The History of Oak Cliff Assembly of God Church

1921

The humble beginning of the Oak Cliff Assembly of God had its start in 1921 when a young Pentecostal evangelist named Will Bolen^[3] came to the Oak Cliff area from Dallas proper (from what was called “Old 4^th and Grand Church”), and held an open-air meeting.  The location was on a vacant lot in the area of what was known as Thomas Hill, at Morrell and Harlandale streets.

After the close of the open-air meeting, Will Bolen later returned with a canvas tent, and erected it in the area of Clarendon and Ewing streets, near the present location of the Dallas City Zoo.

After the close of the services, prayer meetings were then begun both in the home of Joe Nelson and also Sister Rape, whose home was on Waco Street, again located in the area of “Thomas Hill.”  Early meetings were held in the home of William and Mattie Summers on Claude Street.

By deduction, probable attendees of the revival might have included: Joe Nelson at Morrell and Harlandale streets, Sister Rape from Waco St., Eva Nunn, William G. and Mattie Summers on Claude St.  Joe Glover was probably early on.  Old Dad Burnett certainly knew of it nearby, for he sold his property to the soon to be church.  All lived on Thomas Hill.  Other early old-timers according to Pastor Coyle, included the rest of the Summers family, Joe and Maud Durham, the W.R. Oliver’s, Mother Allen and a number of others, especially the Davis family. Long time members, the Faust’s, didn’t come until about 1930.  ~`jnh

1921-1922

The result of these first prayer meetings brought the beginning church their first pastor, Reverend George W. Pitts, who first held services in his home, 1921-1922.  Later in this period, a tent was set up in the front yard of Joe Nelson’s at Morrell and Harlandale.  In this same tent, Brother Pitts set up regular Sunday school classes and regular church services and continued pastoring in the tent during the winter of 1922, when the Reverend Floyd Baker came as the new pastor.  Kerosene lights served to illuminate the tent until neighbor Joe Glover invited the congregation to plug into his new electric circuit.

There were few conveniences.  A local undertaker sent over some hand fans to help ward off the summer heat.  Out in front, strangers gathered to sit concealed by the darkness and watch the singing and the preaching.  Eventually, some joined in, but there was much persecution of these early meetings.  (See above).  That was how it all began.

Winter of 1922

Reverend Baker continues the regular services on through the winter (1922), bracing and retying the tent every time the wind blew.  As the tent deteriorated, the people gathered into the home, on Claude Street, of Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Summers (parents of the Summer’s children).  People still gathered, even with the oppression of the winter cold.  During hot summer days, they moved from the living room to the porch, to remain a bit cooler.  Soon, the worshippers were overflowing the large Summers’ porch and living room. 

1923

In the spring of 1923, there was a plea to obtain grounds for a permanent church.  Although there were only a few people attending, these few people sacrificially gave toward the purchase of site, and many gave themselves to daily intercessory prayer.  The women put feet to their prayers, and canvassed the whole hill area (Thomas Hill) for donors—both “saints” and unsaved alike.  The fabulous sum (at the time) of $100 was finally gathered from this task and from which the first site was purchased at Beverly Avenue (now Morrell Street) and Fleming Street from old Dad Burnett.

Reverend Baker and the people began building the first church, a 30’ by 40’ frame building.  All of the labor was donated.  This white frame building became known as Beverly Avenue Pentecostal Church.

By year, in summary, the following became the succeeding pastors, including some events in their ministry:

1924-1925

Reverend Milton Summers pastors the church.

During the Great depression, the church continued to grow, even though the nation was commercially at a standstill.  Much of the church’s dynamic growth can be traced back to the fervor of its believers.

1926

Reverend Willie Dunn pastored the church.  Somewhere during this period (1926-1927), Beverly Avenue was paved and was renamed Morrell Street.  The church name was then changed to Oak Cliff Pentecostal Church.

1927

Reverend Finis Jennings Dake, born 1902, and died in 1987, writer and editor of the famous Dake Bibles and many other books, pastored the church for a short time in 1927 when he was about 25 years old, bringing his vast knowledge of scripture to the pulpit.  He is sometimes considered to only have been an interim pastor of the church, filling in only until a new pastor could be located, but may have accepted a term of one year, which he did not complete, after a new pastor was found – jnh.  Others, over the years, have spelled his name differently (Phineas, Phynus, etc.), but the above spelling is now commonly accepted as the correct spelling.

He was the uncle of longtime church member, Mary McAfee (McCutchan), wife of Caleb McAfee.  Her parents lived a long time in Waxahachie, and worked for Southwestern Bible Institute  in Enid, Oklahoma, and Waxahachie, at various times over the years.

