Sis Hazel Burton moved to Plum Grove in 1925 at the age of 10. She recalls those early days:  “There was not an Apostolic church, as they called it then, in Plum Grove. Bro Hardy Eason came around 1927 to hold us a revival. He brought his wife and 2 daughters, Sis Mellie and Sis Grace. Sis Mellie picked the guitar and both sang. I can still remember the title of a song they sang, “When I take my vacation in Heaven.” We sure did enjoy their singing. The men built a brush arbor so we could have church. We used kerosene lamps to see by.”

After this revival, Bro Eason came as often as he could to hold services. The original road was moved to the present location so the men had to build another brush arbor located where Paul Campbell Loop is today.

Cecil Scott and Eva Burton Scott donated 2 acres of land to build the 1st church on. There was still yet another brush arbor until the church was built. The men dug a well to furnish water and Bro Eason continued as pastor.

When Bro Eason left, Bro W.A. Grounds came to pastor the church and was the pastor when the church was officially affiliated with the Assemblies of God in 1939. At the time of affiliation the church had 35 voting members, ran 65in Sunday School and was running 125 on Sunday nights.

Bro Lee followed Bro Grounds as pastor and in 1940 flood waters got so high that, although the church was on 2ft. blocks, the water in the church was high enough to turn the piano over.

Around 1941, the church relocated and a building erected on the east side of the river. In 1949 they received electricity and for many months the light bill ran $1.00 a month and the church was heated by wood heaters. The restrooms were still outside at that time. During the following years, improvements and additions were added to the original building.

Many pastors have come and gone: Bro Eason, Bro Lee, Bro Grounds, Bro McQuire, Sis Shivers, Bro McCown, Bro Anderson, Bro Wolfe, Bro Gilbert, Bro Samples, Sis Smith, and Harold Blum. Each of these pastors planted and watered seeds and God has given the increase.

Rev Harold Blum became pastor in 1981 and the church moved to its present location in 1987 when the initial building, currently housing the church offices, nursery, and children’s church, was completed.

In July 1988, Ernie and Sue Parker became pastor and the church continued to enjoy growth. The present worship center was completed in 1993 and the Family Life Center in 2002.

We, today, are glad to be a part of the continuing history of Plum Grove Assembly. We look back with thanksgiving for God’s many blessings and for those who were faithful to fulfill God’s will for His church. The blessings we enjoy today are possible because of the faithfulness of those who came before...and, most of all, the faithfulness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“Until He Comes!”

When Israel experienced the Red Sea miracle… they were filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing:

Exodus 15:1-2

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and it’s rider He has hurled into the sea.

2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise him, my Father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Miriam, the sister of Moses became the worship leader as they celebrated God’s deliverance:

Exodus 15:20-21 - Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and it’s rider he has hurled into the sea.”

Later, she whom the bible called a prophetess… who under the Anointing of God led the praise and worship service celebrating God’s deliverance… got sidetracked by envy and prejudice.

Numbers 12:1-2; 9-10 - Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said “has the Lord indeed spoken through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” 9 So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and he departed. 10 And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. 

It is easy to become sidetracked from God’s plan for our lives. Many things can distract us if we are not careful. As the Israelites in the wilderness we can be sidetracked by lust, by impatience with God, by unbelief, and, as Miriam, by envy and prejudice. We must guard our hearts and not allow ourselves to lose focus on Christ.

Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.