It was in the summer of 1921 that the Rev. Frank Lindquist and the Rev. James Menzie came to the area from McKeesport, Pa., to hold tent meetings in the city of Brainerd. Interest in the community was good, so it was decided to secure a building for worship purposes.
The old Swedish Methodist church, which had long been closed, was purchased and after some needed repairs and cleaning was opened for services. The local Assembly received its Certificate of Incorporation on May 17, 1922.
The church was incorporated under the name, "Full Gospel Assembly." There were 11 charter members and a Sunday School of 18 members. The former Swedish Methodist church then became the regular place of worship for the members of the Full Gospel Assembly.
The church occupied the site of the present Assemblies of God church on the corner of Washington and Gulls Avenue. The Brainerd Assembly was the first church of the Assemblies of God denomination to be established in the state of Minnesota.
About the year 1930, the congregation saw the need of constructing a larger building. The edifice occupied at that time had been outgrown, the age had taken its toll, so plans were made to build a better and larger church. The old church was torn down and the present edifice was built on its site.
The construction of the building began on June 17, 1932, and on Jan. 10-11, 1933, the present church building was dedicated.
The Rev. Ivan 0. Miller was the pastor at the time. Pastor Miller, with the help of the church board and others, designed the building.
With the completion of the building, the local church had only a debt of $4,400, this during the days of the depression.
During the ministry of the Rev. Stanley Clarke, an educational unit was added to the rear of the church in 1951. The present parsonage was also built during Rev. Clarke's ministry, and he and his family moved in in 1958.
The Brainerd Assemblies of God Tabernacle has had 16 pastors since its inception. The Rev. Frank Lindquist and the Rev. James Menzie (co-founders) left Brainerd in 1924, and the Rev. Roy Fyles served as pastor until 1925. At this time, the Rev. Henry H. Ness was called to pastor the church. He left in April 1926. The Rev. Herman Johnson served as pastor for about one year and after his departure, Miss Mary Chase was interim pastor until the Rev. Ivan 0. Miller arrived.
When Rev. Miller left, the Rev. Wallace G. Ross was called to serve as pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. Stanley Comstock. Next came the Rev. R. D. E. Smith, who pastored about seven years, and was succeeded by the Rev. David Hastie.
Rev. Hastie was succeeded by the Rev. R. S. Peterson. During his stay in Brainerd, an addition was made to the church building, but it was during the Rev. Stanley H. Clarke's ministry that the educational building was finished (1951). Rev. Clarke was succeeded by the Rev. Melford Olson and he, in turn, was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. R. W. Schaible.
The Assemblies of God Tabernacle has just recently voted to begin a building program.
Reproduced from the Centennial Edition of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch (1871-1971).
