The First Church of God began as a Home Mission project with Rev. Blair M. Radaker carrying the initial burden. While still the pastor of the Church of God at Rimersburg, PA, Rev. Radaker approached the Church Extension Board at the annual camp meeting at Emlenton in the summer of 1952. He explined his vision to the board and asked for their cooperation. As an incentive, he offered to donate the lot he owned at the corner of Madison Avenue and Hammond Street for a building site. The board approved and appointed Rev. Radaker to go to Warren and begin construction of a church building.
Rev. Radaker took temporary residence in a small hunting camp he owned in Kinzua, PA, during the beginning phase of the construction work.
A ground breaking ceremony was held at the site in the fall of 1953. The foundation, basement, and sub-floor portions of the building were completed that fall and covered for the winter months. Construction of the concrete block building resumed in the spring of 1954.
A dedication service was held in the completed structure on November 14, 1954, with Rev. N.K. Powell as speaker. Offerings and pledges received that day reduced the total indebtedness from $17,601.59 to little more than $7,000.
The first regular Sunday service held on December 5, 1954, had 12 in attendance. With an average attendance of 21 during the first year, financial assistance was necessary for a period of time. This support came from the Church Extension Board and Home Missions of the Church of God, Anderson, IN. This mission outreach and church planting program became known as the "Kingdom Builders Association" in later years.
Paul Radaker, Rev. Radaker's youngest son, moved his family to Warren so he could work with his father in the construction of the church building and the construction of a home for Rev. and Mrs. Radaker. This home was built on Hammond Street. Paul and his wife Doreen were a definite asset in the music program of the church during the early years.
Bill Huber traveled to Warren on several occasions to donate his labor during the construction phase of the concrete block church building. In 1955, Bill moved his family to Warren and worked in the construction business for many years.
Rev. Charles E. Strater of Kittaning was called to hold the first revival meeting at the Warren Church of God.
Rev. Radaker served as pastor until 1960, when Rev. Harold Powell accepted the call to become the pastor at the Church of God in Warren.
Reverend Harold Powell was called to pastor the church in April 1960. Harold and his wife Joan purchased a home on the corner of Central and Madison Avenues where they lived for several years.
Under Pastor Powell's leadership the church progressed rapidly in all phases of the work. The growing congregation during 1964 became aware of the inadequacy of the original facility and launched a building fund campaign to proved the necessary funds for expansion.
William S. Huber was contracted by the church to direct and oversee the building project. He also coordinated the many hours of donated labor during the construction addition.
The newly constructed sanctuary and adjoining facilities were completed and dedicated in May 1965. Again, Reverend N.K. Powell was called to be the main speaker at the dedicatory service.
Reverend Powell was very influential in bringing many well-known singing groups to the church during the 1960s. Henry and Hazel Slaughter, Bill and Gloria Gaither, the Cathedral Quartet, and Doug Oldham to name only a few. These musical programs were a wonderful community outreach for the church.
The Radio Revival Hour program from Butler, PA, aired over the local radio station WNAE for many years and became a live broadcast from the WNAE studio. With this one-half hour daily broadcast, our pastor became well known in the area. This was a big influence in the Warren community as he was loved and respected by his many listeners.
Several of the church youth combined their love of music with their love of the Lord and formed the Christian band known as "Steps of Tradition". Their band performed in the church from time to time as well as throughout the Warren community, providing an outreach to the area youth.
With an eye to future expansion possibilities, several adjacent properties were purchased as they became available. In the early 1970s the first property north of the church on Hammond Street was also acquired and has served as the church parsonage since that time.
With the expanded facilities, the Church Court Day Care Center was opened under the direction of Joan Powell. This day care service was not only a community service but also proved to be a tremendous arm of community outreach. Several women of the congregation were employed at the center.
Reverend Powell resigned as Pastor in late 1972. The day care center continued to operate under the direction of Chelcie Huber. Frankly Hagberg, a local minister, served the congregation as interim pastor while the pulpit committee conducted a search to secure a new minister.
Reverend Alan Thomas and his wife Debbie accepted the call to become the third pastor of First Church of God in early 1973.
During the four years of the Thomas' ministry much emphasis was placed on doctrinal teaching and evangelistic preaching. The church saw many souls won to the Lord during Thomas' years of service.
Under Reverend Thomas' leadership the congregation enjoyed portraing a "Live Nativity" each year in the church court area during the Christmas season. This pageant was well received and enjoyed by the community.
In June 1975 the congregation celebrated a mortgage burning during a morning worship service just ten years after the expansion program was initiated.
Alan Thomas resigned in September 1977. Local minister Reverend Roy Humphries filled the pulpit during the search for a new pastor.
Reverend Kenneth Hall and his wife Joyce, both natives of the Jamestown, New York, area, accepted the call to serve as the fourth pastor in November 1977.
