How it all started...
Avenue Church has been in the Mansfield/Ontario community for over 75 years. We were known as First Church of God for many of those years. In 1936, a small group of believers continued to grow and in 1937 called Pastor Hanes to lead the church. By that time, the congregation was meeting in a room above the old Weinbergers Drug Store on North Main Street in downtown Mansfield. Within a short time, the congregation bought a house at 265 West Third Street which became the first home for the young church. The church became a legally chartered congregation in 1940.
Reverend Hanes resigned as pastor in 1940 and Reverend Helen Wright lead the congregation until she felt that a married couple would serve them best. She stepped down as pastor in 1948. It was not uncommon in the Church of God to have women pastors. At one point in Church of God history, at least 15% of the pastors were women.
Reverend Hanes resigned as pastor in 1940 and Reverend Helen Wright lead the congregation until she felt that a married couple would serve them best. She stepped down as pastor in 1948. It was not uncommon in the Church of God to have women pastors. At one point in Church of God history, at least 15% of the pastors were women.
Land was purchased in 1954 to build a new building where the current congregation is located on Park Ave West. Since that time, several renovations and additions have been completed. An educational unit was added in 1969. A new worship and activity center was built in 2002.
In September of 2018, we transitioned from First Church of God to Avenue Church. This became a revitalization effort to restore God’s church to live out the Great Commandments and Great Commission. Since that month, we have seen incredible life transformation and restoration take place. The best is yet to come! At Avenue Church, we want you to know that you matter to us. Our desire is that you would find the family that you have always longed for. We, in no way, think we are a perfect church. As a matter of fact, we believe that church is just that: broken people clinging tightly to Jesus Christ together. We have borrowed a phrase from another church that we think sums up who we are: Avenue Church is a place where it’s okay to not be okay, it’s just not okay to stay that way. Join us as we take a journey together.
In September of 2018, we transitioned from First Church of God to Avenue Church. This became a revitalization effort to restore God’s church to live out the Great Commandments and Great Commission. Since that month, we have seen incredible life transformation and restoration take place. The best is yet to come! At Avenue Church, we want you to know that you matter to us. Our desire is that you would find the family that you have always longed for. We, in no way, think we are a perfect church. As a matter of fact, we believe that church is just that: broken people clinging tightly to Jesus Christ together. We have borrowed a phrase from another church that we think sums up who we are: Avenue Church is a place where it’s okay to not be okay, it’s just not okay to stay that way. Join us as we take a journey together.
Expanding the vision...
Our vision is to reach our community for Jesus by discipling one person at a time.
Goals:
1. Building towards 100 healthy A Groups.
2. Revitalize other churches.
3. Develop a detailed discipling making pathway.
2. Revitalize other churches.
3. Develop a detailed discipling making pathway.