Our Church History
The first service of the Assembly of God in Princeton, West Virginia was held on February 10, 1957 with an attendance of 25. The first pastor was Rev. Troy Cave, who served the church from 1957 until 1961. Rev. Cave was followed by Rev. Max Linkous, whose tenure took him through 1964, after which Rev. Cave returned to pastor the church for another two years. It was during this time that the church parsonage was built.
In 1966 Rev. Earl Sherrich came to pastor First Assembly. During his tenure, which lasted until 1968, a fellowship hall and several Sunday School rooms were added to the church plant. In 1968 the pastor with the longest tenure so far came to First Assemlby. This was Rev. Ronald Hager, who stayed from 1968 until 1976. During his pastorate an overflow and church offices were added to the existing plant and additional parking area was acquired behind the parsonage.
After Rev. Hager’s resignation, Rev. Billie Joe Cotton came to pastor the church in 1976. His tenure lasted until 1980 after which Rev. Glenn Strickland became the pastor. During Rev. Strickland’s pastorate the church mortgage was paid off and a building fund started.
Building on foundations laid by previous pastors, Rev. Charles
Allen, who came to the church in late 1987, led the church in
purchasing eleven and one half acres of land on New Hope Road in
Princeton on which a new church would be built. The new church with
11,200 square feet of space including a 300 seat sanctuary, was
completed in July, 1990. A mortgage burning service for this building and property was conducted just prior to Pastor Allen's retirement in March 2003. Under Rev. Allen’s caring leadership,
attendance at First Assembly grew to over 200.
In June, 2003 Rev. James Wiley was elected as Senior Pastor. During Rev. Wiley’s pastorate a new 34 passenger bus was purchased and 5 acres of adjoining property was also purchased. The church continued to grow during Rev. Wiley’s 3 year tenure.
Following Pastor Wiley's resignation in April 2006, Rev. Elwood Rakes was appointed to serve as Interim Pastor. Rev. Rakes served as senior pastor at Southside Assembly of God in Lakeland, Florida for 15 years before "coming home" to the Appalachian District in 2005. Pastor Rakes also serves as Vice President of Student Ministry for the Appalachian District School of Ministry. Pastor Rakes' ministry at First Assembly continued until February 2007.
Rev. Brad Puckett was elected Senior Pastor by a unanimous vote on Wednesday, January 17, 2007. Pastor Brad and his family came to Princeton from Augusta, Maine where he served as Senior Pastor at Kennebec Valley Assembly of God since 1996. Both Pastor Brad and his wife, Bethany, are graduates of Trinity Bible College of the Assemblies of God in Ellendale, ND.
