Wilmington First Assembly is a church with a long history.  The Church has always been dedicated to a strong emphasis on worship, missionary outreach and support of the family unit.  An interesting fact about WFA is: the boys wear #1 on their Royal Rangers uniform holding the distinct honor of being the first Royal Rangers Outpost in the nation, established in 1958.  WFA has always been a “come ye, come all” church regardless of nationality or race.

 

1924 - Evangelists Loper and Williams held the first tent crusade. The S.J. Fullers conducted a second tent crusade and came to lead the group in 1926.

 

1927 – Rev. E.E. Fullerton launched WFA’s first radio ministry and led the congregation in the Fries Ave. building.

 

1938 – A young evangelist, Gladys Pearson came for a nine week crusade.

 

1939 – Grady Fannin came and led the church in much construction.

 

1942 – Paul S. Boyer dreamed of a Christian School for Wilmington and labored to lay the groundwork.

 

1946 – Under T.T. Ward, Wilmington Christian School was begun in the church annex and soon, property was purchased for WCS on Frigate Avenue.

 

1949 – F.D. Davis saw families added during his term of service.  A young woman, Minnie Ecklund, was called to missionary work in Africa. To that work she dedicated 38 years.

 

1951 – James Pearson held a Sunday School average attendance of 379. He also conducted the first missions convention.  They were able to expand the facilities, and buy the property where the church now stands.

 

1957 – Thomas M. Ming, Sr. was known for a loving spirit and many hours of work on the buildings.  Lloyd Waterfield was the superintendent of the construction of the new building we occupy today.  Ray Neill was the first director of Men’s Ministry and a co-founder of Light for the Lost.

 

1965 – Roy G. Sapp led WFA to an attendance of 800.  They remodeled the church, established a telecast and built a parsonage. 

 

1976 – Ben H. Sapp led the church in the construction of a new 22,000 sq. ft. Family Life Center. 

 

1988 – David Godwin came to Wilmington to build on the strength of past blessings and press toward a future of great harvest. 

 

1991 – Daniel Stoffel – With a knack as a “handyman” he played a large role in remodeling the church sanctuary and lobby.

 

1992 – Terry Murtagh – Led the church with a desire to move from “one minister” to “all minister”.

 

1993 – John Arnold – Brought a sense of “grounding” and stability.  Used his teaching gifts to focus on Christ and led with a shepherd’s heart.

 

2009 – Adam De La Vega – The story unfolds.