"Webster" says that a dream is "a fond hope or aspiration". He also defines prayer as the ability to perceive something not actually visible. Prayer is an earnest request entreaty or supplication. Faith is unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence. These four words describe the beginning of the New London Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

Mabel Ketchum had a burden for the area of New London and so the dream began. She was joined by family and other believers in prayer and on a spring morning in 1948, in an oat field, the dream and prayer became a vision. Soon after this she and her family began to attend the C&MA Church in Norwalk.

As a result of this, prayer meetings were held- the men meeting in the barn and ladies in the house.

After a year and a half of prayer God spoke, saying he wanted a C&MA Church in New London. This seemed an impossible task with only three C&MA families in New London, but the Lord impressed them saying 'many souls would be lost if a church was not established.' The Lord gave Mabel Jeremiah 33:3.

The vision started to become a reality. With the support of the District Superintendent, Rev. G.E. Davis and Norwalk pastor, Rev. Paul Connelly, Mabel spoke to the local families about establishing a church.

Mr. Dwight Paddock started looking and located an empty church on James Street. A small fire and explosion had completely blackened the interior, but like Nehemiah of old, they went to work.

Rev. John Connelly, brother of the Norwalk pastor, was called to first minister to the church. Prayer meetings were held in homes while the church was renovated.

On January 3, 1952, the first gathering, a prayer meeting was held in the church basement. Sunday, Feb. 24, 1952, the first morning worship service was held in the auditorium. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" was sung from the heart.

March 23, 1952, was the day of dedication. Friends and relatives helped fill the church as Rev. Davis brought a message based on Matthew 16:18b- "upon this Rock (Christ) I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" His words of encouragement sustained the church through some dark days ahead.

Many souls were saved through the three year ministry of the Connellys. They were followed by Rev. Lloyd Patterson and family. The church continued to grow and Sunday School attendance reached 100. The church and parsonage were purchased and the work incorporated (a list of charter members is included).

After the Pattersons ministry, the enemy brought a time of depression and decline. the image of the church before the public was negative. In Aug. 1964, Rev. William Gilliam came as pastor. He faithfully preached the word and prayed for renewed blessings. It was during these years that the faith and belief of the church was tested.

The church in New London had been started in the 1950's by a handful of faithful followers of Christ and had grown considerably during its early years. Then the church began to face serious difficulties. For the next twelve years the church continued to lose members and the work of the Lord seemed to come to all but a complete halt. Try as they might, nothing seemed to get them back into the effective work for which they had been called. The few who remained faithful became very discouraged and felt that there was little to do but wait for the end. The community had branded the church as a dying cause and was standing by waiting for the doors to close. But God had his faithful remnant within the walls of this broken body of believers, and He gave them a promise of victory if they would be patient and faithful. These few believers trusted God and believed Him more than they believed the circumstances and evidences around them. It was as though the glory of the Lord had departed from their midst and they had only the prophecy of a regathering, which the Lord had given them. There were five or six young children to keep the level of despair from reaching the bottom, but the discouragement was evident at every turn.

It seems that the grace of God was the only thing that could keep a church such as this going under such trying circumstances. The building was in need of much repair, the youth were non-existent, and the church had been without a pastor for three months. The people were existing on a promise God had given them from the past.

It was into this situation that Carl Sovine stepped on the third Sunday in October 1971. His honest reaction was one of rejection and dismay at the presenting situation. He had no experience in such small churches and in such troubled circumstances. It was difficult for him to preach that day. The feeling of frustration and disappointment came flooding over him following the service and he felt thankful that he was not a candidate for that church. The people were ever so friendly, but that seemed to be the only positive thing that could be realized.

The following Wednesday, Carl received another call from the church asking if he would be willing to fill in again the next Sunday since they had no one to preach for them. There was much hesitation and no promises were made. However, the next Sunday saw him in that little church again and within two additional weeks, Carl found himself involved in a desperate battle with the faithful few in the New London Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

Carl fell victim to the pressures and trials of the pastorate. the end of December found Carl and his wife wishing they had not gotten involved.

By the end of December the church had experienced a Sunday School attendance of 16 and a lack of any tangible evidence that the Lord was going to do anything in the church. The people, pastor and church were being strangled by discouragement, despair and indifference; there was no answer in sight.

Prayer became a constant thing. Crying before the Lord for help seemed like a continual process. And yet there seemed to be no real answer. The emptiness within continued to grow.

