65th Anniversary: 1951-2016

The Beginning

At 2 o’clock, Sunday afternoon, August 12, 1951, 38 adults and 15 children met to discuss the possibilities of starting a Church of the Nazarene at Columbus, Missouri. Rev. Richard “Dick” Law, a Nazarene elder and pastor of Columbus Community Church, discussed rules as set forth in the Manual. Rev. Law asked the group to pray about their decision for 2 weeks after which he would bring Dr. Jarrett Aycock to meet with those still interested in starting a Nazarene Church in Columbus.

Monday evening, August 27, Dr. Aycock met with the group giving them instructions on organizing a new Church. Money was pledged and an agreement made to purchase the Columbus store and property for $7,000. Dr. Aycock then asked for those who wished to become members of the new “Columbus Church of the Nazarene” to step forward. 39 people joined as charter members that day. Rev. and Mrs. Law were the first pastors.

The first meeting, a Prayer Meeting, of the Columbus Church of the Nazarene, was held on October 3, 1951 in the basement of the store. New folding chairs had been purchased and the basement cleaned and made ready for the meeting. 39 people gathered for that first Prayer Meeting.

Dr. Aycock organized the Columbus Church of the Nazarene on Tuesday, October 30, 1951. At that time the name of the Church was changed to the Countryside Church of the Nazarene.

Rev. and Mrs. Law entered the field of evangelism on September 14, 1952. The following Sunday Rev. and Mrs. Marsell Knight were inducted in as the new pastors. On Monday, October 27, 1952, work was begun on remodeling the church auditorium and the first service, a Prayer Meeting, was held in the new auditorium on December 31, 1952. The church was dedicated on January 18, 1953.