Although Dake attended Bible School, some teachers were awed at his surpassing knowledge, but other teachers, he felt, held to confused teaching, so he decided to “believe what the Bible alone teaches.”^[4]  During that time in school, he began his famous, The Dake Annotated Reference Bible, from which, many of the doctrines of our denomination concerning the “End Days” were based.  One can only wonder if he was working on his famous Reference Bible even as he pastored our church.  He was filled with the Holy Spirit at the age of 17, during the month of May 1920.  He also received a special anointing with regards to scripture, and taught nothing that he couldn’t prove with two or three plain scriptures.^[5]

1927

Reverend J.R. Richardson came to finish out the term of Finis Dake.  His fiery preaching and prayer, plus his hard work began to bring results.  The Sunday school attendance reached an all-time high of 76 people.

Also this year, the first 7-Eleven ever, was built in Oak Cliff, at the corner of Edgefield and 12^th Street^[6] (directly across from the school).  After being rebuilt several times, it finally shut down in the mid-nineties.

1928-1930

Reverend William E. Coyle pastored.  During this time, the Faust family joined the church.  They were the parents of Maymie (January), Naomi (Upchurch), and Edwina.

Here is an excerpt from a letter from Reverend Coyle, at age 90.

“Dear Oak Cliff Assembly: It stimulates my mind when I think of the old-timers of Thomas Hill, as it was known then.  There were the Summers family, Joe and Maud Durham, the W.R. Oliver’s, Mother Allen and a number of others, especially the Davis family.  I served this church, resigned, and went to a larger church—Bascom Assembly in Tyler, Texas.

“One scripture refers to a handful of corn on the top of the mountain.  Thomas Hill is very fitting here, being a handful of corn on the top of the mount which has grown into one of the largest Assemblies in the nation.”

W.E. Coyle

1931

This year, the Texas Theater (on Jefferson St) was opened in Oak Cliff to much fanfare by Howard Hughes, but, our church members were not supposed to go there, except to witness!  Attending movie theaters, by in large, was still considered a sin by our fellowship.

1930-1934

Reverend Clifford Andrews brought the foundation of the Word, and enlarged the frame building, and added a Baptistery.  The name of the church changed once again.  It was recommended to drop the word, “Pentecostal” from the name, due to such variations of other Pentecostal faiths, thus the church became “Oak Cliff Full Gospel Church.”

Pastor Andrews taught the people how to tithe and to give liberally.  He also taught holiness.  Paralleling this teaching was the basic and fundamental Word of God.  The church began to pray, and as it grew strong in faith and the Word, to begin to grow numerically.

The church and the people were well respected during these years due to good moral character, and because Christ was evident in their lives.  The church’s reputation was also influenced by their continual jail services and the spiritual conversions of inmates and law officers.

The church has always had a joyous, praying, revivalistic flair.  One time, Reverend Andrews had a sign painted and erected south of town, to advertise the church.  The sign painter was instructed to letter: “We Believe In Heart Felt Religion.”  He misspelled the word Heart, so that the sign read: “We Believe In Heat Felt Religion.”  This sign stood for many years on Lancaster Road as a testimony of the church’s zeal.  Finally, it was corrected^[7] to read, “Heart Felt Religion.”  But, the congregation still remained “on fire.”

During Brother Andrew’s tenure, Raymond Hamilton, brother of (Pretty Boy) Floyd Hamilton, had been saved in the church’s jail services, and asked Brother Andrews to accompany him to his execution.  Pastor Andrews afterwards stated, “I never want to experience an execution like this again, ever!”

However, he also conducted Raymond’s funeral afterwards, and was later called upon to conduct the funerals (1934) of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker—aka, “Bonnie and Clyde.”

1932

This was the year that the Grover and Mollie Wallace family began to attend the church, along with their children, Frances, and Vera Mae.  Mollie Wallace found the Lord at a tent revival being held at The State Fair Park this year, sponsored by Brother Albert Ott, of Peak and Garland Church.  Charles S. Price was the evangelist.  Also, her two daughters were led to the Lord.  Soon after, Pastor Andrews and Sister Alford held a tent meeting also, near “the hill” at the corner of South Ewing and 13^th Street, near enough that the Wallace family could hear them singing, every night, the standard song, “Yes, I know!”  So, the family decided to attend that revival also.

Afterwards, Grover (who had not found the Lord yet) told the family that he would take them up to the little church up on “the hill,” 919 Morrell, where Brother Andrews was the pastor, that was “close by.”  Soon, the entire Wallace family became a staple of the church.

1934-1939

During these years, the church was pastored under the leadership of the remarkable Reverend Jordan Carl “J.C.” Hibbard.  He had been born in Navasota, Texas on January 16^th, 1907^[8].  He had pastored several other places in Texas, previously.  After Brother Andrews left, Bro Hibbard was invited to try out for the pastorate, and he was voted in, and the church really began to grow.  There had been a mighty revival held in Dallas by Aimee Simple McPherson, and the 13-year-old congregation wanted a new pastor with fire, and felt Bro. Hibbard fit the bill.

