churches host a yearly Missions Conference, a week- long event when 2-3 missionaries share their experiences and report on God’s work in their respective countries. They have had these speakers from every corner of the world. They have also sent out missionaries both short term (1 week to 3 months) and long term to places like Thailand, Russia, Ukraine, France, Gabon, Paraguay, Bolivia and China.  Giving and praying for missions is an integral part of their thinking and ministry.

"Do prayers get answered?"   Why don't you come to Fulton Alliance Church and see for yourself.  God bless you.

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