College student, Kerry Hird, came to Warren to serve as a summer youth pastor for an eight-week period in June and July of 1978. This was an exciting time for the youth of the church.
In March 1979, Pastor Hall along with five members of the congregation embarked on a mission trip to Guatemala. During this work camp a concrete block church building was constructed by the group. The project was completed under the direction and expertise of Bill Huber with the assistance of Kenneth Hall, Arlene Hines, Levi Huckabone, Ray Taylor, and Marge Wilson.
In late 1979 the church launched another building fund drive to enlarge the facilities and expand Sunday School possibilities. A contractor constructed the foundation and outside portion of the new addition. William Huber again assumed the responsibility for coordinating the hundreds of hours of donated labor to complete the inside construction and finish work. Most of these hours came from Bill and men in the congregation. A large fellowship hall on the lower level and additional restroom facilities were added. the street level portion provided additional sanctuary seating and a change in seating direction. The expansion construction was completed by mid-1980.
The congregation enjoyed an exciting time of celebrating the Church of God's background marked by a special "Heritage Sunday" in July 1980.
Ron Putnam and his wife Jane joined the Warren congregation to serve as assistant pastor and youth director in October 1979. Ron served in this position for a period of three years.
A bus ministry was initiated in the early 1980s. Several men shared the driving and disciplinary duties.
In the early 1980s, Reverend Eddy Viray and his wife Fely were invited to visit and share about their Church of God congregation in the Philippines. The church, with the help of the Women's Missionary Society, accepted the challenge to provide monthly financial assistance thereby adopting the Virays as our "Living Link" missionaries.
With the large indebtedness incurred in the building expansion program, financially it was not possible to continue with two full time pastors, therefore, the Putnams left in June 1982.
Pastor Hall continued leading the congregation until late 1987. The responsibility for the local broadcast of the radio revival hour was turned back to the Butler church at this time.
Reverend Donald Romer, retired Church of God minister, assisted in filling the pulpit during this transition period.
Reverend John Stahl and his wife Tammy came to pastor in late 1987.
Pastor Stahl had a unique knowledge of biblical history and backaground and was a good teacher and preacher.
The Stahls were both involved in the day care center during the eighteen months they served the Warren church. The day care center was discontinued in 1988.
Following Pastor Stahl's resignation in early 1989, retired minister Reverend Bruce Radaker, son of Reverend Blair Radaker (founder of the Warren Church), assisted with the pastoral duties during the search for the next pastor.
Reverend David Hart and his wife Judy came to serve as the sixth pastor in October 1989. Reverend Hart had a tremendous knowledge of the Bible and much emphasis was placed on Bible study and reading the Word. The congregation grew in knowledge and understanding of God's Word under Reverend Hart's teaching and leadership.
Reverend Hart was extremely community minded and worked hard promoting inter-church involvement. He was very active in the Warren Ministerial Association and started a monthly inter-church hymn sing hosted by various congregations.
In 1991 and 1992 the men of the church portrayed The Last Supper. This was a very moving service and meaningful for the cast as well as the audience.
The church was struggling financially when Reverend Hart arrived. Under his guidance and direction, the large indebtedness was partially erased through the sale of the adjacent properties that had been acquired in the late 1960s. In 1994 the congregation celebrated the second mortgage burning ceremony and again realized a completely debt-free facility.
Jennifer Perrotti was asked to work with the youth in 1995. Also in 1995 the congregation participated in a Live Weekend event. This was a wonderful experience for all who were involved. This same year a remodeling of the Madison Avenue entrances and removal of the concrete courtyard took place.
During the late 1990s the church was giving 36% of its income to other minsitries and organizations in mission outreach.
The Sunday evening worship service was discontinued at this time and a new program of small growth groups was initiated in the fall of 1996.
In the early months of 1997 Reverend Hart and his wife Judy enjoyed a trip to the Philippines to visit and share with our Living Link missionaries, Edy and Fely Viray.
Reverend Hart resigned in July 1998 after nine years of service. The pulpit was filled by a variety of capable ministers and lay people during the fall of 1998.
Reverend Nelson Confer and his wife Bonnie accepted the call to be the church's seventh pastor, beginning their ministry in January 1999.
The Confers experienced extreme physical difficulties during their early years in Warren.
Reverend Nelson and Bonnie celebrated 25 years of marriage during their second year in Warren. A Silver Anniversary celebration was held in May 2000 with many family members and friends witnessing the renewal of their wedding vows.
Twenty-three members of the congregation joined Reverend Confer in a mission trip to the Hope Hill Children's Home in Kentucky in the summer of 2000. This proved to be a big blessing and exciting time for all who experienced the trip.
Joshua Kelley was hired as part-time youth pastor in June 2001. He became full-time in February 2002. Josh served in this position until August of that year when he resigned.