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Tuesday, 18 November 2008 06:21 |
If you were to ask someone just when the First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro, USA was founded, you would find that we are a relatively new congregation, having been officially formed in March, 1989. However upon closer inspection, you would find that we aren't really new at all. We are the happy result of a merger between two smaller churches that were in existence for quite a long time: Forest Park Presbyterian Church and Jonesboro Presbyterian Church.
The former Forest Park Presbyterian Church was chartered on November 9, 1954. Initially meeting at Forest Park High School. The sanctuary was completed in December, 1956. In 1961 a Christian Education Building was constructed and the sanctuary was remodeled. From 1956 until 1989, the church was blessed with nine different ministers, as well as eight student ministers.
The former Jonesboro Presbyterian Church was founded in 1879. The ground floor of the sanctuary was built in 1947. In 1953, the sanctuary was built atop this structure. Jonesboro Presbyterian was blessed with its first full-time pastor that same year, and since that time has had only four ministers.
When the two churches became one, they selected the name First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro and the congregation purchased a tract of land on Jodeco Road in Jonesboro. The Family Life Center now stands on this property.
The Reverend Daniel Thornton and Dr. Oliver Wood served for a time as Co-Pastors of the newly formed congregation. However, Reverend Thornton was called to serve another congregation and Dr. Wood became our first solo pastor.
Dr. Wood served until his retirement in 1996. During the interim period,the congregation called The Reverend Paul Fulks and Dr. Elisabeth Lunz as interim pastors. After a two-year search, the congregation called The Reverend Charles Landreth as their second solo pastor. Reverend Landreth began his service in July and was installed on September 13, 1998.
Late in 1998, a Sanctuary Building Committee was elected and has begun the process of planning for the construction of a sanctuary on the Jodeco Road property.
On March 9, 1999, we observed our 10th Anniversary with a celebration. Several of the pastors of the former congregations were invited to participate and Dr. Oliver Wood was named Pastor Emeritus.
We are striving to reach what our Book of Order calls the great ends of the church: "the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world."
We feel that the merger between Forest Park Presbyterian and Jonesboro Presbyterian was inspired by God and that God is using First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro (USA) as a valuable and meaningful part of the community and in the lives of its members.
We are a loving and caring fellowship, committed to serving those in our congregation, our community, our country, and our world. We pray that God will use us in His will and for His glory in the years ahead.
God be praised for the blessing of First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro.
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