This history is drawn heavily from the work of Glenn F. Schotten, who, in 1989, constructed a history for the first 25 years of the church (from 1964-1989).
How it All Began
In April of 1964, home missionary evangelist Rev. Willis Scott came to establish, or "plant", a Church of the Nazarene in Hubbard. Four families formed the "nucleus" of the church, and met with in the basement of the home of David and Nora Hyde on Logan Ave in Hubbard. These families were Edward and Hazel Porter, David and Nora Hyde, Norman and Donna Rose, and Donald and Delores Pierce-each with their children. Neighbors of the Hydes, David and Virginia Smith, who attended the Niles Church of the Nazarene, noticed the change in activity and became aware of the newly organized church, but remained in the Niles congregation. However, Virginia agreed to play piano for revival services the new church organized.
The meetings led by Rev Scott at the Hydes lasted only a few months. The group decided to rent a room at the Hubbard High School for services. The little band of believers held church and Sunday School at the school for nine months, from July of '64-Feb of '65, before the congregation agreed to rent a two-story private home. The home at 62 School St., was to serve as their first church building. The living room and dining room was used as a sanctuary, the kitchen was the nursery, and the three bedrooms upstairs became Sunday School rooms. During this time, the Smiths reached the decision to switch from the Niles congregation to the Hubbard one. Virginia played piano for the services, and David taught Sunday School. Hazel Porter recalls "Most everyone had a position then, since there were so few people. People asked how I became [Missionary] President-I told them they just didn't have anyone else." The Smiths recall the arrival of John Barr, who brought not only his wife Becky and four children, but also a pretty neighbor girl, Doris Telescus. She was to become the wife of their son, Tim, and the accomplished organist for the church. She is the organist to this day, just as her mother-in-law had been for the previous quarter-century. Eventually, the congregation outgrew the home on School St., and the church was presented with a chance to buy property for a new, permanent church building. This School St. home, across from the Roosevelt Elementary school, is still standing today, and has returned to use as a private residence.
Our Own Building
Rev Scott had served as pastor for the group until the first full-time pastor, Rev. David Brumagin, began his term of service on Feb 6, 1965 .In 1965 the congregation bought two lots (nearly two acres) for $5,000. The land had been part of Kermont Fruit Farm, and was on high, well-drained land, very suitable for building. Visionaries thought of the fruitfulness this land had produced, and imagined the spiritual fruit to come. Rev Brumagin and his people figured this would be an ideal place since it was growing quickly and was centrally located for not only those in Ohio but in Western Pennsylvania, as well. However, Rev. Brumagin left for a new change in October of 65, and wasn't there to see the start of the construction he and his congregation had envisioned.
Rev Donald MacNeil arrived on May 22, 1966. Led by Rev. MacNeil, an inspired, vigorous young pastor with a vision and ability to weld together Christians and common sense, a group of volunteers went to work with enthusiasm reminiscent of the people of biblical days cited in Nehemiah 4:6 "So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work." All the work was done with donated labor, and originally with only hand tools, which kept the total cost incredibly low. Five men, not counting the pastor, mixed mortar by hand and laid the footers for the basement-where services were originally held. One day, shortly after the foundation was begun, a layman happened to be passing by on his way to work. "Stop and help those people," The Lord told him. Bill Helmbrech, with his wife, Grace-had been attending the New Castle (PA) Church of the Nazarene. Though Bill was busy operating his own business-Metal Crafts, Inc, he obeyed the voice of the Lord and stopped to offer his skilled help. His ability and equipment gave a physical and spiritual boost to Rev. MacNeil and his helpers. "I remember clearly, as though it were yesterday, the night Bill cam with his tractor-trailer and DeWalt precision radial-arm saw to give us a hand," Dave Smith recalls. "What a contrast to hand tools!"
The people of this small congregation poured their hearts, money and souls into that original church. The unique location of the church drew it's congregation from as far as 30 miles, with people coming from Hubbard, Liberty, Girard, Brookfield, Vienna and Andover in Ohio, and from West Middlesex, Sharon, and Hermitage in Western Pennsylvania. The original sanctuary held 110, and the first service was held on Easter Sunday, 1969. The parsonage across from the church was erected in 1970.