In March and April the church began to experience a few answers to prayer as there was some response to the call of the Lord to the unsaved. Along with those being saved, others indicated they wanted to make a commitment to the Lord. Carl still felt an emptiness of heart and there was not the joy, love or power of the Spirit of God within him.

It was about these time when one Sunday the church door opened and in walked six teenagers. Their parents did not come, but within a few weeks they began to attend.

There still seemed to be something missing. Carl was committed to God, desired to serve Him, and yet he knew that he did not have the fullness of the Christian Life within. Struggles seemed to abound.

On July 4, 1972 ten people were gathered in a tent. A list of prayer requests was made which included 23 names. The group claimed II Chronicles 7:14 and began to pray. After praying for the first three names on the list, the Spirit of God completely submerged them in His presence. A new dimension of yieldedness and submission to the Lord Jesus had taken place in their lives. The love, joy and power of the Holy Spirit was so very real that none could deny it. For the first time the real joy of the Christian life was a reality in Carl's heart and he was excited about what the Lord would do in the coming days.

The church was now averaging 70 or more each Sunday. The youth began an A.Y.F. People were being saved. Prayer cells were started twice a week and a home visitation program was started.

A vision of a new church had now taken the form of reality in the planning of the people of New London. The vision had been held in the mind of some even when there were only sixteen in attendance. The handful who remained faithful to the Lord down through the years were rejoicing and praising God for His faithfulness to them.

In 1973 it was obvious that the congregation was outgrowing the James Street Church. Mr. and Mrs. Doug Knudsen donated 5 acres of land west of New London and ground was broken on October 7, 1973, with the Rev. Neil E. Fye, District Superintendent officiating. God provided a Christian contractor, Mr. James Gahring.

On June 30, 1974, we walked from the James Street church to the new building where the first service was held. A glorious day indeed.

Dan Westbrook and his wife Jan served as associate pastor in 1974.

Carl and Tamara Sovine served for four and one-half years, during which time over one hundred people were saved and baptized. The membership grew to eighty-nine. On June 27, 1976 they resigned to pursue further education. A few months later, August 8, 1976, Rev. John Gorsuch and his wife Patsy began their ministry. Clyde May and his wife Barbara joined the staff in 1978 and served for a year. John and Pam Steiner were later added to the pastoral staff to assist with the youth and music. They served together until the spring of 1980.

The Rev. Don E. Anderson and his wife, Peggy, began their ministry in November 1980, and served the Lord here for two and one-half years. Ed Irwin and his wife Kathy served as assistant pastor from February 1981 until February 1982. Alan and Verna Lickfeldt became part of the pastoral staff in June 1982 and continued six months into the ministry of Rev. Keith McKenzie. Rev. Keith McKenzie and his wife Amelia were called to the New London Alliance Church in 1983. Alan continued to serve until June 1984.

The church indebtedness "Building of our Foundation" was paid off in 1985. Needing more Sunday School Space, a mobile office unit was rented in 1985.

Under Pastor McKenzie, Dan Muir served as Assistant pastor from September 1986 to June 1987.

By February 1987, it was evident that more space was needed. Ed Westbrook was the Campaign Director and "Together for Greater Growth" stewardship program was launched December 3, 1988. A new fellowship hall and classrooms on the east end and a new foyer and classrooms on the south end of the existing building were added. The final payment for this addition was made January 1991.

In January 1988, Pastor Doug Lang and his wife Stephanie took over the ministry of youth and music. In 1991 Doug accepted a position in Georgia as youth pastor at the Lilburn Alliance Church.

It was evident by 1989, 1990 and 1991 that we were in need of more space for Sunday school and Children and Youth Ministries.

Statistics for 1989-1991 average attendance
• Sunday School..............................190
• A.M. Worship................................275
• P.M. Worship................................102
• Mid-Week....................................124
• Learning Center (VBS)..................280 children
• ....................................................50-60 adults

In June 1991, Rev. Reuben Dunckel and his wife Mona joined the pastoral staff as associate pastor in charge of evangelism and discipleship.

In March 1994 Keith McKenzie resigned to become the pastor of an extension church in North Kingsville, Ohio. Pastor Dunckel accepted the position of Sr. Pastor in April 1994. On October 17, 1994 Pastor Stephen McKnight and his wife, Lauri, began their ministry with the youth of NLAC and on January 1, 1999, Rev. Howard Bowers and his wife Vonnie joined the staff as associate pastor on a part time basis.

