THE HISTORY OF THE FULTON CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST
Part I
The Fulton Church of God in Christ was originally founded in the summer of 1924 by the late Elder Carter Timmons of Moberly, Missouri. Elder Timmons had a wife, Mrs. Anna Timmons, and 4 children, namely Ethel, Howard, Orville, and Herbert. During Elder Timmons’ pastorate two other children were born. They were boys, and their names were Floyd and Harold.
Elder Timmons started out on the street corners of Westminster with only his guitar and two Missionaries from Huntsville, Missouri, to assist with the singing and teaching and most essential, prayer. Others came to help out from time to time. When Elder Timmons first came here, he had no car but came on a train known as “The Hound Dog”. His first car was a Model T. ford. He preached the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was a strange doctrine to the people of the city, and people came from near and far to hear the message of Holiness.
Many were converted to the Holiness faith that caused a stir among the people. At one time Elder Timmons was jailed for preaching the gospel. Some of the first converts were Mother Christina Nickens, Mother Belle Clark, and Brother Roy Weaver. During the fall Elder Timmons found it necessary to find various houses to have service in. the first house was owned by Mrs. Nellie Johnson and was on the corner of Westminster and what is now Carver Drive. The next house was an old rock house on West 9th Street. Then they moved to Mr. Arthur Scott’s house. That’s where Mother Nickens accepted the Lord into her heart. Afterward, Elder Timmons decided to buy two houses at 331 Northwest 8th Street. One was used for a parsonage where Mother Ola Jackson lived for a while, and they tore out the inside walls of the other house to use for a church.
Elder Timmons started out on the street corners of Westminster with only his guitar and two Missionaries from Huntsville, Missouri, to assist with the singing and teaching and most essential, prayer. Others came to help out from time to time. When Elder Timmons first came here, he had no car but came on a train known as “The Hound Dog”. His first car was a Model T. ford. He preached the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was a strange doctrine to the people of the city, and people came from near and far to hear the message of Holiness.
Many were converted to the Holiness faith that caused a stir among the people. At one time Elder Timmons was jailed for preaching the gospel. Some of the first converts were Mother Christina Nickens, Mother Belle Clark, and Brother Roy Weaver. During the fall Elder Timmons found it necessary to find various houses to have service in. the first house was owned by Mrs. Nellie Johnson and was on the corner of Westminster and what is now Carver Drive. The next house was an old rock house on West 9th Street. Then they moved to Mr. Arthur Scott’s house. That’s where Mother Nickens accepted the Lord into her heart. Afterward, Elder Timmons decided to buy two houses at 331 Northwest 8th Street. One was used for a parsonage where Mother Ola Jackson lived for a while, and they tore out the inside walls of the other house to use for a church.
Part II
They moved from street corners to tents and brush arbors. During this time a number of young people united with the church, included was Clementine Scott.
The church grew rapidly in 1925. Elder Timmons and Reverend Albert McBride, with his horses, helped to dig out a basement to start building a church. The people of the city with Deacons Chester Kelly and Amos Nickens helped support the church by having chicken dinners, fish fries, by selling ice cream and soda pop from a stand built in front of the parsonage. Also included was a free-will offering. In later years, Mother Nickens sold pies at the brick plant to help with expenses of the church. There was great success during the 6 years Elder Timmons pastored the church, with much suffering. He and his family lived with Mr. And Mrs. Charley Copeland until commissioned by Overseer V.M. Barker of Kansas City, Missouri to a larger church in Springfield, Missouri. During his ministry here, at one time, while worshiping in the basement, there were 100 members. There were about four families that followed Elder Timmons to Springfield. Namely the Copelands, Boyces, Pasleys and later Mrs. Carrie Tibbs. Deacon and Mother Christina Nickens and others remained faithful to the church. They worshiped under nine other pastors such as Elders Carter, Duncan, Hall, Ruffin, Fogle, Emory, Johnson, Swain and a hometown boy, Elder Albert Nickens. After 28 years of worshiping in the basement, under the leadership of Elder Fogle, the auditorium was built, but only ½ of the basement was used.
The church grew rapidly in 1925. Elder Timmons and Reverend Albert McBride, with his horses, helped to dig out a basement to start building a church. The people of the city with Deacons Chester Kelly and Amos Nickens helped support the church by having chicken dinners, fish fries, by selling ice cream and soda pop from a stand built in front of the parsonage. Also included was a free-will offering. In later years, Mother Nickens sold pies at the brick plant to help with expenses of the church. There was great success during the 6 years Elder Timmons pastored the church, with much suffering. He and his family lived with Mr. And Mrs. Charley Copeland until commissioned by Overseer V.M. Barker of Kansas City, Missouri to a larger church in Springfield, Missouri. During his ministry here, at one time, while worshiping in the basement, there were 100 members. There were about four families that followed Elder Timmons to Springfield. Namely the Copelands, Boyces, Pasleys and later Mrs. Carrie Tibbs. Deacon and Mother Christina Nickens and others remained faithful to the church. They worshiped under nine other pastors such as Elders Carter, Duncan, Hall, Ruffin, Fogle, Emory, Johnson, Swain and a hometown boy, Elder Albert Nickens. After 28 years of worshiping in the basement, under the leadership of Elder Fogle, the auditorium was built, but only ½ of the basement was used.
Part III
Under the faithful leadership of Elder Albert Nickens and his wife, Sister Clementine Nickens, with the help of the Lord, the church progressed and accomplished much both naturally and spiritually, which included a number of modern conveniences. Elder Nickens led this church as pastor for 38 years until ill health forced him to relinquish the reins of leadership. In July 2003, Elder Bobby Washington was appointed by Bishop Henderson to serve as pastor. Under his leadership, land has been acquired for future church expansion. However, the main focus of the ministry is to continue to “win” souls for Christ. Pray for us as we go forth with the unadulterated gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
