This Week's Centennial Fact:

In her history, First Church has had one pipe organ which was utilized for 41 years. It was in the 41st and Harrison location, and then was moved to the Rockhill and Meyer location when the sanctuary was constructed.

Previous Facts

KCFC has been served by wonderful pastors over the years and has helped to provide a pension to them and to other Nazarene pastors by giving more than $1.5 million [2009 dollars] to the Church of the Nazarene's "pensions and benefits" program.

---

When the original 12 acres of the current site were purchased, State Line Road was a two-lane asphalt country road with no curbs or street lights. The housing development across the street (Hallmark) was a 700-acre farm owned by J.C. Hall, the founder of Hallmark.

---

All sound, lighting, recording, and projection for corporate worship is controlled from the technology area at the back of the sanctuary. This includes the 25 individual theater lights in the catwalk hidden in the ceiling.

---

From its inception, KCFC has been actively involved in helping to minister to the hurting and socially ostracized. One expression of this was KCFC's support of the Kansas City Rest Cottage [1904-1941], a ministry devoted to marginalized women and unwed mothers.

---

KCFC has been vitally connected, over the years, to Nazarene Theological Seminary with presidents, deans, professors, support staff and students attending and serving in a variety of ways. In fact, two of the church's senior pastors have served as president of NTS: Hugh C. Benner and Gordon Wetmore.

---

Three of KCFC's senior pastors have served as District Superintendent of the Kansas City District Churches of the Nazarene: E.E. Hale, Orville W. Jenkins, and Keith Wright. Ironically, E.E. Hale served as superintendent before serving as KCFC's pastor.

---

The worship banners that enhance the worship of First Church on a weekly basis have been made by members and former members of the congregation over the years.

---

The historic pulpit currently in our prayer chapel is believed to have been used at the 1915, 1919 and 1923 General Assemblies. If that is so, Dr. Phineas F. Bresee, Dr. H. F. Reynolds, Dr. John Goodwin, Dr. R. T. Williams and other historic leaders in the Church of the Nazarene preached from this pulpit.

---

There are currently members of KCFC who attended the church while the congregation was worshipping in the 41st and Harrison location between 1936 and 1956.

---

First Church has given, during its history, $3 million [2009] dollars to assist its regional Nazarene college/university [Bethany-Penial; Bethany Nazarene, and MidAmerica Nazarene] to educate young people for missional impact in the world.

---

The first time that the KCFC congregation built its own building, rather than purchasing an existing building from another congregation, was at the Rockhill and Meyer location (1956-1977). The building was later sold to Cleveland Chiropractic College.

---

The current pulpit, communion table, donor "tree" at the front entrance, reception desks, and many other items have been hand-made by a craftsman within the congregation.

---

In September of 1925, the first assembly of the Kansas City District of the Church of the Nazarene took place at Kansas City First Church. It was held when KCFC was located at 24th and Troost.

---

Rev. Gordon Wetmore led the congregation in its relocation from Rockhill and Meyer to the present site. He was later elected to serve as president of Northwest Nazarene College (now Northwest Nazaren University) in Nampa, Idaho, and as president of Nazarene Theological Seminary here in Kansas City.

---

In 1945, after having served as senior pastor of KCFC since 1941, Rev. Hugh C. Benner became the founding president of Nazarene Theological Seminary. He was elected in 1952 to serve as General Superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene.

---

Of the 20 senior pastors who have served First Church over its history, four have gone on to be elected as General Superintendents for the Church of the Nazarene: H.C. Benner, G.B. Williamson, Orville Jenkins, and Jesse Middendorf.

---

Over the almost 100 years of First Church's history, the congregation has gathered for corporate worship in eight different locations: 19th & Walrond; 2109 Troost; 2115 Troost; 24th & Troost; 41st & Harrison; Rockhill & Meyer; NTS Chapel; Minor Drive & State Line. Of all the locations, KCFC has been at its current site longer than any other (since 1980).

---

KCFC is the only local church in the history of the Church of the Nazarene to host more than one of the denomination's General Assemblies. At its 24th & Troost location, KCFC hosted the assemblies of 1915, 1919 and 1923.

---

The founding pastor of KCFC was Rev. A.S. Cochran, who actually served the church on two separate occasions (1911-1912 and 1913-1914). We recently uncovered a 1911 Manual of the Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Cochran's name embossed on it.

---

When translated into 2009 dollars, First Church, over its history, has given more than $12 million to support missionaries, build churches, clinics and parsonages on the mission field, and help to "make Christlike disciples in the nations!"