WASHBURN, Maine — The Washburn Pentecostal Church this year is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and has several events planned to mark this historic year.
One of their own, who serves the Lord in full-time ministry, Rev. Gail Bellamy, pastor of Family Christian Center in Presque Isle, spoke during their initial celebration service on Sunday, April 24.
Later this summer during the week of Washburn’s August Festival, Aug. 19-21, the church will host a homecoming time with “singspirations,” services and testimony from many who come from far and wide. There will be an open house Sunday, Aug. 21, during the Sunday School hour in hopes that anyone who has ever attended Sunday School at the church will visit. There will be many displays of pictures of different classes throughout the years and historical documents to browse and enjoy.
The church is the first organized Pentecostal church in the state of Maine and mother church to several Pentecostal churches in Aroostook County. This year marks 100 years since the church was first organized in Washburn. Its official name is The Church of Pentecostal Power.
The church begins
It all began with prayer and a hunger for revival in Washburn. Ella Dimmock and Mary McLallan began prayer meetings in the little one-room schoolhouse in Washburn, praying earnestly for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit much like the book of Acts at Pentecost. Through a series of events, Rev. Nelson Magoon was invited to come to northern Maine to hold revival meetings.
Meetings were held in Mapleton at the farm of Lemuel Carter in the fall of 1915. By November the weather had turned cold and the Magoons planned to go back to Massachusetts, but their car would not start. After prayer the Magoons, led by the Holy Spirit, came to Washburn on a long sled drawn by horses. Meetings began in the old Mormon Church that had been closed for some months.
It wasn’t long before the little Mormon Church could not hold the crowds. People from all walks of life were being saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Washburn Methodist and Baptist churches opened their doors for overflow meetings that continued for weeks. Rev. Donald Bickford from Mars Hill and others came to help with the meetings.
In the spring of 1916 they rented the old town hall for meetings but before long they determined that they needed a building of their own. While holding a camp meeting at the Aroostook Valley Park, it was prophesied that they were “to search out the land and build,” and when they would arrive at the right spot the town clock would strike the hour. True to the prophetic word, as they arrived at the corner of Main Street and Canaan Avenue, the town clock struck the hour. Almost immediately materials and labor were donated and the building began, the original church being completed in the spring of 1917 and dedicated to the Lord on Easter Sunday. The church remains at this location today.
Throughout the church’s history they have always maintained a strong missions emphasis, sending and supporting missionaries in several countries around the world. The first missionary to go out from Washburn was Almeda Valley. In 1938, Almeda left Washburn for good. With wedding dress in hand, she sailed to India to meet her betrothed, Leon Elliott, where they would be married and serve the Lord together. Many more have gone from here to different parts of the United States and the world — missionaries, pastors, evangelist, authors, songwriters, teachers and more, all proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, all for the glory of God.
Continuing a legacy
The women of the church have also maintained a lasting work for the Lord. The first Woman’s Home Missions Council (WHMC) was formed in 1939 and has continued ever since. They do a lot of sewing, quilting and other craft items that are used to bless local shelters and other programs. Every graduating senior from the church also gets a quilt from the church that they can carry with them to college as a reminder of those who are praying for them.
Two major building programs have changed the look of the facilities over the years. In the early 1960s they enlarged the sanctuary and added much-needed classroom space. A new stairway was built so they no longer had to go outside to access the basement classrooms. Then in the late ’70s, a new youth complex was added, including a small gymnasium, along with office space and new larger bathrooms. This was some forward thinking for that generation and time.
The church continues to maintain a strong youth ministry and Sunday School program to meet the spiritual needs of the children and young people. They operate a church bus that helps bring them in so they can hear the Word of God. They continue to encourage many to follow the call of God into ministry.
Over the years they have been favored by many wonderful men and women of God who served as shepherds of this flock. They loved them and taught them the truths of God’s Word that they might live a victorious Christian life.
For the past 31 years they have been blessed by the ministry of Pastor Bruce and Sally Blakney.
“Over the years they have grown to be an intricate part of our lives, always there to comfort us in our bereavement, at our bedside in sickness and sharing in our celebrations. We have been blessed to share in their lives and watch their three girls, Crystal, Amber and Tabitha grow into a helpful, caring and extended family,” said one church member.
For the past 100 years the Washburn Pentecostal Church has proclaimed the Word of God to the people of Washburn and surrounding area. Their prayer is that many more will hear and respond to the faith, hope and love that comes through Jesus Christ.
For more information about upcoming events, call the church office at 455-8511 or visit the church’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WashburnPentecostal, or email at washburnchurch@myfairpoint.net.
Editor’s note: The early history of the Washburn Pentecostal Church was written by Gretchen Valley and published in Prevailing Westerlies by James E. Peters.
