OUR HISTORY
In 1951Raymond & Esther Butler purchased a retail coal company in the city of PortJervis. Ray, being in the coal business and delivering to many cities in NewYork, needed a facility to weigh their trucks as they entered New York from MtCobb, Pennsylvania. Homer Woodruff, who worked for Ray would commute everyday toPort Jervis for local deliveries.
Rayand Homer always sang gospel songs together as both of them came from aPentecostal background. When they delivered coal to customers they would alwayssing a song for them before the job was completed.
Duringthis time they realized there was no Pentecostal church in Port Jervis. Theyasked Harry Gregory, who lived in Port Jervis if there was one would he and hisfamily attend.
Aftermuch prayer and leading of the Holy Spirit, Ray and Homer decided to move toPort Jervis from Mt. Cobb, PA with their families and the Gregory’s to start aPentecostal church in Port Jervis in June of 1953.
OnNovember 1, 1953 the Ritz Theater on Pike Street was rented where they would begin tohold church services. There was much hard work to be done to get the facilitysuitable to host people. The work was done and completed by June 19, 1954.
Thefirst service was held at the Ritz Theater on June 18, 1954 under the name“Full Gospel Mission". Thefirst pastor was Rev. Eric Pleger and 19 were in attendance. On November 1, 1954 the name was changed to “Port Jervis RevivalCenter”. On October 13, 1955 ameeting was called to adopt a constitution and by-laws, recommended by the New YorkDistrict Assemblies of God. The name was then changed to” Revival CenterAssembly of God".
On August 9,1956 there was a ground breaking and dedication ceremony conducted by Rev.Joseph Flowers, New York District Superintendent to build a new church on SullivanAvenue in Port Jervis. This was a result of much growth in attendance.
The church wasbuilt with volunteer labor of the congregation and held its first service onJune 2, 1957 with Rev. Cosmo Leuzze as pastor. Pastor Leuzze was instrumental in helping to complete the work on theinterior of the building so they could move into the church building. InFebruary of 1957 the name of the church was changed to “First Assembly ofGod” and remains the same today.
Pastor Leuzzeremained as pastor until spring of 1966 and in summer of 1966 Rev. Floyd Myrickbecame pastor. He remained until the summer of 1975.
December 14, 1975 Rev. C.A. Weaver becamepastor. During his leadership, in 1978 the church purchased 5 1/2 acres in thetown of Deerpark for the purpose of building a new church due to the greatgrowth the church experienced while on Sullivan Avenue.
The people of the church volunteered theirtime and efforts to build this church and the new facility was dedicated on June14, 1987 under the leadership of Pastor Weaver. Pastor Weaver remained in thisposition until March 20, 1994. On May 1, 1994 Rev. John Montague became pastorand concluded his ministry on June 24, 2001.
On December 16, 2001 Rev. Joseph A.Iannone became pastor after being the associate /youth pastor for 3 years and iscurrently the pastor of First Assembly of God.
In the presentcongregation there are members whose parents and grandparents were among thosewho labored and sacrificed to establish this church. We have a very stronghistory and heritage, and at the same time we have much greater growth to lookforward to in the future.
We hope thatyou would consider being a part of the history making we will be experiencing inyears to come at First Assembly of God.