The church went on the air for its first time, on Radio Station WRR.  A young girl’s singing trio was introduced.  The singers were members, Maymie Faust (January), Frances Wallace (Robinson), and Dorothy Summers (Gaylor), who composed the first trio.  Reverend Hibbard brought faith, and taught the people to pray, and how to pray.

During his tenure, the frame church was enlarged yet again.  In a matter of a few years, the attendance grew to the point that a new building was needed, and certain.  The old “add-to” frame building became too small, was moved intact a short distance away, and a new building begun.  It was a lighthouse dream design, drafted by Reverend Hibbard.  However, he did not get the chance to complete it.

1934

In 1934, Dovie Dawson joined the church, bringing her children Cozadene and Goldie along with her.  Cozadene writes of this time:

“This was at the end of the Great depression, and Brother J.C. Hibbard had just come to pastor the church.  We had a large group of young people; however, since we did not have a TV, our entertainment consisted of going to the jail service on Sunday evening, going to the stamps-Baxter Singing School, going to the Dallas Zoo, going to the Fair Park to ride bicycles, and going to White Rock Lake on picnics.  We did not have a TV; neither did we have electric dishwashers, electric washer and dryer, or an electric refrigerator (or ice box) as we called it back then.” ~ CM

1937

This year, Pastor Hibbard had a group of around 20 from the congregation who participated in his radio ministry, including Lloyd and Sam Godwin, father and uncle of Pastor David Godwin.

1939

Pastor Hibbard left the church this year, and began to pioneer another church.  Somewhere around thirty to forty members left our church to join Bro Hibbard’s newly formed independent Pentecostal church, the Full Gospel Lighthouse.  (They met in a large tent for around a year, until other accommodations could be obtained).  A few also left the church completely, but a strong core of believers, although diminished in size, remained at the Thomas Hill site.  They began to pray, and sought the Lord for a new pastor.  Two great works grew out of this period; Pastor Hibbard’s church, which became at one time, one of the largest independent Pentecostal churches in the world; and our own successful Oak Cliff Assembly of God Church, which continued to blossom and grow in order to minister to the world.  While he left the Assemblies, Bro Hibbard still fellowshipped with Assembly ministers, and had many of them on his staff at his large church.  Some of his best friends were A/G minister, Rev. W. Glenn Mangrum, present Pastor Tom Wilson’s father-in-law, and Evangelist David Nunn, one of our longtime members.

1939-1942

In 1939, after Brother Hibbard left, Charles Robinson was voted into the church.  Reverend Charles C. Robinson came during a time when the church truly needed a good, warm-hearted shepherd, and he was just that.  (As an example): A young girl named Doris Brown (McNellis) who suffered from a heart murmur and rheumatic fever at the time, came to him when she felt her problems starting up again, and asked him to please pray for her.  Tears began to pour from his eyes, and he said, “Oh, you dear little girl,” and he took her face in his hands, and began to pray.  Doris said that after she got home, she found that the Lord had healed her.

Rev. Robinson was born in Alabama in 1874.  He had been a traveling evangelist for the Nazarene Church.  He continued to be a prominent Nazarene camp meeting preacher, until he received the Holy Ghost, and then he was forced to leave the Nazarene church.  So, he joined a newly formed group, called the Assemblies of God, and became a camp meeting speaker for them.  He had met his wife, Mattie, about 1900 at a church that he was speaking at in Central Texas.  She was the organist for the church.  Mattie’s family was British blue bloods, and she was disowned by the family for marrying a commoner.  They had seven children, total.

Their first-born son was accidentally killed in a gun accident before he was 20.  Their next son, Treadgill, became a truck driver.  Next in line, was Ruth.  The older children remained Nazarenes, but Ruth became Spirit filled, and married an A/G evangelist, Rev. Keetah Jones.

Much later in their lives (they were in their forties), Rev. Charles and Mattie had three more sons.  Charles was a photographer, and had a studio in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he spent his entire adult life.  Son Johnny became an evangelist, and married Ann.  Their next son, Harmon, married Frances Wallace, daughter of Grover and Mollie.  In fact, Harmon and Frances were the first to marry in the lighthouse church, even tho it had not yet been completed.  At that time, the church still had sawdust floors.  (After work on the church had been pronounced complete, Spencer and Maymie (Faust) January were the first to marry in the new facilities).

World War II had been declared, and many changes took place.  In the process of continuing the construction of the new building, the church, which had previously joined the Assemblies of God now changed its name to “Oak Cliff Assembly of God.”

Also, perhaps it was felt that it would help avoid name confusion with Bro Hibbard’s new effort (both churches were in Oak Cliff) the Full Gospel Lighthouse, whose name was similar to ours (Oak Cliff Full Gospel Church), and as we also had a lighthouse theme.

