|
our history
The place was University City, Missouri. The date was June 1948. Events of that summer day may have seemed insignificant to the casual observer, but it marked the beginning of something great in the kingdom of God.
Guy E. Roam, a 30-year-old evangelist, along with his wife and four young children, opened their home at 6440 Suburban Avenue to a small group of believers who desired a place to worship together. Some twenty-five came together for prayer meeting in the Roam’s small home. Seeing the need of these people, Brother Roam left the evangelistic field to dedicate himself to the spiritual growth of the group and the building of a church. In this post-war era, housing was scarce and the family of six filled the three room "shotgun" house. It took a special sacrifice to open their home week after week, constantly moving furniture, setting up chairs, then putting everything back. With services soon including Sunday morning and evening, a sense of humor became essential. As the group increased to about forty, they jokingly referred to their "three congregations" which met in the living room, bedroom, and kitchen.
As God blessed and the numbers grew, it became evident that the young church needed a larger, permanent place to meet. In July 1950 they moved into a small frame building at 6511 Etzel Avenue. Much labor went into remodeling the facilities to meet their needs. God continued to bless and the congregation increased still more.
more... |
