[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 77 (Thursday, May 10, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTRAL ASSEMBLY OF GOD 
                                 CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2007

  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an institution 
celebrating its centennial milestone this month. The Central Assembly 
of God Church in Springfield, MO, has been at the center of the 
Pentecostal movement in Springfield since the turn of the 20th century.
  Early in 1907, a woman, who had attended a California revival, came 
to Springfield and spent a week with Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Corum. She 
related the stories from the revival in Los Angeles and told them God 
was sending a refreshing message. Mrs. Corum began reading material 
from the revival. On June 1, 1907, Mrs. Corum received a spiritual 
awakening.
  Prayer meetings resulted from this spiritual outpouring. Hearing 
about a revival, a group of friends from Joplin came to Springfield to 
join the prayer meetings. From 1907 to 1914, this band of Spirit-filled 
believers met in various places, including a large tent. The first 
pastor, Reverend Sig Eaton, was elected on December 7, 1914.
  During the spring of 1918 the Assemblies of God International 
headquarters moved from St. Louis, MO, to Springfield, increasing the 
number in the local church. Because of the larger congregation, the 
group erected a 40 x 60 foot building, which was completed and occupied 
on July 1, 1920.
  In December 1929, that building burned to the ground. The new church 
was erected in 1930. The church complex now covers 200,000 square feet, 
offering an assortment of services and activities for every age group. 
The latest renovation, completed in 2004, includes four levels of 
children's ministries classrooms; construction began on a new 22,000 
square foot Youth and Community Center that includes a 350-seat youth 
chapel, wood floor gymnasium, cafeteria, kitchen, computer lab, game 
area, classrooms and an office wing. The retrofitted old sanctuary has 
become a spacious 16,000 square foot multipurpose hall that houses a 
large area for KidZone/Children's Church, as well as a facility with 
seating for some 700 people at round tables for other churchwide 
events. A large industrial kitchen and children's game area were also 
included in this space.
  The congregation of Central Assembly has a rich tradition of not just 
meeting the spiritual needs of the community; but the physical needs as 
well. Currently, through initiatives such as a food pantry, strategic 
relationships with Pipkin Middle School, Boyd and Weaver Elementary 
Schools, and other community efforts, Central Assembly has expanded its 
influence beyond the walls of the church.
  Central Assembly sent out its first foreign missionary, Forest 
Coover, on September 1, 1926 to Tibet. That international ministry 
continues today. The church has an impact that is global in its work 
and mission. Due to its strategic location in close proximity to the 
Assemblies of God headquarters and universities, Central has played an 
important role in the development of young leaders who now lead 
ministry and relief efforts around the world.
  The group of congregants, today more than 2,000 strong, has come a 
long way from the early and humble beginnings of those who met in 
prayer meetings with the Corums. The Central family is thankful to the 
Lord for the evidence of His blessing through the years, keenly aware 
that the Church is made up not of bricks and stained glass but of born-
again believers, with a desire to connect with God, with each other, 
and with their purpose in life.
  I congratulate the Central Assemblies of God Church on their special 
anniversary and pray the congregation's future is filled with success 
in the spiritual missions that are the foundation of the church.

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