| Since its original construction
in 1902, this historic structure has been a place of life-changing
experiences for countless people throughout Des Moines,
the state of Iowa and even the nation. We desire to share
the stories and memories of those who have been a part of
the various churches and ministries that have called this
church home. While reading the stories of those whose lives
have been touched as a result of their experiences here,
you’ll recognize that this restoration project is
about more than a historic structure – it’s
about people and about continuing God’s purpose and
desire to change lives in central Iowa, the nation and the
nations of the world. As we honor the past, we will build
a bridge into the future.
Click here to
tell your story! |
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| I attended the "First Church" shortly after
I was born in 1941 and attended the church until I graduated
from East High School in 1959. My mother, Helen Overton, sang
in the choir. My aunt Lucille Jenkins was a missionary in
Liberia, Africa. She later married R. B. Mitchell. Brother
Newton was my most memorable Sunday School teacher. He presented
me my first bible in 1949. I still have it in my memorabilia.
Two of the most important things in my life occurred at First
Church. I gave my heart to the Lord at the altar in the sanctuary.
Also, I married my wife of 47 years in 1962 in the chapel
adjacent to the sanctuary. We were married by Ron Smith, son
of Pastor Frank Smith. This wonderful building has so many
wonderful memories. Thought I would share a funny
story. Looking at the old pictures of the interior of the
sanctuary helped me remember. My mom used to take me to
choir practice on Tuesday evenings. I was probably 8 or
9 years old at the time. I would play games and crawl between
the pews. I was given strict instructions not to be seen
or heard so as not to interrupt the choir practice. Well,
these were the days of the Davey Crockett coonskin caps.
I took my coonskin hat with me to choir practice. I went
up into the balcony and crawled on my hands and knees to
the front row. As the picture shows, there were "modesty
curtains" hanging on the balcony railing of the first
row, presumably to cover the lady's knees. No one saw me
sneak to the first row. As the choir was singing, I took
the tail of the coonskin hat and stuck it below the curtain
so it was visible to the choir. I drug it along the balcony
and it looked like an animal was in the building. Needless
to say, it caused quite a stir. Everyone was pointing, laughing,
and it pretty much upset the practice. There was one woman
who knew what was going on, and that was my mother. She
was not laughing. It was the most fun I ever had at choir
practice. |
Tom Overton - Titusville, FL |
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| When I was a child in Des Moines we called it "19th
and Crocker" or just "First Church." It was
our "mother church," so to speak. My parents were
married there and my mother's funeral was there. Some of my
earliest memories are of exploring every corner of the building
when I was four years old. My stepmother was Frank Smith's
(First Church's pastor) secretary and she took me to work
with her until I entered kindergarten. We attended Open Bible
Standard Churches’ annual conventions there in the 1950s.
My parents were all graduates of Open Bible Institute and
my father pastored an OBSC church in Des Moines, so "19th
and Crocker" was the hub of religious activity for us. |
Roger Olson - Waco, TX |
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| I worked and worshipped at the building at 19th and
Crocker when it was Kingsway Cathedral. I began working there
as a secretary in 1974. During my time there I was in charge
of taking care of visiting ministers and speakers. This allowed
me to meet many members of the Body of Christ and know them
more personally. It was not long after I began working there
that Pastor Del Browning asked me if I would be willing to
help produce a live show on cable TV. This show eventually
became a reality and we were on live, 5 nights a week. I helped
organize guest speakers, a live phone bank for people to call
in and be prayed for and wrote the show format. The night
of the broadcast, I worked as floor director. This outreach
was great blessing to many people who received answers to
their prayers. God truly blessed my life by allowing me to
be a part of Kingsways Television outreach. I pray that now,
many more of the propetic things said about this place will
come to pass as KLM International opens the doors again. |
Lynn Montgomery - Des Moines,
IA |
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| How a Young Woman was Healed of a
Goiter - by Wayne Warner |
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