A Letter From Pastors John & Debbie Lindell
Hello Friend,
We are so excited to be connecting with you! If you are searching for a church home, we invite you to come and be a part of all that is happening at James River Church. Whether you live near one of our four campuses or choose to join us online we welcome you! It is our prayer as you connect with us today, that you will encounter Gods amazing grace, your faith will be strengthened, and you will find hope for whatever you are walking through.
And always remember, you were created to belong to a life-giving community of people who believe in you and there is a place for you here.
Welcome home!
Look For Bricks That Might Have Handprints
Mawhiney said the contractor doing the demolition is setting aside some of the bricks.
Since the bricks were hand-made, Mawhiney told the Citizen, she has asked that the contractor look closely for any that might have fingerprints or handprints on them.
She expressed dismay the buildings were demolished.
The buildings were on the northern part of 18 acres the church purchased in August 2021. They were at the intersection of West Hilltop Road and Farmer Branch Road.
Two barns on the property were demolished earlier this week.
Community And International Outreach
James River Church hosts a variety of events at their four campuses, including Stronger Mens Conference and Designed For Life women’s conferences, holiday events for families and children, and sport teams. James River Church organizes community service events such as an annual service project to paint, clean, and landscape public schools in the area. The church also helps to promote foster parenting and adoption with Cherish Kids.
From 1997 to 2010, one of JRC’s local events was the annual Fourth of July patriotic program, the I Love America! Celebration. In 2009, attendance for the 13th annual event, which was free to the public, reached approximately 120,000 people. Attendance in 2010 fell to 100,000.
Internationally, the church has partnered with Mission of Mercy in the sponsorship of several hundred children in Haiti. Additionally, the church has sponsored the digging of water wells in underdeveloped countries.
James River Church also support planting churches. In 2013, JRC announced and planted 100 house churches in Russia. In 2015, JRC announced and planted 100 house churches in Cuba, and in 2016 JRC announced it would plant 40 churches in varied locations worldwide. In 2017 another 40 churches were planted and in 2018 another 41 churches planted worldwide. Due to extra growth and funding, the amount of church plants increased from the first church plant in 2013, to 843 churches planted by 2019.
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Additional Info About Our Church
Over the past 25 years, we have seen God do amazing things through James River Church to change lives in our community, our nation, and around the world. We are blown away at how God continues to strengthen and build the church and use us as a body of believers to bring the good news of the Gospel to people who need Jesus! This year we unite around the calling to be Christ’s hands extended by loving with extravagance, serving with genuineness, and welcoming people home.
Assemblies Of God Usa
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The Assemblies of God USA , officially the General Council of the Assemblies of God, is a in the United States founded in 1914 during a meeting of white Pentecostal ministers at , separating from the historically black . The Assemblies of God is a and is the U.S. branch of the , the world’s largest Pentecostal body. With a constituency of over 3 million, the Assemblies of God was the ninth largest Christian denomination and the second largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States in 2011.
The Assemblies of God holds to a , and theology as expressed in the and position papers, which emphasize such core Pentecostal doctrines as the , , and the . It defines for itself a fourfold mission to others, God, believers, and show compassion.
The fellowship’s is a hybrid of and models. This tension between local independence and national authority is seen in the AG’s historical reluctance to refer to itself as a denomination, preferring the terms fellowship and movement. The national headquarters are in , where the administrative and executive offices and Gospel Publishing House are located.
It maintains relationships with other Pentecostal groups at both regional and national levels through the and the . It is also a member of the and the .
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James River Church Joins The Metaverse
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. James River Church has announced they will be creating an online digital campus for those who wish to receive prayer and enjoy the use of virtual technology.
On Sunday, April 3rd, the James River Church will be launching its Meta Campus. a virtual online space in which you will be able to explore and attend events.
According to their website, when you go to church in the metaverse you can talk to people and hear their real voices. You can explore a full campus and experience different ministries. You can connect with pastors and receive prayer.
The site says a headset will provide the best experience in the Metaverse, but anyone with a computer will be able to join.
James River Church used the services of AltspaceVR. According to their website, AltspaceVR allows artists, creators, brands, and businesses to create virtual events.
No Law Would Have Prevented Demolition
James River Church is an Assemblies of God church with four campuses in the Springfield area. The flagship campus is the one in Ozark.
According to Wikipedia, in 2019, James River reported an average weekly attendance of 19,000.
The structures on the farmstead were not on the National Registry of Historic Places, and even if they were, Head said, nothing prohibited the church from demolishing them to accommodate future growth.
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Finding Intact Slave Quarters Rare In State
So little of the tangible cultural heritage of the Ozarks African American pioneers has survived erasure, much less in situ as was the case here, Head said via email.
In situ means in its original place.
Hopefully, we will yet recover some of this history through archaeological excavations, Head said via email.
Regardless, the loss of this resource serves as a reminder that many of our historically significant sites are unknown and unprotected. History is made in the present, in what we choose to remember and preserve, but also what we demolish and forget. Ill continue to encourage more of the former.
Demolition Was First Planned 9 Months Ago
Head said Parsley indicated that the demolition was first planned about nine months ago. Head wrote in an email to the Citizen:
According to Pastor Parsley, James River Church had been in contact with various historical organizations/agencies, and private individuals seeking a party that was interested and able to relocate the buildings for preservation off-site. These discussions clearly never bore fruit, and Im not surprised given the costs and logistical challenges of such a project, Head wrote.
