The History of Our Church
Written by Joyce Huestis and Sandy Knudsen
The early foundation of our church
Mabel Ketchum (far right)
Webster's Dictionary says that a dream is "a fond hope or aspiration". He also defines prayer as the ability to perceive something not actually visible. Prayer is an earnest request entreaty or supplication. Faith is unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence. These four words describe the beginning of the New London Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. Mabel Ketchum had a burden for the area of New London and so the dream began. She was joined by family and other believers in prayer and on a spring morning in 1948, in an oat field, the dream and prayer became a vision. Soon after this she and her family began to attend the C&MA Church in Norwalk.
As a result of this, prayer meetings were held- the men meeting in the barn and ladies in the house.
As a result of this, prayer meetings were held- the men meeting in the barn and ladies in the house.
The James Street Church
After a year and a half of prayer God spoke, saying he wanted a C&MA Church in New London. This seemed an impossible task with only three C&MA families in New London, but the Lord impressed them saying 'many souls would be lost if a church was not established.' The Lord gave Mabel Jeremiah 33:3. The vision started to become a reality. With the support of the District Superintendent, Rev. G.E. Davis and Norwalk pastor, Rev. Paul Connelly, Mabel spoke to the local families about establishing a church. Mr. Dwight Paddock started looking and located an empty church on James Street. A small fire and explosion had completely blackened the interior, but like Nehemiah of old, they went to work. Rev. John Connelly, brother of the Norwalk pastor, was called to first minister to the church. Prayer meetings were held in homes while the church was renovated. On January 3, 1952, the first gathering, a prayer meeting was held in the church basement. Sunday, Feb. 24, 1952, the first morning worship service was held in the auditorium. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" was sung from the heart. March 23, 1952, was the day of dedication. Friends and relatives helped fill the church as Rev. Davis brought a message based on Matthew 16:18b- "upon this Rock (Christ) I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" His words of encouragement sustained the church through some dark days ahead. Many souls were saved through the three year ministry of the Connellys. They were followed by Rev. Lloyd Patterson and family. The church continued to grow and Sunday school attendance reached 100. The church and parsonage were purchased and the work incorporated .
After the Pattersons ministry, the enemy brought a time of depression and decline. The image of the church before the public was negative. In Aug. 1964, Rev. William Gilliam came as pastor. He faithfully preached the word and prayed for renewed blessings. It was during these years that the faith and belief of the church was tested.
The church in New London had been started in the 1950's by a handful of faithful followers of Christ and had grown considerably during its early years. Then the church began to face serious difficulties. For the next twelve years the church continued to lose members and the work of the Lord seemed to come to all but a complete halt. Try as they might, nothing seemed to get them back into the effective work for which they had been called. The few who remained faithful became very discouraged and felt that there was little to do but wait for the end. The community had branded the church as a dying cause and was standing by waiting for the doors to close. But God had his faithful remnant within the walls of this broken body of believers, and He gave them a promise of victory if they would be patient and faithful. These few believers trusted God and believed Him more than they believed the circumstances and evidences around them. It was as though the glory of the Lord had departed from their midst and they had only the prophecy of a regathering, which the Lord had given them. There were five or six young children to keep the level of despair from reaching the bottom, but the discouragement was evident at every turn. It seems that the grace of God was the only thing that could keep a church such as this going under such trying circumstances. The building was in need of much repair, the youth were non-existent, and the church had been without a pastor for three months. The people were existing on a promise God had given them from the past.
It was into this situation that Carl Sovine stepped on the third Sunday in October 1971. His honest reaction was one of rejection and dismay at the presenting situation. He had no experience in such small churches and in such troubled circumstances. It was difficult for him to preach that day. The feeling of frustration and disappointment came flooding over him following the service and he felt thankful that he was not a candidate for that church. The people were ever so friendly, but that seemed to be the only positive thing that could be realized. The following Wednesday, Carl received another call from the church asking if he would be willing to fill in again the next Sunday since they had no one to preach for them. There was much hesitation and no promises were made. However, the next Sunday saw him in that little church again and within two additional weeks, Carl found himself involved in a desperate battle with the faithful few in the New London Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. Carl fell victim to the pressures and trials of the pastorate. The end of December found Carl and his wife wishing they had not gotten involved. By the end of December the church had experienced a Sunday school attendance of 16 and a lack of any tangible evidence that the Lord was going to do anything in the church. The people, pastor and church were being strangled by discouragement, despair and indifference; there was no answer in sight.
Prayer became a constant thing. Crying before the Lord for help seemed like a continual process. And yet there seemed to be no real answer. The emptiness within continued to grow. In March and April the church began to experience a few answers to prayer, as there was some response to the call of the Lord to the unsaved. Along with those being saved, others indicated they wanted to make a commitment to the Lord. Carl still felt an emptiness of heart and there was not the joy, love or power of the Spirit of God within him. It was about this time when one Sunday, the church door opened and in walked six teenagers. Their parents did not come, but within a few weeks, they also began to attend. There still seemed to be something missing. Carl was committed to God, desired to serve Him, and yet he knew that he did not have the fullness of the Christian Life within. Struggles seemed to abound.
