At the end of the nineteenth century, The St. Joe Lead Company
sank shaft and began mining lead in the center of St. Francois
County, close to what is now Flat River Creek. As miners
began to move near the mines for work, small communities sprang
up near the shafts. These early communities were little more
than a group of shacks that housed the miners. These
communities were not named but were numbered: Four town,
Six town, Nine town, etc. In 1901 a community was
incorporated near several of the numbered towns. It was at
this time that the community of Elvins began.
Elvins was definitely a boomtown created by the lead mines.
Within a few years, the town’s population grew to over 3,000.
Stores of all kind sprang up and a downtown business district
was quickly created. As people moved in they brought with
them their love for God and churches were built. The
Methodist Church and the Baptist Church were among the first to
be built in Elvins. In the fall of 1922, Charles Roscue
Jones moved his family to Elvins from their home in Essex,
Missouri and soon was hired to work for St. Joe. After
obtaining employment, God gave Brother Jones a burden to see a
full gospel church built in Elvins.
The
Pentecostal message had been brought to St. Francois County
through a series of tent revivals in 1922. Among the first
to hold Pentecostal revivals in this area were Sister Dollie
Huffman (Heady), Brother Powtan Huffman and Brother K. H.
Lawson. It is not known whether Brother Jones attended any
of these tent revivals, but in March of 1923 he started a
little Pentecostal Church in Elvins. Several full gospel
churches began in St. Francois County in the years that
followed those early tent revivals. Many believe that the
church that Brother Jones started was the first full gospel
church in the county, although that is disputed by at least
one other full gospel church in the area.
In 1924 in the month of May, Fred Jackson moved his family to
Elvins from Essex, MO. He too was soon employed by St. Joe
Lead Company and also had a burden to establish a full gospel
church in the area. Brother Jackson and his family started
attending the church started by Brother Jones and soon began
assisting him in the services. St. Joe was in full swing
of it’s mining operations and had shifts working seven days a
week. If Brother Jones had to miss a service due to work,
Brother Jackson would preach. If Brother Jackson had to work on
Sunday, then Brother Jones would preach. There was a big
difference in their heights and due to that they were often
referred to as Mutt and Jeff.
Brothers Jones and Jackson built the first church building on
Ethel Street in Elvins. This first building was a slab
type building with a flat roof, had sawdust floors and seats
that were made from boards placed over blocks of wood. In
1924 the old slab building was torn down to make room for a
newer, better building. While the new building was under
construction, services were held in a tent. The second
building was finished in 1926. It was a red granite stone
building that was 60’ X 50’ and had cement floors instead of
sawdust.
In 1924, Brother
Jones was forced to resign his position at the church do to
illness. At this time Brother Fred Jackson was
elected pastor of the church and stayed at the Elvin’s Church
until 1929. He was licensed with The Assemblies of God in
1925 and the church soon became affiliated with the Assemblies.
Brother Jackson remained in good standing with the Southern
Missouri District Council of the Assemblies of God until his
death in 1964.
In 1929 Brother Fred Jackson
resigned as pastor of Elvin’s Assembly. A man by the name
of Brother Crane had been holding revival at the church and was
voted in as pastor to replace Brother Jackson. Rev. Crane
only served a short time and then resigned. Brother
Cockman was then elected to the pastor position. He
resigned and Brother Dunn was elected pastor in 1930.
In 1929, events half
way across the country had a profound effect on the
lives of the people St. Francois County, as well as
people all across the nation. The stock market crash in
October 1929 brought hard times to all the people of the
county as well as to the members of the Elvin’s Assembly
of God Church. The St. Joe Lead Company, the areas
largest employer, suffered as did most businesses across
the nation. Those who worked for St. Joe had their
working hours greatly reduced. Rather than lay people
off, St. Joe and the workers decided to share the
available work. A general laborer would make around $22
for each week worked. During the worst part of the
depression the workers worked only one week out of four
so that all families would have some income. Throughout
the entire depression, the Elvin’s Assembly of God
Church continued to grow and prosper. In 1930, under
the ministry of Brother Dunn, a parsonage was built at
310 Ethel Street next to the church. This 30’ X 40’
granite stone house served as the parsonage until the
late 1960s.
After Brother Dunn resigned Brother Butler was elected to fill
the pulpit. He was followed by Brother Highfill. His wife
Sister Highfill taught the ladies Bible class and was still an
active member in 1965. Brother Highfill was followed by
Rev. Deguars and he was followed by Rev. Plakes. Rev.
Ledbetter followed Rev. Deguars and during his ministry a new
building program was started and completed. The church
building was remodeled and the single story building was turned
into a two-story building.
As the years of the Great Depression
finally faded away, a new series of events half way around the
world would bring new trials for the citizens of the Leadbelt
area. On Sunday December 7, 1941, just about the time that
the Sunday Morning Service was ending, the United States was
plunged into World War II with an attack at Pear Harbor, Hawaii.
Hundreds of young men from the Elvins area and thousands from
St. Francois County either joined immediately or were later
drafted to defeat tyranny around the world. Churches all
over the county suddenly had an urgency to send prayers of
safety toward heaven for the protection of loved ones.
Here on the home front, schools and churches did what they could
to help the war effort. Scrap metal drives, war bond
sales, ration books, and victory gardens gave those on the home
front a way to help win the war.
