Mr. Reed had traveled that day from Grand Island to Boelus to introduce Mr. Larson to Harley Ketner, a preacher of his acquaintance. Both Mr. Reed and Mr. Ketner believed it to be God’s time for a full gospel meeting in Grand Island, but they lacked the financial resources to rent a building. Mr. Reed explained to Mr. Larson that he could rent the Cherry Street Dance Hall and that Mr. Ketner would be willing to begin the desired meetings almost immediately.

Mr. Larson chuckled as he answered his friend in the affirmative. Not only would he contribute to the need but he and his family could be counted on to come to the meetings. The three men talked excitedly of what God would do in Grand Island, then prayed together, committing the new faith venture to God.

Mr. Ketner was a fiery gospel preacher and singer, a seasoned veteran in the relatively new full gospel movement. In 1900 a new wave of revival had begun in Topeka, Kansas, quickly spreading to Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. From there it was not long until the fire of God spread to the Los Angeles, California area, where at a little mission on Azusa Street the Spirit of God began falling in 1906 and continued non-stop for three years. Ministers and laypersons from around the world came to see this phenomenon and many went away with the power of the Holy Spirit in their own lives.

Many of these Spirit-filled believers had come together in April 1914 to form a fellowship of churches and ministers that became known as the Assemblies of God.

Mr. Ketner was affiliated with the thirteen-year-old fellowship. He had conducted full-gospel meetings in many other Nebraska cities and now it was time for Grand Island.

The meeting was billed as "An old-fashioned revival meeting with good music and singing". Services would be at 8:00 each evening and there would be "Special Divine Healing services where the sick will be prayed for." And – EVERYONE WAS WELCOME!

From that gospel meeting in a dance hall (now occupied by Olson’s Auction) a church was born. A three-month, every night of the week meeting, was begun with Evangelist Edgar White and following that meeting Mr. White was chosen to be pastor. The church would be known as "The Old-Fashioned Church".

During the first three years the congregation met in two storefront buildings on Fourth Street. Because Mr. White was elected District Superintendent of the Nebraska Assemblies of God, he chose to resign as Pastor and Emmit R. Foster was chosen as the new pastor. Under his leadership in early 1930 the people of the new "Old-Fashioned Church" agreed to purchase the former Trinity Methodist Church building at Sixth & Sycamore for $5,000.00 (with terms). This would be the home of the church for the next 25 years. On July 4, 1930 the church was officially incorporated, and in its new location began to flourish. God blessed the fledgling group, even though by then, the great depression was on. The church records of the 1930’s reveal that it was a tough time. For instance, in March 1932 the total finances were as follows:

	Balance from February 1932.......$ 25.78
	Offerings and pledge.............  75.10
	Total for the month..............$100.88

	Expenses were as follows:

	Advertising......................$  7.25
	Coal.............................  13.50
	Church Building payment..........  50.00
	Piano tuning.....................   3.00
	Roof repair......................   7.00
	Offering to guest speaker........   4.50
	Total expenses...................$ 85.25

Apparently during those years the pastor was supported by free-will offerings that were not recorded.

Pastor Foster resigned in 1933 to become the pastor of First Assembly in Amarillo, Texas and Mr. White was asked to serve again as pastor, remaining until 1937. Silas Rexroat succeeded him and remained until 1941. B. H. Arms served until late 1945 and was succeeded by Harold Champlin.

Under Pastor Champlin’s leadership, the people were motivated to relocate and build, securing the property at 15^th and Eddy. Prior to the start of construction he resigned and on July 28, 1955 Erwin Rohde was chosen as pastor. Almost immediately plans were completed and approved and construction started at the new site.

The people of the church under Pastor Rohde’s skillful leadership built the lovely brick building with almost no outside help. Total construction costs were less then $40,000.

Pastor Rohde was a progressive, forward-looking man of vision. In addition to constructing the building, he placed an assistant pastor on staff. This quiet, but effective, leader took many other steps of faith. In November 1966 he became the pastor of Central Assembly in Great Falls, Montana.

In March of 1967 Gene Arnold became the seventh pastor of the church. Under his leadership the church changed its name to Abundant Life Christian Center, ministered effectively to the community during the charismatic renewal, purchased a new 27-acre campus, built new facilities with over 25,000 square feet of space on the new campus, gave the old facility at 15^th & Eddy to a new sister congregation, and ministered to the several hundred people who consider Abundant Life Christian Center their church home.

In 1990 Gene Arnold resigned as pastor and moved to Boise, Idaho to become the second senior pastor at Trinity Fellowship. Rev. Steve Warriner, who had served as youth pastor under Rev. Arnold for four years was elected as senior pastor in 1990 and serves as the eighth senior pastor of Abundant Life Christian Center.

From the very humble beginning of a few people in a rented dance hall we have grown into a healthy congregation of several hundred people with a dedicated staff, a strong lay leadership core, and an excellent campus strategically located on Grand Island’s primary traffic corridor.

We are confident that God has given us the tools we need to be effective in ministering to our community in the 21^st century.

As we look back, the work that has been done over the years has been done by average working-class people who dare to believe that God keeps His word. Many faithful people giving out of their own need have paid for the new site, with its new buildings.

We see how faithful God has been. We will continue to see God’s faithfulness as we move under His direction in the future. There is no challenge too great for a people who are moving in the will of God. The heritage left by the pastors and lay people of the past is appreciated by those of this present time! We fully recognize that except for their commitment and vision we would not be where we are today. They left us a good foundation, for they laid the only true foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ. Because it is built on that sure foundation Abundant Life Christian Center will continue to prosper and grow.

Being conscious of such a past and the men and women who labored to provide what we have, we also recognize our responsibility to this and future generations. We will be faithful so that they too may know and enjoy the blessings of God.

Top