First one if of Cliff Severson, Debbie with Joseph, and Chet.
Second has Cliff Severson, Reba Williams, Debbie with Joseph, and Chet.
.
After the picnic, we all went down to the river and some of us got baptized. Barry and I were two of them.
It was a very special day for me.
Couple of photos of Pastor Ward Astin standing in the water and facing a very receptive audience!
First picture - Ris goes under for the Lord.. . . . . . .followed by her son Barry doing the same.
This was the best day of my life!
.
FIrst Assembly of God doing a Christmas program at the Pierre Mall.
.
.
In 1989 Roxanne Kruse had a baby girl, Kristine, and the First AG ladies gave her a baby shower.
.
First picture is of Chet playing a solo accompanied by DeAnn Hilmoe (2001).
Second, Chet's last solo at the First Assembly of God (2002)
Senior's Pastor, John Fette, honoring Cliff Severson for his many years of service.
The original podium was replaced by the cross one you see in the pictures above.
Reason given was - easier to move around when needed.
.
Penney Schreiner married Chris Nelson (SD Secretary of Sate) - picture from 1990 church directory.
AJ and Reba Williams - moved to the Veterans Hospital? Home? in Hot Springs - she has Alzheimer's very bad.
AJ could not take care of her. Son Waymon works as caretaker at same facility - Ollie also works somewhere in same city.
.
The following pictures are of those who have passed on since you left Pierre
There are a few others, but don't know if you knew them or not -
two that come to mind are Ray Dimmick and Helen Gilbert (Joyce's and Shirley's mother)
,
Here is the history of the Assembly of God church in Pierre as I know it.
First AG church building located on East Capitol Avenue where I first met Pastor Ward Astin.
Under Pastor Astin's leadership, church membership doubled and then doubled again and again until it was
overflowing.
.
A new much bigger building was needed, and, after much searching around, this lot was settled on.
Official groundbreaking - Mark Chaplin, Ray Shields, Pastor Astin, Cliff Severson, and GV Anderton.
Now the hard work began - to save funds, Pastor Ward Astin " borrowed" the machinery from Royal McKnight and operated it himself.
Two more photos of the huge machinery and its operator!
After the First Assembly of God was finished - it looked like this - click on link below.
First Asembly of God on Harrison Street
.
Then came time for burning of the mortgage - 1997.
Pastor Ted Graff is holding the burning mortgage.
.
Since we found our current pastor ( Rev. John Hostettler), more changes have occurred.
First - the addition of a new wing - a two story metal building - which matches the metal of the original AG - was purchased for cash. This new portion is being built with pay-as-you -go philosopohy and no borrowed funds. It has taken a couple of years to get it to the point where it can be used for classes and social events. Plans were for the front half of the building to be used for classrooms and for expansion of the kitchen and social room. Then the far half of building was to remain one story. It is almost completely done now - and is fully utilized. Kitchen needs work yet. Below are a few views of the building taken from Harrison street.
The name of the church has been changed from First Assembly of God to New Life Assembly of God.
To go along with the new name change a new sign was also posted next to the road. It can be seen in the
first picture by US Mailbox.
.
Various pastors have come and gone - from the time the new church was built in 1987
Here is my best guess at the dates.
Rev. Ward & Debbie Astin (June 1982 – ? 1988)
Rev. David & Faye Toppen (Dec. 1988 – Oct. 1992)
Rev. S. H. Petersen [interim] (Nov-Dec 1992)
Rev. LeRoy & Arda Nelsen (Jan. 1993 – May 1995)
Rev. Richard & Edna Tufte [interim] (June (?)–Nov 1995)
Rev Ted & Joanne Graf (Dec 1995 – March 2000)
Rev. Virgil & Margie Conger [interim] (April – ? 2000)
Rev. John & Lois Hostettler (Dec. 2000 – current)
.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pastor Ward Astin and family -2004
Links