Brother Cooper followed the ministry of Brother Ledbetter.
Under the direction of Brother Cooper another building project
was completed. A three story Sunday School Annex was added
onto the rear of the church. Following Brother Cooper were
Brother Roberts, and then Brother Gunter. Brother Gunter
became ill during his time at Elvin’s Assembly and was called
home by God. Upon his death, his wife, Sister Gunter
filled the pulpit and was elected as pastor. She served
for a short time and then Rev. Charlie Upchurch was
elected pastor. Brother Upchurch had been pasturing in
Ironton and felt God leading him to come to Elvin’s Assembly.
During Brother Upchurch’s ministry it was decided that the old
building should be demolished and a new building should be
erected. A lot across the street from the church and
parsonage was purchased for $250 and work began immediately.
Many members of the church donated their time, labor, and
finances to see the new church built. The church was completed
in 1963 and the old church was torn down. When Brother
Upchurch resigned, the church indebtedness on the new church was
only $3700.
Rev. Clifton
York was elected in September of 1963. He was followed by
Brother Joe Miller. A new parsonage was build next to the
church during Brother Miller’s ministry at Elvin’s Assembly.
During the ministry of Brother Miller, the St. Joe Lead Company
began to slowly shut down their lead mining operations in St.
Francois County. Foreign competition, a reduction in the
demand for lead, and the low grade of ore that was now being
mined caused the demise of the lead industry in St Francois
County. By the early 1970’s the last of the lead mines closed
down. Brother Miller resigned and Brother Lawrence Cook was
elected pastor. In July 1983 Rev. Caldwell became pastor. He
was followed by Rev. Larry Metz. Brother Metz resigned and left
Elvin’s Assembly in February 1988.
On March 28, 1988, Brother Dwight Jones was elected as pastor of
Elvin’s Assembly of God. During the ministry of Brother
Jones, the church went through a period of rapid growth.
Souls were saved, people were set free, and the Spirit of God
flowed. It was during Brother Jones’ ministry that the
congregation voted to change the name of the church. It
was decided that the name would be changed to Harvest Assembly
of God.
During a service in the early years of Brother Jones’ ministry
at Harvest, a prophecy came forth from Sister Eaton while she
was playing the piano. God had shown her a vision of
Harvest Assembly sitting on top of a high hill. She was
shown a great white light coming down out of Heaven and landing
on the roof of the church. From there the light came
through the roof and into the church and then was shot out of
the church in all directions around the world. It was from this
vision and prophesies that God had told the people of Harvest
that he still has a great work for the church to fulfill.
Harvest is to be one of the last day churches. A place
where an outpouring of the Holy Ghost will fall in a manner, the
likes have not seen in modern times. Harvest Assembly will
be a place where hurting wounded people can come for spiritual
healing, where the sick can be healed, and where miracles of all
manners take place. Harvest will also be a place where
missionaries are called and sent to the four corners of the
world with the last day’s message, and more importantly where
the lost can find salvation. In the years that have followed
Sister Eaton’s vision, God’s promise to Harvest has been
confirmed many times. Each time nearly the same prophesy
has come forth in almost exactly the same manner and always from
people who have not heard of God’s promise to Harvest.
Brother Dwight Jones felt God release him to the evangelistic
field and resigned in November of 1991. In December 1991,
Brother Steve Derby was elected pastor of Harvest Assembly.
He filled the pulpit in January 1992 and almost immediately
began looking for a location to build a new church. Three
acres were purchased from Walter Horton on Highway 32 for the
new church. The land lay about 2 miles west of Elvins and
was on top of a hill across from Simms Mountain. A
construction loan was secured in the amount of $100,000 and
construction began. The pastor and members of the congregation
began building the church. The church was completed and
came in under budget. The old church and parsonage on
Ethel Street were sold and the congregation began to worship in
the new building.
In 1992 the citizens of Elvins, Esther, Flat River and
Rivermines voted to consolidate the four towns together.
The City of Park Hills was created from the four former
communities and came into existence on January 1, 1994.
In June 1994, Rev. Steve Derby resigned and in July
1994 Rev. Dwight Jones returned from the evangelistic field
and was once again was elected pastor. During the next few
years the church quickly out grew the 250-seat sanctuary
that had been built only two years earlier. Another
building program was started to create a larger sanctuary
and more Sunday school rooms.
Once again the pastor and members of the church began
building a larger sanctuary and additional Sunday school
rooms. In the years that followed, additional property was
purchased behind the church for future expansion. The
church once again began to out grow the building. In 2003
the church began to build a much larger building on the
acreage that had been purchased behind the church. The
congregation also voted to again change the name of the
church. Harvest Assembly of God became Harvest Christian
Centre. In 2004, with the help of many dedicated men and
women, the new church building was dedicated for the Glory
of God.
Today, Harvest is looking to relocate once again! The church
has voted unanimously in 2007 to purchace property on Hwy 67 for
a future building project, the new sanctuary will hold approx.
1500 people. Harvest
Christian Centre has come a long way since those early days of
sawdust floors. Throughout the years it has seen good
times and bad times. It has lived through periods of rapid
growth and survived church splits. Through out all the good
times and not so good times one truth continues to ring out. God
is not through with Harvest and the best times are yet to come.