He said he again asked Parsley on Thursday, Sept. 15, about the possibility of archaeological excavations prior to any further site preparation.
He said he would look into it, Head said.
Head said Shannon Mawhiney, president of the Christian County Museum & Historical Society, is interested in obtaining bricks from the small building and possibly other artifacts for curation and exhibition at the museum.
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First White Settler In Area Bought It In 1830
It is not known what the church plans to do with the property. It might have something to do with a new youth venue. Again, Parsley has not responded for comment or explanation.
In 1830, Thomas Horn bought the land from the federal government and became the areas first white land-owning settler. In addition, Horn became sheriff of Greene County, which at the time included what later became Christian County.
His widow, Elizabeth Horn, sold the farm to Thomas Jefferson Mullins, who owned it and was living there in 1860, according to the Census.
It is documented, Head said, that both the Horn family and the Mullins family owned slaves.
The Doctrine And Beliefs Of James River Church
We believe the Bible is Gods Word. It is accurate, authoritative and applicable to our everyday lives.
We believe in one eternal God who is the Creator of all things. He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is totally loving and completely holy. The Lord Jesus Christ is both God and man and is the only one who can reconcile us to God. Each time we partake of communion we remember Jesus lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross in our place, and rose again to prove His victory and empower us for life.
We believe sin has separated each of us from God and His purpose for our lives. In order to receive forgiveness we must repent of our sins, believe in Jesus Christ and submit to His will for our lives. God wants to heal and transform us so that we can live healthy and powerful lives in order to help others more effectively. In order to live the holy, fruitful, and power-filled lives God intends for us, we need to be baptized in water, set our mind on Him and His purpose, and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
We believe God has individually equipped us and corporately gathered us as His living body so that we can successfully achieve His purpose for our lives, which is to worship God, strengthen the Church, and share the Gospel with the community in which we live.
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One Of Two Barns Was Built In Late 19th Century
George W. Taylor, who was a captain in the Union Army, acquired the land at the close of the Civil War.
Its likely, Head said, that former slaves lived as tenants on the Taylor farm, and its likely that some lived in the small brick structure behind the house.The study states that the cattle barn demolished this week was built in the mid-twentieth century.
The eight-sided barn also demolished this week was framed with walnut timbers on a masonry foundation. It was constructed by Captain Taylor in the late-nineteenth century.
James River Church Party
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
LOCATION:James River Church Ozark, Springfield, and Joplin Locations 6100 N. 19th St.
About This Event
SPRINGFIELD & JOPLIN Mo. The community is invited to the annual October 31st Party a safe, free event hosted by James River Church. This indoor and outdoor event takes place Halloween night, Sunday, Oct. 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The fun-filled evening will include a variety of activities from an amazing kids show, to photos with princesses and superheroes, tons of free candy and more! Plus, an outdoor party with giant inflatables and free kettle corn!Children, infant through fifth grade, are invited to dress up in their favorite costumes for this family-friendly event.
The October 31st Party will be held at all four James River Church locations.
Location Information:
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The Entire Site Was Significant
Head said the entire site had historical significance.
One reason, he said, is because the farmsteads history is well documented.
In 1976, the farm was listed as one of Missouris initial 2,850 Centennial Farms, meaning the land had been owned by the same family for at least 100 years.
Finding slave quarters intact in Missouri is rare, he added. Most were made of logs and long ago were demolished.
One reason this particular structure might have survived, he said, is because it is unusual in that it was made of brick.
I Am Obviously Saddened
Kevin Cupka Head, the archaeologist, had asked the church to delay demolition.
I am obviously saddened by the loss of these historically significant buildings, most of all the brick summer kitchen and potential slave quarters, Head said.
Head concluded from research that the small brick building was probably once slave quarters.
Head is director of the Bernice S. Warren Center for Archaeological Research at Missouri State University. He became involved with church buildings when contacted by P.J. Logan, a woman who once lived in Ozark but now resides in Kansas City.
Logan told the Citizen she has friends who live in Ozark who notify her of what is happening to the property.
Head said he heard from Parsley Thursday, and based on that communication, it is apparent the small brick building was demolished, too.
Head had visited the site and entered the two-story house and the small brick building in July. He had been given permission by Parsley, he said.
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A Church Where You Belong
We are blown away by how God continues to strengthen and build the church and use us as a body of believers to bring the good news of the Gospel to people who need Jesus! As one of the churches in the Springfield and southwest Missouri area, we unite around the calling to be Christs hands extended by loving with extravagance, serving with genuineness, and welcoming people home.
James River Church Demolishes Historical Structures Despite Msu Archaeologists Plea
James River Church Thursday morning demolished a two-story house with historical significance that dates to about 1864, despite a request from a local archaeologist to preserve the structure or, at least, pause destruction.
In addition, a small brick building nearby that likely was once slave quarters was apparently also demolished.
The Springfield Daily Citizen wrote about the house just east of the church campus in Ozark on Wednesday, as well as a small building nearby. At the time, the structures were still standing.
But by Thursday morning at 9:15 a.m., the 158-year-old house was in the final stages of demolition.
Kert Parsley, chief operating officer for the megachurch, did not respond to requests for information from the Citizen Wednesday or Thursday.
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