WHO WE ARE
We are a group of Christians with no denominational ties who meet regularly to worship the Lord, preach the good news of salvation, pray, and study the Bible. We call our building the Gospel Hall as the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached from the Bible here every Sunday.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, inerrant, living and unchanging. It is completely inspired by God and its message is reliable to meet the spiritual needs of all persons in any circumstance. (2 Timothy 3:16)
We believe that God is the creator of the universe and as a result we are responsible to him. (Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-5)
We believe that Jesus Christ is God, who came to earth as a man, for the sole purpose of dying on the cross to be the sinner's substitute. (John 1:1,14,29)
We believe that Jesus died, was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. He now lives in heaven at the Father's right hand and will return to the air to rapture his own and later return to earth to set up His kingdom. (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4, Hebrews 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17, Zechariah 2:10,11)
We believe there are three persons in the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16,17, Matthew 28:19, 1 John 5:20)
We believe that we are all born with a sinful nature which separates us from a holy God. (Romans 3:23, Psalm 51:5)
We believe that no sin can enter heaven so as a result a sinner needs to be saved, having a moment of salvation, in order to go there. (John 3:3)
We believe that salvation is when a person recognizes he is a sinner, repents of his sin, and accepts through faith the atoning work of the cross for himself. This is a personal one time event, becoming a child of God at that moment. (John 3:16,36, Ephesians 2:8,9, Romans 10:9, Acts 16:30,31)
We believe that after a person trusts Christ as his savior he can never lose his salvation. (John 5:24, John 10:28-30, 1 John 5:11-13)
We believe that all Christian believers should be baptized by immersion, demonstrating what has already taken place in their life. This act is not part of their salvation but identifies them with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:4, Acts 2:41)
We believe that all believers who meet scriptural requirements should be received into assembly fellowship to enjoy the privileges and responsibilities of it. (Acts 2:42)
We believe that the observance of the Lord's supper should be carried out each Sunday morning as a remembrance of the Lord's death by partaking of the bread and wine. (Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe that the preaching of the gospel is very important and we do this on a weekly basis and through special efforts both in the Gospel Hall and other locations. We also have a weekly Sunday School to share the gospel with children and people of all ages. (Mark 16:15, Romans 1:16)
We believe that prayer and Bible study are important to the assembly and have weekly meetings that include these activities. (Acts 17:11, Acts 2:42)
We believe church leadership is entrusted to overseers or elders who are under the authority of the Lord Jesus and his word. (Acts 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4)
OUR HISTORY
In 1887, brethren Robert and Alexander McDonald sought to carry on a testimony for the Lord in Saginaw, Michigan. In June 1888, T. D. W. Muir of Detroit, Michigan came with a gospel tent. That fall, the assembly was formed.
The work in Saginaw went on steadily from that time and profited through visits and ministry from such servants of the Lord as James Kay, Sr., Robert Jamieson, John McFaden, Donald McGeachy, John Moneypenny, George and Robert Hicks and Alexander Matthews. In later years, brethren John Smith, Donald Munro, W. P. Douglas, W. B. Johnston, Thomas Dobbin, R. A. Barr, E. A. Martin, Robert McCrory, Thomas Touzeau, James Waugh and others visited, preaching the gospel and giving fresh, practical, and encouraging ministry. Thus they left a sweet savor of Christ and tokens of God's handiwork along the path of testimony.
In the fall of 1919, the Saginaw assembly commended brother John Govan to the work of the Lord.
Although meeting for years in various rented halls, the assembly had always met in the same general area on the west side of Saginaw. In 1944, the assembly purchased a lot on the corner of Madison and Porter Streets and pitched a tent there for the preaching of the gospel. As a result of the gospel faithfully preached by David Calderhead from Mansfield, Ohio, a few professed to be saved, were baptized, and were added to the assembly. In 1945, the Lord graciously made it possible to erect the present building on the lot.
After nearly sixty years of assembly testimony in Saginaw, the Christians gathered together for prayer and fellowship in their own hall on February 28, 1946. The following Sunday, March 3rd, was truly a day in the Lord's courts. The gospel was preached that evening by brother W. H. Ferguson, who had visited Saginaw for many years. The formal opening date was March 17, 1946, and neighboring assemblies were invited to join in a season of thanksgiving. The response was very encouraging. About 75 remembered the Lord in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening, more than 200 attendees filled the hall to capacity. Brethren Cyril Brooks from the Philippines and Peter J. Pell from Grand Rapids, Michigan gave ministry and gospel messages from God's word.
Assembly testimony continued throughout the years with many gospel series and profitable ministry from God's word. Some efforts stand out and the results remain to this day. The assembly had a gospel booth and trailer at the Saginaw Fair for many years, distributing thousands of Walter Kember's framed scripture texts. In 1974, there was a contact made from that effort and a six month gospel series began, starting in Chapin, then Marion Springs, and later moving to Fenmore, Michigan. The Lord blessed and souls were saved. As a result, some came into assembly fellowship in Saginaw.
Another notable gospel outreach was the Friday night children's meeting. Many children attended from the Bridgeport area being brought to the hall on a school bus the assembly owned. Later in the 1980's - 2000's, tent meetings were held in various locations, again with blessing in salvation. Thousands of John 3:16 seed sower texts were distributed in Saginaw and the surrounding communities with invitations to these meetings.
On October 1, 2007, the assembly celebrated 120 years with a special afternoon meeting and supper. Assembly history, memories and the gospel were presented by David Nicol, Donald LeCureux, and Dan Shutt. The hall was filled to capacity with some visiting who hadn't been there for many years.
For several years, from 2002 - 2011, the assembly had a booth at the Oakley Tractor Show. Hundreds of gospel magnets and calendars were given out and contacts made.
In July 2015, a university student from Nepal attended the Sunday night gospel meeting. As a result, in the weeks and months to follow about 38 students, all from Nepal, attended gospel meetings, some attending only once but others on several occasions. The seed of the Word of God continues to be sown and we leave the results with God.