The Governing Board of our Church began to the process of how to handle our church growth early in the 90's. After praying about various options the Governing Board appointed a Building Committee to search and to develop plans which would address our church growth and provide a vision for the future. To facilitate this assignment, a careful study was conducted outlining the following needs:

1. Youth Room
2. Nursery facilities
3. Office space
4. Christian education classrooms
5. Support services (kitchen, storage)

From the study the Building Committee recommended to the church Governing Board that we pursue the architectural services of Felty-Heinlen to design a plan of expansion which would provide for our growth.

In March of 2000 the stewardship campaign "Building for Kingdom Growth" was launched and in June 2002 it was completed under the able leadership of Gene Lamoreaux, Campaign Director and Ed Westbrook, Honorary Director.

The youth ministry blossomed under Doug Lang's ministry and continued to grow under the leadership and ministry of Steve Mcknight.

Groups of youth were taken to Life in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004.
Missions trips were taken in;

• 1997 to Mexico
• 1999 to Peru (17)
• 2000 to Mexico (7)
• 2000 to Peru (19)

Since the completion of the youth room facilities a new area of ministry has been added. The youth room is opened as a 'Coffee House' to the community youth, a place to hear music, play games, have snacks, etc, all under adult supervision.

In the summer of 2001 the youth group was separated into two groups- Sr. High and Jr. High. The Jr. High group, named the Sellouts' was led by Tim Meier, interim pastor and Josh McKee. the 'Sellouts' continue to grow and are involved in ministry locally and in other countries.

A group called KARP (Kids Actively Reaching Peers) is made up of students who have demonstrated a desire to learn how to impact others for Christ.

The Quiz Team is very active under the able leadership of Bob and Diane White. There are 20 youth involved in quizzing, some since the 4th grade. The NLAC has been represented at the Central District and International levels.

It would be impossible to have this many groups, and the success they are enjoying without the willing support of the Adult Leadership team and faithful sponsors. It's sometimes hard to tell who is enjoying the activities most, the kids or the sponsors.

In addition, the children's ministry continues to grow under the leadership of Don Snook. Don is the 'overseer' of several areas, Christian Education (Sunday School), Children's Church, held for both services, Wednesday's Outrageous Worship (WOW) and Learning Center. Again, without the help of numerous volunteers, this area of ministry would falter. We are thankful for ALL who help and serve in this area.

We now have two newly equipped nurseries, one for infants and another for toddlers. Diane Tkach and Donna Jolley took the reins of this ministry and are responsible in large part for its success.

Thanks to our Adult Council, quality classes for the adults has been provided. A Young Adult class has also been started. The Adult Council is a group of dedicated individuals that have committed themselves to help each of us move in the direction of the cross and develop a solid life of living for the Lord. This of course is helped by the able group of teachers from toddlers to adults.

New London's Women's Missionary Prayer Fellowship (WMPF) was organized in the early days of the church. The name was changed to Alliance Women in Missions and Prayer in 1992. Even though the group is small, much is accomplished in supporting our missionaries monetarily and prayerfully around the world.

The Alliance men meet for breakfast, prayer and a speaker on the 1st Saturday of each month. Various projects are undertaken to help meet the needs of individuals as well as Beulah Beach "fix ups". They also support "Missionary Wheels Project" which purchases and maintains vehicles for missionaries on furlough.

The "Young at Heart" group was started in 1984, as a special ministry to the seniors of the church. Under Pastor Bower's leadership the group meets monthly. In 2001 they had a "Christmas in November" for members of the local nursing home.

Our music ministry, presents weekly choir specials, plus the Christmas Cantata and other special events, looked forward to by the congregation. The music ministry is often complemented by the Drama Ministry started by Denise Smith in 1995.

The Elders, Deacons, Deaconesses, Trustees, Social Committee quietly carry on their individual important ministry, visiting, praying, assisting and serving.

God has certainly blessed this church with the many gifted people he has brought into our midst.

Excerpts taken from;
• Original History by Mabel Ketchum
• Times Refreshing by Carl Sovine
• Information from Together for Greater Growth
• Information from Building for Kingdom Growth
• Information from the yearly Annual Reports

Compiled by Joyce Huestis and Sandy Knudsen
June 2002