Members recalled Rev. MacNeil as an extremely hard worker, never afraid to roll up his sleeves and work with the members on any project. He was also known for being a pastor who was very compassionate and always doing for the people, with a gift for enormous hospitality. He was a great hospital visitor, and worked as a substitute teacher at Hubbard High School, where his popularity with students was unbounded. Because of his popularity, several teenagers were attracted to the church. Among them were Randy, Terry and Rick Snyder, sons of current members Bob and Velma Snyder. Bob and Velma began attending when they became curious about the church because of the way the boys raved about the church and pastor, and joined in 1970. Rev. MacNeil served the church for nine years, from May of 1966 to September of 1975.
After Rev. MacNeil left, the Rev L. Dale Wanner served as Pastor from November of 1975 to April of 1979. Bea Vallus, a member who formerly served on the board, remembered Rev. Wanner as a "pleasant and reserved pastor." From the Hubbard Church, Rev. Wanner left to serve at the East Liverpool LaCroft Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Michael T. Burne then served the church from June of 1979 to February of 1986. The church launched out into a period of renewed growth under Rev. Burns, who was remembered as an enthusiastic, creative minister with good organizational ability.
A noteworthy development of the 1960's was the beginning of Children's Church, under the direction of Mary Phillips, who went on to be the president of the Nazarene World Missionary Society. This program provided church services at the children's level while adult and teen services were in progress. This program was continued by Jackie Delgros in the late 1980's.
A New Sanctuary
The old church became too small for the congregation, and in 1981 construction began on the present sanctuary. Although donated labor was not used to the extent that it had been in the original building, men of the church helped in this phase of construction, also. It took Cogun Industries, Inc. (the general contactors) about one year to finish the structure. The new sanctuary-with it's red carpet and red pews- has a capacity of 375, with overflow, and was dedicated in April of 1982, under the pastoral-ship of Rev. Burns.
Stormy Weather
One of the most memorable times in the history of the church is due to the tornadoes that swept through the area in 1985, and is known as "Project Rescue". When the devastating tornadoes struck the area on May 31st, 1985- cutting a wide swath of chilling destruction, Rev. Burns' heart, and the hearts of other Nazarenes, went out to the suffering.
Rev. Burns threw open the doors of the church to the tornado victims, disregarding the welfare of the church property, and enlisting the help of his flock. Members of other churches also volunteered to help. Many of the victims had no place to go, and they came in droves upon Rev. Burns' invitation. With total disregard to the sparkling white walls and elegant new red carpeting, the pastor and flock moved the neighborhood in. People, mud, cats, dogs and pet birds were all moved in. "For now, this is your home," the pastor told the hurting people. In a 10-day period in early June, the church served some 8,000 meals to victims and workers who came from far and wide to carry on the massive clean-up of the mess left by the storm. Among church members who helped Lois and Harry Stitt, Hazel Porter, and Grace Helmbrecht, to name just a few. "We delivered sandwiches and soft drinks to the neighbors who were working on their homes and didn't want to stop to eat." Said Mrs. Porter. Deliveries were made by van, wagons and golf carts. Other churches in the area assisted in the work, and many restaurants sent food and supplies. A large number of area businesses also donated food, a refrigerated truck, and other materials and equipment to help. Two generators were used to supply power. The Robert Snyder family recalls bringing their Coleman stove to make coffee for the weary victims and workers. "It was amazing that the church property was untouched by the storm, except for the chimney on the parsonage," said Bob, who-with his sons-wired that building in 1970. In July, Pastor Burns staged an outdoor spaghetti dinner at the church to thank the people who had helped in the effort before workers with the American Red Cross moved the aid operation into the high school.
Porter Hall
The final phase of construction was the erection of Porter Hall, the fellowship hall and education area, which
had been discussed before Pastor Willoughby's arrival, but came to fruition under his leadership. Most of the work, which began in 1986, was done by Cogun Industries, Inc., but some donated labor also helped to make the structure a reality. The addition of the north end of the original building, and included Sunday School classrooms, was dedicated September 13th, 1987. The hall was named in honor of charter members Hazel Porter and her husband Edward, a sheet metal worker who worked diligently throughout all phases of construction since its beginning. However, he was stricken with cancer, and he did not live to see the dedication of the hall that bears his name. The Lord took him home on March 8th, 1987.
