The Assembly of God movement was born out of the early Pentecostal revival dating to the early 1900's. The Pentecostal revival came to people who were deeply concerned over the spiritual and moral deterioration abroad in the land, people who prevailed with God in earnest prayer. It has always been thus, for "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). The Pentecostal revival did not add new doctrines: It called the church back to historic truth.

From this Pentecostal revival, the Assembly of God movement was formally born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in April, 1914.

In the early summer (May 27^th) of 1922, two women evangelists arrived in Harrisburg, pitched a tent at Sixth and Forrest streets in the uptown section of the city, and began preaching the gospel.

They were Mrs. Zola T. DePriest and Mrs. Lillian Underwood, and they were fervid followers of the Assemblies of God denomination - a faith that was new to the region.

The revival continued for nine weeks with a gracious outpouring of salvation, healings and anointings of the Holy Spirit. A blessed spirit of unity prevailed. Their message must have fallen on fertile soil. In the closing days of the revival, a tabernacle building fund was started for the erection of a church with only thirty-seven cents. In September of the same year (1922) the building was started and by January 20, 1923, the first revival campaign was begun in the new building at 2540 Jefferson Street.

The church became affiliated with the Assemblies of God in January, 1930, while Rev. Raymond Gordon was pastor. Because of ill health, Rev. Gordon had to leave soon after becoming the first pastor. Following Rev. Gordon were Daniel Cox, Leon Cooke, and James Wright. The Rev. A. Newton Chase (1936-38), served for two years, then became Secretary of the Eastern District Council of the Assemblies of God. The Rev. Anthony Vigna (1938-46), occupied the pulpit for the next seven year. Leo Starner (1946-55), served for nine years. Carl S. Butler (1955-61), six years, Joseph L Pittman (1961-66), five years, Allan E. Shuttlesworth (1966-70), four years, Philip Bongiorno (1970-78), eight years, James Morris (1978-2000), twenty-two years, Stephen Rhoades (2000-06), six years, and our present pastor, Terry Lamer.

God blessed the ministry of each of these men, and it was under the ledership of Pastor Starner that a lot was secured at the corner of Green and Schuylkill streets in September, 1953, and plans were underway for a new building. Of interest is that the contractor awarded the contract to build the church, died of a heart attack shortly after construction started. The men of the congregation, led by Pastor Butler, elected to supplement the construction work force. Each evening and Saturday, the pastor and a dozen or more of his flock had given their time to speed teh work of bringing the building under roof. On May 3, 1959, under the ministry of Pastor Butler, a dedication service was held for the lovely new edifice at 2447 Green Street.

If you are wondering what happened to the church building on Jefferson Street, it was destroyed by fire on February 19, 1979. It was the home of the Congregational Church of God.

At the annual business meeting, September 21, 1959, the church voted on a formal name from a list consisting of: Pentecostal A/G, First A/G, Capitol A/G, Keystone A/G, and Green Street A/G, obviously First Assembly of God was chosen.

Several churches in the area trace their beginning through the local church. Quite a number of young people responed to God's call for Christian service as Pastors, Evangelists and Missionaries.

Much has happened in the life of the church, especially in the last thirty-five years or so.

In June of 1972, only one month after the 50^th anniversary celebration of the church, the city of Harrisburg was struck by a disastrous flood. The church, located at the time on Green Street, was inundated with eighteen feet of water which caused over $75,000 damage to the church facilities.

Judging by what happened in First Assembly of God church, 2447 Green Street, The Rev. Philip Bongiorno, the pastor, believes that God was giving a message to his parishioners - even though the church suffered up to $75,000 worth of damage.

He said the Bible on the communion table below the pulpit was not touched although pews, organ, piano, and other furnishings were destroyed. Furthermore, the Bible was opened to the pages containing the book of Ezra 7:26-28, the passage that the Rev. Bongiorno read Wednesday night before the flood.

The 27^th verse reads, "Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the King's Heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem."

"When we finally got into the church," said Rev. Bongiorno, "we found there was 15 to 18 inches of water over the pulpit and five feet of water in the auditorium. Pews had been moved by the water force all over the sanctuary, the organ was tipped over, and the piano had been moved a distance.

