Pentecostal Assembly was incorporated on January 20, 1920 with Joseph P. Rulien, a Swedish immigrant who worked as a saw filer in Eau Claire, as pastor. A storefront property at 430 Water Street (now known as Avalon Floral) was purchased. The church, the inside of which was very humble, was known as "Jesus Saves Gospel Mission".
In the late 1930s Bro. Rulien told his congregation that God spoke to him and asked him to build a tabernacle large enough for 325 persons. On April 8, 1940, the congregation created a building fund. At the end of July, 1941, land where the present church stands as well as where the old parsonage was located was purchased.
With the outbreak of World War II, construction materials were very hard to obtain, delaying the construction of the tabernacle. The congregation dug deep into their pockets, volunteered labor, and enlisted the help of others. They would build their tabernacle on faith. Despite the lack of money and materials, on June 19, 1944, digging of the basement was started.
On June 11, 1945, work on the structure began. When things got tough, the congregation prayed. Their efforts and prayer paid off. God miraculously provided materials that were unattainable. The property at 430 Water Street was sold on November 29, 1946. The Eau Claire Pentecostal Assembly was dedicated on Sunday, July 3, 1949. Upon its completion it seated 350. The total cost of the building was $47,000, and the church was debt-free at the time of dedication.
Pastor Joseph P. Rulien died December 21, 1952 at the age of 89. In June of 1953 Richard S. Davis, from Portsmouth, Ohio, became pastor of Pentecostal Assembly. In 1954 a new parsonage was built and the old one was removed. During the 1960s, three properties on Menomonie Street were purchased. In 1969, a new front entrance was built onto the stone building. Bro. Davis was the pastor of the church through 1969, nearly seventeen years. He was followed by Bro. Kelsey Griffin who was pastor from 1969 until 1970.
On January 31, 1971, Bro. John Tandberg became the new pastor. He brought with him his wife, Anita, and daughters Jane and Julie. Both John and Anita had attended Pentecostal Assembly prior to their marriage while Bro. Rulien (who also married them) was pastor. The Tandbergs had also attended the church as a family when Bro. Davis was pastor.
In 1978 New Hope Christian School was established, with the Learning Centers being located in the basement of the church. In July of 1983 Pentecostal Assembly held a ground breaking service for the building of a fellowship hall. In 1988 that building became the church sanctuary.
In 1997 construction began again for Pentecostal Assembly. Despite many setbacks including a wall collapsing in June of 1997 and a devastating fire in June of 1998 the first service was held in the new sanctuary on May 30, 1999. On June 2–4, 2000, dedication and 80th anniversary services were held in the beautiful new sanctuary. The Tandbergs also celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.
In July of 2005, Paul Bennett, who at the time was pastoring at Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Wausau, WI, became the senior pastor of Pentecostal Assembly Church. The most recent construction project, the addition of an administrative wing, was completed in 2006. Pastor Bennett and his wife, Julie, continue to faithfully serve Pentecostal Assembly Church.
We are very thankful for and blessed by the rich history of faith and personal
sacrifice that is the legacy of Pentecostal Assembly Church. While we
celebrate our incredible heritage, we also look forward - with great
anticipation - to our future. PAC will persist in boldly proclaiming that Jesus is the Light of the World and in endeavoring to see lives changed with the
Unchanging Message, until that great and glorious day when we are caught
up to meet our Lord in the skies!
...upon this rock I will
build my church...
Matthew 16:18
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