North Palm Ministry Center began in 1940 as a result of cell meetings held in
the home of Mrs. Francis Ackerman. Home cell meetings at that time were known as
"cottage prayer meetings." Never-the-less our heritage has its roots in the
earliest form of a "cell church." Not long after the home cell began, evangelist
Carl Cox held tent services and the church was officially organized. The Sunday
services were moved to a store front on Main Street while the home prayer
meetings continued. Reverend Marvin Craven was assigned as the first pastor of
the new church. Soon afterward Dr. W. W. Wilds donated a lot on Rugheimer Avenue
and construction began on a church facility. In September, 1940 Reverend H. F.
Douglas was assigned as the pastor and worked tirelessly to see the church
building completed. The church had grown to an attendance of 140.
For many years the church stayed at or below that number. There were many
pastors of the next 50 years each working and contributing to the stability of
the congregation. In April of 1990 Mark and Patricia Estes were selected by the
congregation to come as pastors. The church grew from 100 to 200 in the next two
years. In 1992 a Spanish outreach was started by Osvaldo and Linda Placeres.
Linda and their 8 months old daughter Liz were killed in an automobile accident
on August 26, 1992. The Lord anointed Op and Linda to plant within our hearts a
deep love and appreciation for the Hispanic people and their culture. An
extensive missions endeavor was undertaken in 1995. Dozens of short term
missions trips were taken to assist in the work of the Lord in Venezuela and
other parts of Central and South America. In 2000 a service was established in
Spanish on Sunday afternoons. The church existed as two congregations – one
English speaking and one Spanish speaking. Unity has always been the goal.
December 24, 2003 tragedy struck the Estes family and the entire church.
Stephen, Mark and Patricia’s son, and Osvaldo Placeres were killed in an
automobile accident while traveling to the family’s Christmas celebration.
Osvaldo, Op, had been the main interpreter for the bi-lingual vision. But this
was the vision the Lord had planted deep within the hearts of the pastoral team
so the work must proceed. On February 1st the English and Spanish services were
combined into one bi-lingual celebration service. The seating capacity at the
existing facility was filled within two weeks. On March 21st the bi-lingual
Sunday services were moved to the Hanahan High School Auditorium where we are at
the present time. The existing church facilities are still being used for group
meetings. We are currently praying and seeking yet a larger facility because the
School auditorium is quickly reaching it’s capacity.