Rev. Frank Willoughby, along with his wife, Susan, was with us as pastor for 18 1/2 years- from 5/11/86-9/5/04. By 1989, the Hubbard church had prospered sufficiently to employ a new Associate Pastor, and on April 9 hired Rev. Larry A. Sutherland. He and his wife, Beth were to help in pastoral care and establish and conduct a youth program. Rev Willoughby later also hired Kenneth Falzswimmer as children's pastor, who served in that position for several years. A few others succeeded him in this position, including Jackie Neumann, who oversaw the children's ministry for about 8 years under Rev.willoughby, and continued on in that capacity until 2010. Due to increasing physical limitations Jackie experienced with ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, the responsibilities of this position gradually shifted to others. Among her assistants were her daughters, Jen and Christina, Cathy McCloskey, and Karen Lilly. Currently, Cathy is head over this ministry, with Karen as her "right hand."
Missions Outreach
The Church of the Nazarene has always been a missionary-minded church. Under the leadership of Rev. Willoughby, the church launched into a greater endeavor to carry out the purposes of the Great Commission: To go into all the world and preach the Gospel and to help establish churches from where the Word can be proclaimed. People have prayed and poured their finances into Work and Witness programs such as the one in autumn of 1988, to Wolf Run, near New Philadelphia in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. A church there was damaged by fire, and a delegation of about 13 people went to join other churched on the Akron District to rebuild it.
In February of 1989, a second Work and Witness program was organized from the local church, and about 20 people traveled to New York City to help congregations of Chinese and Spanish speaking believers convert a four-story brick building into two churched: Asian-Americans on the third floor, and Spanish-Americans on the second. The Hubbard group worked on the building, about 80 feet in length, to install partitions, two baths, a kitchen, a platform for the pulpit, a nursery and a pastor's study. Wiring was also installed. "It was six days of hard work," said Bob Snyder, who did the wiring, a skill he had used in helping wire the various phases of the Hubbard church. "It was tough, because all the materials had to be carried up three flights of steps." Bob said.
Other missions trips were subsequently made to various local areas, as well as a trip to Bay Shore, Long Island, in 1993. Some of our other missions and outreach trips to other states and countries are listed and described on the Missions page.
Pastor W. Mike Byus came to us in 2005, having pastored New Covenant Worship Center (a Church of the Nazarene) in Youngstown for many years. Pastor Mike brought in Tim Heaney- together with his wife Kate- to oversee the youth ministry, which had been vacant for some time. Pastor Tim left in 2007 to become Sr. Pastor of the Colling Church of the Nazarene in Unionville, Michigan. This void was filled by hiring Matt Oaks in 2008. Matt and his wife Liz had worked with youth in Ashtabula county, Ohio, for years prior to coming to Hubbard. Pastor Matt and Liz were called away from Hubbard in the Summer of 2011, to enter other areas of ministry. Youth leaders who were working with the teens under Pastor Matt, along with the NYI President, carried on the youth ministry until May of 2012, when Aidan Nowicki-a recent graduate of Mt. Vernon University-joined our staff. Pastor Aidan married Lynnette the following year, and has accepted a position in the Columbus, Ohio area to work with a church plant there-effective May of this year (2014). Like Tim and Matt, Aidan and his lovely wife will be greatly missed! We will pray for them, keep in touch, and welcome any opportunities for them to come and visit. Youth leaders and lay workers will again continue this youth ministry, under the direction of the NYI President and Pastor Mike.
Graduates
Many people have gone out from the Hubbard Church of the Nazarene and have served and are continuing to serve either in full-time ministry or as laymen. Although they cannot all be listed, a few of the members who have gone on to serve include:
James Burns-Pastor of the Morgandale Church of the Nazarene in Warren, Ohio
Perry Brest-Pastor of the Elwood City Church of the Nazarene in Elwood City, PA
Linda Bilunka-Former missionary-teacher in Jamaica
Richard Brest-Pastor in Colorado