
Branches:	ACCA
Date Founded:	1939
Date Closed:	1974
Address:	4900 Maysville Rd.

History

For several years prior to 1939, there were people associated with the church living in the Fort Wayne area. They desired to begin holding local worship services. After receiving permission from church Elders, plans were made to hold mid-week worship services.

On July 19, 1939, the first regular mid-week services were held (in those pre-airconditioning days) in a basement room of Philip and Lydia Schott's home on Spring Street. Later, in the fall and winter of 1939- 1940 with cooler weather, services were held on the first floor of their home until May, 1940. At this time, a store building was rented on the corner of Tecumseh and Tennessee Avenue. Services were held there until October, 1942. The congregation rented a large room at the Wayne Hotel on Columbia Street until 1955 when services were moved to the home of Bertha Blough on Lawton Place.

In August, 1957, a group of brethren from the Fort Wayne area met with ministers and Elders of Bluffton and Leo, Indiana, and Latty, Ohio, to explore and discuss the possibilities associated with establishing a permanent church in Fort Wayne. They drafted a letter which was sent to all the members on December 4, 1957, asking if they would be in favor of founding a permanent congregation. The majority favored such a move. At a meeting on January 24, 1958, a building committee was organized. Later a finance committee was established. Apostolic Christian Churches throughout the nation gave financial support to the new church.

On March 30, 1959, ground-breaking services were held at 4920 Old Maysville Road, the site of the new church. On August 16, 1959, cornerstone-laying services were held with brethren from Leo, Bluffton, and Milford, Indiana, and Junction and Latty, Ohio. Elders Sam Aeschliman, Bluffton, Indiana; Theo Beer, Milford, Indiana; and George Sinn, Latty, Ohio, conducted the services. Although the new building was not totally completed, the first worship service was held January 1, 1960. Regular Sunday services began February 14, 1960.

Until Norman Stoller was chosen as the church's first minister in October, 1961, the congregation was served by ministers from Bluffton, Milford, La Crosse, Leo, Francesville, Bremen, and Wolcott, Indiana; Junction and Latty, Ohio; and Cissna Park, Illinois. The church was located on the northeast outskirts of Fort Wayne. Since many church people lived in the small town of New Haven east of Fort Wayne, the new church was situated in this central location.

For several years, differences in doctrine upheld by the Elders of the Apostolic Christian Church and that held by ministers serving the Fort Wayne church arose causing much concern and heartache. Many meetings were held with the ministers and finally with the entire membership. Elders visited with each family of the Fort Wayne church in an effort to effect a reconciliation.

Finally in 1974, a majority of the congregation departed from the brotherhood to form their own congregation. Since this group retained the building facilities, the remaining members (who remained in the Apostolic Christian Church) began attending worship services in neighboring Apostolic Christian Churches.

January 31, 1974, was the last date in which members continuing to attend services here were considered as part of the Apostolic Christian Church.

Ministers

Ministers
Name	Born	Baptized	Minister	Retired	Wife
Norman Stoller	9/2/1920	2/1/1943	10/1/1961	1/1/1974	Joan Gudeman
Verlin Stoller	9/22/1925	2/1/1946	2/28/1965	1/1/1974	Marjorie Frey
Kenneth Honegger	7/11/1944	11/3/1963	5/2/1971	1/1/1974	Linda Stoller

Attendance

Attendance
Year	Total	Members	Sunday School
1962	-	86	63
1965	-	65	49
1968	-	87	51
1971	-	96	59

History

Ministers

Attendance

Cemetery