HISTORY

the early years

La Junta First Church of the Nazarene was founded in 1916 with only seven Charter members: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wiley, Mr. and Mrs. H. Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rice and Mrs. C. Carson. These devoted men and women were compelled by a passionate desire to serve and please their Lord, and to give vital testimony to the experience of sanctification. But the ministry of the Church of the Nazarene in the Arkansas River Valley has its roots even earlier, when District Superintendent C. B. Widmeyer reported to the 1913 District Assembly that he had held Revival Campaigns in  Cheraw and La Junta in January and February of that year. District Superintendent R. J. Plum organized The Church of the Nazarene of La Junta in October 1916. Faith was more plentiful than members. There were only seven on the original roster and this group had little to give. A financial report for the first eight months showed $251.54 in expenses. For some years the tiny congregation worshiped in a downtown location, before moving to a tabernacle at Fifth and Santa Fe. In 1927, under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Hayes, a building which was then described as being “commodious” by District Superintendent C. W. Davis in his report to the Assembly, was built at the Tenth and Colorado Avenue location.

The first pastor of the new congregation was Rev. E. Waldon, who served for five months before resigning due to ill health. Rev. Howard Eckel was pastor during the Santa Fe Railroad strike of 1922, which almost destroyed the struggling, still new church, as many members moved away to find work. Rev. Eckel resigned in 1923 to relieve the congregation of the burden of his salary. After that there was a period when several members preached on Sunday until the church could afford a new minister.Rev. Clyde Dawson was leading the church during the first phase of remodeling the church building at the corner of Tenth and Colorado Avenue.

growth

During its first few years, the church counted only 36 members, who worshiped together in a basement building on Colorado Ave. The first church building was constructed at 10th and Raton in 1923 and by the end of the decade, more than 60 members were worshiping in the building’s new upper level. The congregation continued to grow until the building was inadequate for both present and future needs. An expansion was undertaken during the pastorate of Rev. Clyde Dawson and brought to completion and dedicated November 28, 1954, by Rev. E. L. Cornelison. In 1951, another addition to the building was dedicated. In September 1974 approximately 175 members and invited guests attended the ground breaking ceremony for a new parsonage. The plot of ground for the parsonage was donated to the church by members Mr. and Mrs. Sam Williams. Building committee members were: Bob Bryan, Estell Robinson, Jim Schibbelhute, Merle Ritchie, Lyman Waters and Willis Bland.

The church met there until 1993, when the present church at 10th and Topeka was dedicated. It was during the ministry of Rev. Harold Wedel in the early 1990s that the long held dream of a new sanctuary became a reality. The one and one-half year building project included a sanctuary to seat 450, a Family Life Center, kitchen, Sunday school rooms and offices for two ministers. The facility was dedicated October 17, 1993 with an attendance of 318 people. At that time there were about 150 members.

The Road Ahead

Throughout our history, we have believed in using our facilities to bless the community and have donated time and space for use in many community causes, including food distribution to the needy, safety training seminars, inter-denominational bible studies, home school classes, theater and art productions, and community discussion.

In October 2016, we celebrated our 100th anniversary as a congregation! We are delighted that the Holy Spirit has guided us as we have ministered to La Junta over the past century and we look forward to the adventure ahead.

senior pastors

Rev. Mark A. Callister 2019 - Present

Dr. Larry White (Interim) 2018 - 2019

Rev. H. Gordon Smith III 2014 - 2018

Rev. Andy Albright 2010 - 2013

Rev. Brian Williams 2006 - 2010

Rev. Gordon Gossman 2002 - 2005

Rev. Dennis Welch 1998 - 2001

Rev. Harold Wedel 1987 - 1998

Rev. John Alexander 1981 - 1987

Rev. Stanley Unseth 1977 - 1981

Rev. H.L. Hendrix 1975 - 1977

Rev. Stanley Unseth 1972 - 1975

Rev Corbie Grimes 1969 - 1972

Rev. Claude White 1962 - 1969

Rev. Glen Terry 1959 - 1962

Rev. C. K. Helsel 1954 - 1959

Rev. Eugene W. Moore 1952 - 1954

Rev. E. L. Corneliuson 1948 - 1952

Rev. Clyde Dawson 1943 -1948

Rev. Earl Schultz 1941 - 1943

Rev. R. H. McCort 1936 - 1940

Rev. Ben Griffith 1934 - 1935

Rev. Z. H. Baxter 1933

Rev. Glen Griffith 1932

Rev. F. C. Savage 1928 - 1931

Rev. B. F. Hayes 1926 - 1927

Rev. Howard Eckel 1921 - 1923

Rev. T. C. Whybrew 1920 - 1921

Rev. T. D. Dunn 1919

Rev. H. J. Brown 1918

Rev. E. Walden 1916

The La Junta Church is proud of the number of young people who have dedicated their lives to Christian service. Those who have become pastors include:  

Rev. Albert Neusewanger
Rev. James Barr
Rev. Bert Edwards, Jr.
Rev. Glen Anderson
Rev. Milton McCrerry
Rev. Eldred VanPelt
Rev. Terry Conley
Rev. Raymond Conley
Rev. Frank Rife
Rev. Mamie Dodd

Other members have gone into the mission field: 

Rev. Marvin Rife
Rev. Dennis Rife
Miss Ruth Rife
Mrs. Juanita Moon
Rev. Marshall Griffith
Miss Beverly Moon