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An Assembly of God church was started in Provo in 1942 by Louise Devoure, the first pastor, and her daughter. During the next two years, services were held in a store front building next to the old Troy Laundry on Center Street. Louise and her daughter left Provo sometime during that two year period and a new pastor, Vern Harris, took over leadership of the ministry. During Pastor Harris’s one-and-half-year ministry, the church met in the old Provo Theater on Center Street Just East of University Avenue. When Pastor Harris left in 1945, he was followed by Pastor Edward Palmer. Under Pastor Palmer’s leadership, the church moved to the Pioneer Museum on 500 West. Pastor Palmer left Provo in June of 1948. During this time the church was looking for a pastor and Reverend Warren Campbell filled in as interim pastor. Pastor Campbell was also the pastor of the church in American Fork. Pastor James Holden then became pastor in 1948. Worship services continued to be held in the Pioneer Museum until 1952.
In 1952 Pastor Holden resigned and the church was pastored for a six month period by Pastor Ben Cottle. Around this time the church was able to purchase their first building located at 600 West and 800 North in Provo. The congregation along with their newly elected Pastor M.W. Roll, helped clean and remodel the building. The men worked on the building after work in the evenings and the women worked on it during the day. Finally, after two month, the new facility was ready for use. The move from the Pioneer Museum into their own building was one of the major turning points in the church’s history in Provo. In 1958 Pastor William Mitchell became pastor and under his leadership the church continued to experience steady growth. When Pastor Mitchell left in 1964 he was followed by Pastor George Clarke. They continued to see not only grow in their membership but also in their Sunday Morning attendance. In 1967 Pastor George Wiggins had become pastor and he led the church through a remodeling of the nursery and restrooms.
In 1969 Pastor Ray Ansel began his ministry in Provo. By 1972 he led the congregation into a building program at 3410 North Canyon Road in Provo. It took over a year and a half to complete main chapel. The basement and finish work was not completed for another two years. The move brought the nucleus of strong members even closer together. The very first meeting held at the Canyon Road location was held in the back portion of the chapel which later became the location of the sound system.
When the church fist began in 1942, it had approximately thirty adherents. The congregation remained about the same size until Pastor Holden held revival meetings in the Provo Area. During this time the church experienced growth. The next period of growth was in 1958 when the church purchased its first chapel. Since then, the membership has grown steadily except for a period in the early 1970’s. Historically some of the church’s more rapid growth has taken place under the leadership of Pastor Ray Ansel, Pastor Bob Cook and Pastor Dean L. Jackson. Approximately 50 percent of the members in 1982 were either born in Provo or had deep roots in the area. The remainder was individuals who had moved to the area.
From 1982 to July 14th, 1985, The Reverend Bob Cook was pastor. During his leadership, the Provo church grew to between 300-500 adherents. An Average of 190-200 attended Sunday Services. During his time as pastor the congregation remodeled the upstairs portion of the church as well as produced several Easter and Christmas Programs.
Under the leadership of Pastor William Beard the church helped start a church in Orem Utah and Salem Utah.
In 1989 Pastor Virgil Illum became pastor. Under his leadership the church’s mortgage was paid off and funds were raised to remodel the basement.
In 1991 Pastor Dean L. Jackson became pastor. By 1997 the church had adherents of over 500 and an average Sunday Morning attendance of 320. Then in 1998 Pastor Jackson led the congregation through a reconciliation process which was highlighted in an article by Dean Merrill in the February 2000 addition of Christianity Today. As a result the congregation’s Sunday morning attendance dropped to an average attendance of 160. The church currently has about 180 in attendance on Sunday morning. The church currently has an unprecedented reputation in the predominately Mormon Community.
In 2004 the church transitioned to a new format of ministry which will include liquidating their building and moving into the Cinemark Theater complex in Provo.
In 2008 the church once again made the decision to relocate to the Mega Plex Theater complex at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi.
We have been preparing to make this journey for a long time. It has required that we truly evaluate what we need to bring and what we can leave behind.
