Church History

West Side Assembly
later
Riverside Assembly of God Christian Center

Our Church had its beginning back in March of 1950, under the direction of Rev. Oda and Pauline Jones. At that time, services were held in the old Rockford Gospel Tabernacle, on the corner of Park and Rockton Avenue. The church had an option on the building to buy the building, but was unable to raise the amount of money needed within the time limit. It became necessary to move when the building was sold for business purposes. On August 1, 1950, the church moved to 3410 West State Street, and rented the old "Light House Chapel" for one and one half years.

On May 8, 1951, the church was officially recognized with the Assemblies of God, and on March 9, 1952, it was set in order.

The Sunday School and church grew, and in January of 1952, the property at 105 Johnston Avenue was purchased. The men of the congregation, under the supervision of an architect, remodeled the house and built a room on the back.

The peak attendance in Sunday School at the Johnston Avenue address was reached on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1953, when 230 were in attendance. The average for that year was 144. Needless to say, this building was soon too small.

The congregation decided in the summer of 1953 to buy the old St. Patrick Church at 2011 West State Street. Along with the church, a ten room house belonging to St. Patrick Church was purchased and made into a parsonage. The first service was held at the new location on September 13, 1953, after much remodeling.

By September of 1958, the Sunday School was averaging 204 and more room was needed for classes. In December of 1958, the house next to the parsonage at 2007 West State was purchased and redecorated for a parsonage, and the old parsonage was made into more Sunday School rooms, and an enclosed walkway was built connecting the church and the annex.

At the Annual Business meeting of the church in October 1963, the members voted to build on to the church, and remodel the main sanctuary. Ground breaking was in February 1964, and building was started almost immediately.

A twenty-one foot structure was built on the front, which housed a large Sunday School room, the Pastor's study, and an entry with stairs leading to both the main auditorium, and the basement auditorium. The ladies' restroom was moved next to the Nursery on the main auditorium level, and the men's restroom was moved to the basement level just beneath the ladies restroom. The main auditorium was completely remodeled with the ceiling being lowered, and the installation of acoustic tile, indirect lighting with rheostat controls, and new pews.

Rev. Oda Jones left in February 1968, at the age of 60, and spent the remaining years until retirement filling in for pastors on vacation, or in churches as interim pastor until a new pastor was found.

Rev. Douglas Ramsey became pastor on February 4, 1968. The Ramseys had been evangelists for many years. Brother Ramsey was a native of Nebraska, and married Wayva Clark in Ainsworth on September 10, 1948. The Ramseys came here from Grants Pass, Oregon. They had two sons, Gayle Douglas and Brent C.

We enjoyed the musical talents of the family as well as their pastoral leadership. Average attendance at this time was 130. Members of the official board were Forrest Magoon, Charles Morrison, Malcolm Bateman, and Homer Edwards. Brother Ramsey was instrumental in the purchasing of the 10 acres of land on Riverside Boulevard for $18,000. This is the present site of the church and parsonage. This was finalized on October 5, 1972. In December of 1972 Brother Ramsey resigned to return to Evangelistic Ministry.

Wayva Ramsey went to be with the Lord on May 3, 1978 after a battle with cancer. This was a great loss to the family and to her many friends here at Riverside Assembly.

In January 1973, Rev. Edward L. Vibbert and wife Margaret Olean took the pastorate, coming here from Indianapolis, Indiana.

Under his leadership the parsonage was built on the Riverside Boulevard property. The building permit was secured on March 26, 1974. Charles Grams was the contractor for the construction of the parsonage at a cost of $30,800, not including the carpeting and air conditioning.

The church grew and was blessed under Brother Vibbert's leadership. On June 7, 1975, Pastor Vibbert went home to be with the Lord after a time of battling with cancer. This was a great loss to the church. We will always remember his keen sense of humor, and the times he would sit down at the piano and play and sing choruses or songs that would bring us into the presence of the Lord. He had a heart for the Lord and His people, and his sermons reflected that.