On July 4, 1972 ten people were gathered in a tent. A list of prayer requests was made which included 23 names. The group claimed II Chronicles 7:14 and began to pray. After praying for the first three names on the list, the Spirit of God completely submerged them in His presence. A new dimension of yieldedness and submission to the Lord Jesus had taken place in their lives. The love, joy and power of the Holy Spirit was so very real that none could deny it. For the first time the real joy of the Christian life was a reality in Carl's heart and he was excited about what the Lord would do in the coming days. The church was now averaging 70 or more each Sunday. The youth began an Alliance Youth Fellowship. People were being saved. Prayer cells were started twice a week and a home visitation program was started. A vision of a new church had now taken the form of reality in the planning of the people of New London. The vision had been held in the mind of some even when there were only sixteen in attendance. The handful who remained faithful to the Lord down through the years were rejoicing and praising God for His faithfulness to them.
In 1973 it was obvious that the congregation was outgrowing the James Street Church. Mr. and Mrs. Doug Knudsen donated 5 acres of land west of New London and ground was broken on October 7, 1973, with the Rev. Neil E. Fye, District Superintendent officiating. God provided a Christian contractor, Mr. James Gahring. On June 30, 1974, we walked from the James Street church to the new building where the first service was held. A glorious day indeed...
The church in New London had been started in the 1950's by a handful of faithful followers of Christ and had grown considerably during its early years. Then the church began to face serious difficulties. For the next twelve years the church continued to lose members and the work of the Lord seemed to come to all but a complete halt. Try as they might, nothing seemed to get them back into the effective work for which they had been called. The few who remained faithful became very discouraged and felt that there was little to do but wait for the end. The community had branded the church as a dying cause and was standing by waiting for the doors to close. But God had his faithful remnant within the walls of this broken body of believers, and He gave them a promise of victory if they would be patient and faithful. These few believers trusted God and believed Him more than they believed the circumstances and evidences around them. It was as though the glory of the Lord had departed from their midst and they had only the prophecy of a regathering, which the Lord had given them. There were five or six young children to keep the level of despair from reaching the bottom, but the discouragement was evident at every turn. It seems that the grace of God was the only thing that could keep a church such as this going under such trying circumstances. The building was in need of much repair, the youth were non-existent, and the church had been without a pastor for three months. The people were existing on a promise God had given them from the past.
It was into this situation that Carl Sovine stepped on the third Sunday in October 1971. His honest reaction was one of rejection and dismay at the presenting situation. He had no experience in such small churches and in such troubled circumstances. It was difficult for him to preach that day. The feeling of frustration and disappointment came flooding over him following the service and he felt thankful that he was not a candidate for that church. The people were ever so friendly, but that seemed to be the only positive thing that could be realized. The following Wednesday, Carl received another call from the church asking if he would be willing to fill in again the next Sunday since they had no one to preach for them. There was much hesitation and no promises were made. However, the next Sunday saw him in that little church again and within two additional weeks, Carl found himself involved in a desperate battle with the faithful few in the New London Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. Carl fell victim to the pressures and trials of the pastorate. The end of December found Carl and his wife wishing they had not gotten involved. By the end of December the church had experienced a Sunday school attendance of 16 and a lack of any tangible evidence that the Lord was going to do anything in the church. The people, pastor and church were being strangled by discouragement, despair and indifference; there was no answer in sight.
Prayer became a constant thing. Crying before the Lord for help seemed like a continual process. And yet there seemed to be no real answer. The emptiness within continued to grow. In March and April the church began to experience a few answers to prayer, as there was some response to the call of the Lord to the unsaved. Along with those being saved, others indicated they wanted to make a commitment to the Lord. Carl still felt an emptiness of heart and there was not the joy, love or power of the Spirit of God within him. It was about this time when one Sunday, the church door opened and in walked six teenagers. Their parents did not come, but within a few weeks, they also began to attend. There still seemed to be something missing. Carl was committed to God, desired to serve Him, and yet he knew that he did not have the fullness of the Christian Life within. Struggles seemed to abound.
On July 4, 1972 ten people were gathered in a tent. A list of prayer requests was made which included 23 names. The group claimed II Chronicles 7:14 and began to pray. After praying for the first three names on the list, the Spirit of God completely submerged them in His presence. A new dimension of yieldedness and submission to the Lord Jesus had taken place in their lives. The love, joy and power of the Holy Spirit was so very real that none could deny it. For the first time the real joy of the Christian life was a reality in Carl's heart and he was excited about what the Lord would do in the coming days. The church was now averaging 70 or more each Sunday. The youth began an Alliance Youth Fellowship. People were being saved. Prayer cells were started twice a week and a home visitation program was started. A vision of a new church had now taken the form of reality in the planning of the people of New London. The vision had been held in the mind of some even when there were only sixteen in attendance. The handful who remained faithful to the Lord down through the years were rejoicing and praising God for His faithfulness to them.
In 1973 it was obvious that the congregation was outgrowing the James Street Church. Mr. and Mrs. Doug Knudsen donated 5 acres of land west of New London and ground was broken on October 7, 1973, with the Rev. Neil E. Fye, District Superintendent officiating. God provided a Christian contractor, Mr. James Gahring. On June 30, 1974, we walked from the James Street church to the new building where the first service was held. A glorious day indeed...
Groundbreaking October 7, 1973
Building (Circa 1974)
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