OUR HISTORY 

 

Assembly of God congregation

goes back to the early 1920s.

 

The Malakoff Fuel Company opened the Lignite Mines in 1926.  A group of folks from Lovelady, Texas, moved to Malakoff to work in the mines.  There were enough Christian people that immediately they started meeting in the homes for prayer meetings.  The home of Mrs. Vestal Cude was opened for Sunday school.  She and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Josie Cude, got together enough money for some Sunday school picture cards.  

    When summertime came, they had open-air brush arbor meetings.  Putting up outside lights and getting ready for services was exciting.  Mrs. Vestal Cude played an old pump organ for the song services.

  Early records indicate that a church was organized in 1927 and became chartered with the Assemblies of God in 1930.  Rev. Charles Hounsel was their first pastor.  The Tapley Tabernacle was built just north of Malakoff on the R.E. Tapley property with dirt floors and slatted benches for pews.  There were 22 charter members with Nig Tapley, Monie Thomas and Cornelius Brarecuns serviceing as trustees.

   In 1934, the church was moved to Mine Camp Property where a great revival continued the summer months.  The chruch reached people who later became members. Among these were Fred Weaks and members of the Allen family.  The winter month's services were held in the Melvin Dodd Theater.  Rev. J.C. Hibbard held a revival and many were saved, and believers received the Holy Spirit.  During this early period, the church moved from the Tapley place to Withrow Street and, subsequently, moved to the corner of Skiles and College Streets in the mid 1940s.  A home-coming and dedication of remodeled facilities at this location, which included Sunday school rooms, C.A. Hall, Kitchen, evangelist apartment, prayer room, nursery, restrroms, offices, and and auditorium seating 150, was held November 15, 1964.  A new parsonage was erected adjacent to the College Street property one year later.  The church dedicated its current facilities at 920 E. Royall in 1980.  A day care was established in the late 1970s and remained in operation until the fall of  1999.  The church enjoys 15 acres of prime property and has become known as " the church with the sign" because of the thought-provoking phrases which have been displayed on the frontage propert,.  

  Pastors of the assembly include Tom Vickers, CHarles Hounsel, Jim Lunsford, Sandlin, Curtis Brandon, T.J. Hennessee, R.L. Helm, Rev. Wolf , O.B. Cook, Samuel Calk, Ken Jones, Gaylore Brown, Kevin Price, Thomas Lester and currently Tommy Hayes.  We now have a contemporary style of prayise and worship.  The church name was changed in 2012 from First Assembly to Hilltop Worship Center.  Tn 2009 Added a 100x100 family life center building that house's our youth group ministries.