Church History

The Foundational  Years     The Formative Years   The Forward Years     The Future Years


The Foundational Years: 1952-1968—A Vision Becomes A Reality

Englewood Assembly of God started as a result of a burden and a vision on the hearts of a group of believers who desired that a Pentecostal church would open in the Englewood, New Jersey area. In response to their desire, the group, which included Helen Chambellan and Marguret Debus, began to pray . At about that same time in December 1951, Rev. Joseph Campana, who was both a Jersey City postal worker and an Assemblies of God minister, contacted the New York/New Jersey District Office to inquire about starting a church in Englewood. In early 1952 the fledgling prayer group and and Rev. Campana came together to form the nucleus of a new church that they would call “Englewood Assembly of God.” They held their first public worship service on March 23, 1952 in the Masonic Temple in Cresskill. Rev. Campana pastored the church for about one and half years.

In 1953, a Columbia University Student named Pat Rungee assumed the pastorate and led the assembly until early 1956. The young church struggled in 1956. Without a pastor most of the year. Attendance dwindled and there was serious thought given to closing the church.

But God was faithful, bringing Rev. Alton Richardson and his family to lead the church. Under their ministry, the church was rejuvenated and began to grow again. On December 28, 1958 the church purchased 70 West Ivy Lane for $28,000 and soon renovated the home that was on the property. The church used the first floor as a sanctuary, the basement for classroom space, and the upper floors as a parsonage. Soon, however, that space was not large enough to accommodate the growing congregation. Thus, on November 9, 1963 the church broke ground for a new sanctuary. In the middle of a winter snowstorm, they laid the cornerstone on January 10, 1965. Just a few months later, they dedicated the sanctuary on May 29, 1965. The Richardsons pastored Englewood A/G until November 1968.
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The Formative Years: 1969-1980—Working, Reaching, Serving, And Strengthening
  
From 1969 to 1971, Rev. Jesse Owens pastored the church . Under the ministry of Bro. Owens and Kaye, his wife,the church continued to flourish and experience wonderful moves of God’s Spirit.

In 1971, Rev. Donald Veater and Ann, his wife and their family came to Englewood. He led the church through a difficult period of crisis—a property litigation battle regarding the church property. The pastor and board faced extraordinarily difficult decisions and worked very hard to keep the church from losing its property. Fortunately, in a miraculous turnaround, the church won a great victory , kept the property, and soon became debt free, especially because of the generosity of John and Marie Stalder. The Veaters left in 1974.

Rev. Hugh Flanagan and his family came to Englewood in 1974. He pastored the church from 1974 until 1981. During those years, the congregation put aluminum siding on the parsonage, which is now the Annex, added air conditioning to the sanctuary, and started two new congregations: the Full Gospel Korean A/G with Pastor Sung Kim and the Spanish A/G with Pastor Daniel Bombay. As pastor of Englewood Assembly of God, Bro. Flanagan played a key role in positioning the church for what was to come in the days ahead and brought stability and strength to the assembly.
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The Forward Years: 1981-2002—The Ministry Continues To Expand
  
In 1981, Rev. David E. Hansen, Mary his wife, and his family accepted the pastorate of Englewood A/G after recently returning from the mission field from Latin America. During their years at the church, Englewood A/G made several strategic moves: purchased 60 West Ivy Lane; started a Christian school; started an early morning worship service; and hosted a radio program. Their time of ministry was a great blessing. The Hansens returned to missions work in 1988.

Rev. Scott Temple, Susan his wife, and their family served Englewood A/G from 1988-1998. One of the highlights of those years was the “Turning Point” ministry, an outreach that helped people with life controlling problems. On this fifty-year anniversary, many individuals who found God through“Turning Point” still attend the church. The church was also heavily involved in missions work ,– especially reaching out to the former Soviet Union. In keeping with the spirit and goals of the Assemblies of God “Decade of Harvest,” Englewood A/G worked to bring in the harvest that God had prepared under Pastor Temple’s leadership.

In September 1998, Rev. Timothy Harris, Kimberly his wife, and their three children came to Englewood A/G. In December of that year, the church purchased the new parsonage on Leonard Avenue in Tenafly. The church continued to grow and expand under Pastor Harris’ leadership. In November 2000, the services of the church were again expanded to include two Sunday morning services, adult Sunday school electives that helped enrollment reach 250 by the fall of 2001.In addition, financial contributions to the church and missions have steadily increased. .Finally, after a long wait for this adjacent property, the church purchased 80 W. Ivy Lane in April 2001, immediately demolishing the home on the property with the intent of expanding parking capability and preparing for future expansion of the church facilities. After the purchase of another property adjacent to their own, 52 W. Ivy Lane, the church submitted site plans to the City of Englewood for the construction of a new facility.  In December 2006, those plans were approved by the planning board of the City of Englewoood.  The congregation has been excited to see God at work in their midst as individuals have been saved, families restored, and God’s work increased.
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The Future Years: 2007 And Beyond—Ministry In The 21st Century
  
God has blessed Englewood A/G with a wonderful 50+ years of history. It is our prayer that in the days to come until the return of our Lord that this work will continue to prosper. As an assembly we look forward more than ever before to reaching more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ through the fullness of His power. Why? Because the world has changed considerably over the past 50 years, but our mission has not.
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