History of the Northern Missouri District Council of the Assemblies of God
Before the Northern Missouri District was formed in
1963, The West Central District Council of the
Assemblies of God comprised churches in Northern
Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Prior to September, 1927, the Assemblies of God churches
in Northern Missouri and Iowa were originally known as
The Iowa and Northern Missouri District, established in
August, 1914.
Much of what we know about the district’s history comes
from a book entitled “History of the West Central
District Council of the Assemblies of God” by Eugene N.
Hastie. We give him credit for much of this information.
Also we give acknowledgement to the General Council
Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center for helpful
information.
Tent meetings seemed to be prevalent for many years in
Northern Missouri and Iowa in the early 1900’s. Healings
were common in the meetings. People prayed and sought
God in the cornfields, hayfields, kitchens, traveling
along the road, plowing corn, in bed, and at work. A
great revival swept across Northern Missouri. Thousands
came to Christ.
The first Assemblies of God church established in
Northern Missouri was at Mercer in 1909. On dedication
day (Thanksgiving Day), about 200 people received the
baptism in the Holy Spirit and many were called in to
the ministry.
The first Camp Meeting in Iowa and Northern Missouri
began in August, 1911 with a tent meeting held at
Mercer, MO. “The tent was erected on the D.W. Carlisle
farm about four miles west of town. Daniel Opperman was
in charge. The ministers present at that tent revival
were Frank Anderson, Joe Roselli, Hugh Dadwalder, Agnes
Crouch, and L.C. Hall. The meeting was marked by a
continuous outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”
“The second camp meeting was held at Princeton, MO ,
from September 6-12, 1912. The camp ground was a short
distance from town in the edge of a timbered tract. The
big tent and many new…10 by 12 tents lined up in rows
made quite a sight…Daniel Opperman was again in charge.”
Churches continued to spring up all over Northern
Missouri . By 1947, there were 75 churches in Northern
Missouri and Iowa had 84. The West Central District
established it’s headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa in
1943 The district also purchased an old park near Storm
Lake, Iowa and turned it into the district’s first
campground. Almost immediately, there was concern that
it was too far north, especially for those churches of
Northern Missouri.
In 1963, the churches of Northern Missouri voted to
become a separate district. As a result, the Northern
Missouri District Council of the Assemblies of God was
formed. In 1964, the new district purchased the Lake
Maurer property in Excelsior Springs. Both the District
Office and Campground are located at this facility.
Five men have served as District Superintendents of the
Northern Missouri District as follows:
- Glen A. Renick
- William B. Friend
- Albert A. Pettet
- Manuel V. Shoults
- Ronald M. Garner