He loved the House of God;
His dearest wish to be
A minister within her walls
In service full and free.

Beautifully he lived,
We who well loved him know,
Blessing with kindly hands our dead,
Softening death's cruel blow.

Beautifully he died —
The temple floors he trod,
To pass to his reward within
The altar of his God!

by Estella Shields Fahringer

Reverend Richard D. Alber took the pastorate in August 1975. His family included wife Maureen, son Glenn, and daughter Denise. Brother Alber came here from Owen County, Kentucky, where he pastored Beechwood Assembly of God. Prior to this, they were in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Under Brother Alber's leadership, plans were set in motion to consider building a new church on the Riverside property. In January 1976 Church Growth Services were retained to study our needs and provide long range growth plans. Brother Alber left in August 1976.

In October of 1976, Reverend Samuel Leroy Thompson became pastor of West Side Assembly. His family included Wife Betty, Scott (13 years old at the time), Steve (an Art Major at Northern Illinois University), Patricia (who was working on becoming an RN at Burge School of Nursing in Springfield, Missouri), and Phyllis (the oldest who is married to Reverend Robert Johnson, pastor of the Assembly of God in Streator, Illinois).

In January of 1977, the congregation voted to build a new church, and on February 12, 1977, a contract was signed with General Contractor Herbert W. Jaeger and Associates. The church was designed by Robert M. Kueny, who was a member of the Frank Lloyd Wright Fellowship. Contemporary in design, the building has around 14,000 square feet of floor space, and a parking lot for 67 cars. Board members at this time were Floyd Lane, Larry Quiggle, Jess Walker, Homer Edwards, and Norman Dickson. In May 1977, after much work on Brother Thompson's part, a loan was secured at Rock River Savings.

Construction was started and in November of 1977 the basement was in. Brother Thompson did a lot of work overseeing the building of this church. Finally it was closed in and to the point where people in the church gave of their time to stain the wood and paint the walls. Dedication of the church was held on October 15, 1978. Reverend Richard Dortch gave the dedication address, and Burton Beilfuss lead the singing. Northwest Section Presbyter Dwight Von Ahnen did the Invocation and the Benediction. Our own Riverside Choir "Victory Voices," led by Sister Thompson sang "How Great Thou Art" and "Come, Holy Spirit."

Under the leadership of the Thompson's, the church continued to grow. In March of 1988, after 11-1/2 years here, Brother Thompson accepted a call to the church in Morton, Illinois.

In July of 1988, Reverend James D. Moore was voted in as Pastor, and had been serving as Pastor here since then. He had been serving as Assistant Pastor to Brother Thompson. His family included wife Kathy, and daughters Lori, Michelle, and Amanda.

Under Brother Moore's leadership, the church has continued to grow. In August of 1989 the parking lot was paved, an accomplishment that everyone greatly appreciated. Since that time, additional parking lot space was made and paved. In addition to this, much needed roof repairs were made on the flat roofs and a new roof put on the church. In 1992, new furnaces and air conditioning were put in when one of the units failed. We still have one unit that will need replacing some day. In 1993, a new roof, gutters, and paint was done on the parsonage. In 1994, a new garage was built and in 1995, new siding was put on the church. New kitchen cabinets and flooring at the parsonage was done in 1995, and in 1996, new carpeting was put in. All of the above things were done on a cash basis.

The original church mortgage was paid in full, before the addition was added. With the addition came the Fellowship Hall, as well as a kitchen upstairs.

During the spring and summer in 2006, funds were raised to help remodel the lower level, where all of our Children's Ministries take place. The remodeling included fresh paint and new carpeting. The main area is completed, and we are working on the classrooms one by one, as funds allow.

In the spring of 2007 we were blessed by the addition of Pastor Ben Marshall who joined us as a full time Youth Pastor. He and his wife Jen came all the way from Terre Haute, IN. We are glad to have them with us.