How it all started...
This church began in 1930 when the Lord laid it on the heart of sister Davis, of Solomonville, Arizona, to start a prayer meeting in her home. This was held for a short while before Boyd Hart became the leader of the group and started having regular services in a Commercial Building in Solomonville. This building had the Valley National Bank on the first floor, and this church on the second floor. The Valley National Bank has become the largest bank in Arizona since the opening of the first one in Solomonville in about 1930. Because of that, this Commercial Building has recently been restored to look as much like it was at that time as possible.
Boyd Hart continued as pastor of this church for fifteen to eighteen years. During that time the place for the church was moved to two other small buildings in Solomon (the name of the town being shortened). It is not known (Ray might know?) how Boyd's son, Vernon, heard of the Grace and Glory Bible School in Kansas City, MC. But he attended there shortly after the Bible School began. When he came home for a visit, Boyd asked him to preach. His text was Rcm. 5--the five "much-mores". Vernon and Stella Clonts are the only members of this church today who were with it from the beginning, and they both still remember that sermon and the message of Eternal Life that came from it. (However, Stella had never believed you could lose your salvation, and had tried to tell Boyd Hartthat, but to no avail until the sermon from his son!)As time went on, Boyd gradually began preaching about ranks.
Boyd Hart resigned from pastoring this church in about 1945. He asked Fred Demmeret, from Hemet, California to take his place. Fred pastored about a year. Next, Sister Moyer pastored for about a year. She was living here in the valley and took the leadership to just fill in until someone else would come. Then Sister Heffelfinger pastored a very short while the church continued teaching the "grace" gospel, and remained non-denominational.
Brother Raymond Carter was the next pastor. He stayed3 or 4 years, during which time the church purchased a lot in Safford (a town five miles from Solomon) to build their own church building. Brother Carter felt the Lord wanted him to go out as an evangelist, so turned the church over to Brother Harve Hardy. Before Brother Hardy came, however, Brother Clem Foster and Brother Homer Gaines came and held a revival meeting. They suggested the church ask Brother Charles Webb to come be their pastor. All but three of the members wanted to have Brother Webb come, but through much prayer, he did not come.
Brother Have Hardy was pastor when the building at 221 E. Main was built in Safford. This was dedicated in November, 1952.
Brother Hardy did not stay too long. Then Ernest Hart pastored a short while--next Raymond Hart, for one or two years--then Ralph Hawk pastored a short while. Sister Bodie asked Ralph to come to Kansas City and each in the Bible School around 1956, so he left the church in charge of Dale Clonts. dale pastored 13 years, then resigned, and Alfred Clonts began pastoring about 1969. Moved to new and larger building around 1982, at 401 W. Relation Street.
Boyd Hart continued as pastor of this church for fifteen to eighteen years. During that time the place for the church was moved to two other small buildings in Solomon (the name of the town being shortened). It is not known (Ray might know?) how Boyd's son, Vernon, heard of the Grace and Glory Bible School in Kansas City, MC. But he attended there shortly after the Bible School began. When he came home for a visit, Boyd asked him to preach. His text was Rcm. 5--the five "much-mores". Vernon and Stella Clonts are the only members of this church today who were with it from the beginning, and they both still remember that sermon and the message of Eternal Life that came from it. (However, Stella had never believed you could lose your salvation, and had tried to tell Boyd Hartthat, but to no avail until the sermon from his son!)As time went on, Boyd gradually began preaching about ranks.
Boyd Hart resigned from pastoring this church in about 1945. He asked Fred Demmeret, from Hemet, California to take his place. Fred pastored about a year. Next, Sister Moyer pastored for about a year. She was living here in the valley and took the leadership to just fill in until someone else would come. Then Sister Heffelfinger pastored a very short while the church continued teaching the "grace" gospel, and remained non-denominational.
Brother Raymond Carter was the next pastor. He stayed3 or 4 years, during which time the church purchased a lot in Safford (a town five miles from Solomon) to build their own church building. Brother Carter felt the Lord wanted him to go out as an evangelist, so turned the church over to Brother Harve Hardy. Before Brother Hardy came, however, Brother Clem Foster and Brother Homer Gaines came and held a revival meeting. They suggested the church ask Brother Charles Webb to come be their pastor. All but three of the members wanted to have Brother Webb come, but through much prayer, he did not come.
Brother Have Hardy was pastor when the building at 221 E. Main was built in Safford. This was dedicated in November, 1952.
Brother Hardy did not stay too long. Then Ernest Hart pastored a short while--next Raymond Hart, for one or two years--then Ralph Hawk pastored a short while. Sister Bodie asked Ralph to come to Kansas City and each in the Bible School around 1956, so he left the church in charge of Dale Clonts. dale pastored 13 years, then resigned, and Alfred Clonts began pastoring about 1969. Moved to new and larger building around 1982, at 401 W. Relation Street.