However, building materials were short, and men had left in service^[9] to their country.  The new building stood incomplete awaiting their men and country.  Thus, further construction was abandoned at this time.  The congregation was loyal, and continually prayed for their men and country.  The new building stood incomplete, waiting for the men to return home from the war.

1941

The Ruby and Carl Featherston family began to attend Oak Cliff in 1941.  This was also the year that their daughter, Willie Jo (Taylor), gave her heart to the Lord, at age 12.  She later married David Byron Taylor (who came from Oklahoma City to work at LTV) in 1952, one of many couples married by Bro. Noah, and they continue to attend the church to this day, as of 2005.  David and Willie Jo Taylor served the church in many capacities, committee boards and choir members, CA directors, Sunday school teachers, Deacon (for over 25 years) and Usher, held ladies prayer group meetings in their homes for 15 years, and as recently as 2003, they held a small group in their home, and are greeters still.

1942

In 1942, Brother Robinson was called to pastor a church in Malvern, Arkansas, and the church soon elected Brother Alcorn.  Mattie died in her seventies, but Rev. Charles C. Robinson lived to be 96, dying in 1970 due to complications from sugar diabetes.  He lost both of his legs in the last few years of his illness.  But prior to that, he was a teacher of Theology at the Southwestern Assemblies of God College campus in Waxahachie, when he could no longer travel all the time.

1942-1945

Reverend Carl Alcorn, who came to the church during the war years, was dynamic and fearless in doctrines and beliefs.  Although building materials and men were still short, under Bro Alcorn’s leadership, the new church building was completed and the congregation moved in.  The new sanctuary was dedicated on December 27^th, 1942, presided over by Reverend Alcorn.  The sanctuary was built on the site of the first tent revival.  During his tenure, Revered Alcorn performed the first formal wedding in the newly completed church building, that of Spencer and Maymie January.

The Radio Ministry was extended to add Radio Station KSKY, and along with this, the introduction of a second singing trio, Doris McNellis, Naomi Upchurch, and Benna Camp.  Sunday school attendance reached 200, and then 300 during this period.  Many other events took place also.

Reverend Wayne Harbaugh was the Assistant Pastor during 1944-1945.

In 1945, Brother Alcorn had to leave.  Sister McCutchan suggested Rev. Noah as the next pastor, as she had met and had gotten to know him at SBI, where she and her husband had taught.  She told the church board, “If you haven’t found your new pastor yet, I know of the perfect person!”  Reverend Hal Cambria Noah became the next pastor, continued the radio ministry, and formed yet another trio, consisting of Sandra McNellis, Sylvia Brazell, and Sandra Curtis (the 3^rd radio trio).  Bro Noah has mentioned that at this time the church attendance had fallen to somewhere around 169 to 229, when he took over.  Harmon Robinson, who had been an Air Force Pilot during the war, soon took Brother Noah up on his first airplane ride.  Brother Noah was quoted as saying, “It was quite scary!”  But, he really seemed to have enjoyed it.

During these days, families had organized children’s groups held in different people’s homes.  Sometimes, there were 15 to 20 children in a home, and they had a wonderful time learning about Jesus.

Pastor Noah received his schooling in Iowa.  Later, he attended Southwestern Bible School in Enid, Oklahoma for a short time, until a life threatening illness forced him to quit.

During his time of pastoring, he preached in several countries in Europe and Central America.  At one time, he was the chaplain at Veteran’s Hospital, in what was once the old Lisbon Town section, of the city, that merged with Oak Cliff.  He was often a guest speaker at camp meetings, seminars, dedications, fellowship meetings, and C.A. rallies.  He served for a time as a member of the Foreign Missions Board of the Assemblies of God

Sharing his philosophy of church growth, Pastor Noah said, “The three most important keys to church growth would be inspiration, instruction, and involvement.  Inspiration is getting people saved and showing them by the Word of God how they can live the victorious christian life.  Instruction is the Word of God, building them up in the most holy faith.  Involvement concerns those who have come involved in the building of the Kingdom of God and finding their place in the Body of Christ.”

“The Reverend H. C. Noah was divinely led to the church in 1945.”  ~ Excerpt from The Stature of Christ

* * *

“Brother H.C. Noah came to pastor Oak Cliff Assembly at the end of the war in 1945.  We had some of our largest revivals during Brother Noah’s pastorate of 33 years.”  ~ CM 

“I’m reminded of the early beginning of God’s chosen people through Abraham, for we often read of his wanderings and sojourns while dwelling in tents.  It was in tents that Oak Cliff Assembly of God church had its beginnings, and in tents that Oak Cliff had its mighty revivals.”

 ~ Spencer January, 1981</