"The offering plates and one or two other items on the communion table were covered with water. Miraculously the communion table had lifted off the floor, turned, faced the north, and settled down between two alter rails. On the top of this table, situated on a small stand was the open Bible, its pages completely dry. How do you account for this, except to say it was a miracle?" It was a demonstration that God protected His word.

Out of this disaster, the official board, with the people concurring, decided to seed property and build a new building. In 1974, ten and a half acres were purchased on North Progress Avenue. In October 1976, a ground breaking service was held at the new site, and construction began in November of that year. Construction was not without some problems. For instance, on June 12, 1977, a Sunday, a wind storm collapsed the roof (1000 panels) and some of the walls that had just been recently erected. That caused a slight delay in the completion date. However, the dedication of the present facility was accomplished on Sunday, March 26, 1978.

In May of 1978, Pastor Philip Bongiorno, was elected Superindendent of our District Council. Following his resignation as pastor, a search was begun for his replacement. Pastor James Morris of the Lancaster Assembly, was asked to come as pastor of the church, and he moved to Harrisburg later that year. He continued to serve as our pastor until 2000.

Following the resignation of Pastor Morris, a search was begun for his replacement. Pastor Stephen Rhoades of Bethel Assembly of God, Rapid City, South Dakota was then voted in as Senior Pastor. He served until 2006 and then resigned. In December 2006, Pastor Terry Lamer from New Stanton Assembly of God, New Stanton, PA, was voted in as the Senior Pastor of First Assembly.

Since moving to the present facility in 1978, the church family had successfully paid off the initial building, built two additions to the facility in 1981 (consisting of 3 large rooms, plus storage area and 20 feet extension of the multipurpose room on the first level, and on the second level, 5 large rooms comprising the wing at the north and west ends of the building, including rest rooms.) Purchased an additional 10 acres of land for picnic and recreation area including the construction of a picnic pavilion (spring 1986). Did extensive renovation throughout the church. (Kitchen, handi-cap restrooms, office updates including electronic equipment, just to name a few. And up to January 2006, the church had no indebtedness.

Also of interest, in 1989, following the death of brother and sister Lyter, two dear saints of the church, the church was informed by the family that it was their parents wish to have their home sold and the money turned over to the church missionary fund. The house at 3217 Earle Street, Harrisburg, was negotiated with the real estate company whereby the church would purchase the home and the monies would be deposited in the mission account. This enabled the church to take possession of the house and make it into a church home for use of youth pastors, a mission home, and presently the home of Pastor and Sister Lamer.

In March of 2006, the church voted to undertake the renovation of the church sanctuary, foyer and balcony, including new sound and lighting.

This has been accomplished through the generosity of the people of God who call First Assembly their home. This has also been accomplished alongside a growing generosity toward both home missions and foreign missions giving. With God's help, our church has given multiplied thousands of dollars for the work of God in our country as well as in the far reaches of the world.

Significant home missions endeavors have been the financial support of Capitol City Church in the city of Harrisburg and the support of several major projects at Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, PA. Foreign missions projects of note have included the following: Starting a Bible College in Siberia; the purchase and renovation of a church in Shillong, India; purchasing church property in Columbia and the Virgin Islands; building an evangelistic center in Korat, Thailand; building a Latin American child care facility in David, Panama; renovation of a Christian School and training center, Prague, Czech Republic; youth mission trip for street ministry, Nicaragua; and installation of a water well and renovation work at the Arusha Bible School, Tanzania, Africa. Including special projects such as Convoy of Hope.

The list of missionaries adn support agencies supported by the church numbers approximately 60. This includes our own church missionaries Jim and Sherry Sabella, Central Europe.

Truly we can all say that the blessing of God has rested upon our church. Scores have been saved, healed and baptized in the Holy Spirit. The preaching of God's Word continues to effect great change in the lives of many. And should the Lord Jesus tarry His return for the church, we continue to pray for His faithfulness and blessing upon this congregation. Our prayer is that we may continue to do God's work as He calls us to, and in the words of the songwriter, "May those who come behind us find us faithful."