Feb. 1988
Quakertown Evangelical Church History
OUR HISTORY
In 1966, we came to a crossroads; to choose between becoming a part of a large liberal church or
to remain true to what we believed to be historical, evangelical Christianity. After much prayer
we chose the later course, thus in 1968 the Evangelical Church was born. The Evangelical
Church in Quakertown traces its roots back to the St. Paul Evangelical Church founded in 1880
at this present location. The original part of the building was occupied by this group from 1880
until 1899.In 1899 the building was sold for $900.00 to the Bethany Mennonite Church who later
became the United Mennonite Church after a merger with the Flatland Mennonite Church.
Additions and improvements were made at times through the years. In 1964, a modern Christian
Education addition with a fellowship area plus other renovations was completed.
After much prayer by the Eastern Conference of the Evangelical Church of North America,
the Sunshine Evangelical Church began its witness in the heart of the Quakertown Community
and area on August 15, 1984. The congregation originally met in a home in the Richland Mead
Development, although it was not officially incorporated until October of 1985. The Church took
solid roots after meeting in the basement of the Quakertown Historical Society at 26 N. main
Street in October of 1984. In mid-1985 negotiations began with the United Mennonite Church for
the purchase of the building at 317 Juniper Street. On December 15, 1985 an agreement was
signed by both parties as Sunshine would purchase the building for $120,000.
On December 28, 1986 we held our first service in the Juniper Street Building and in the
Summer of 1987, we were permanently moved into our church home. In July, 1994 the name of
the ministry was changed to Carpenter's House Evangelical Fellowship reflecting new
administration, renewed commitment and a return to a style of fellowship ministry modeled by
our Lord. 1999: Quakertown Evangelical Church went online. Is currently working to restore the
Church to it's original condition by Pastor Jim, his family and church
members.
WHAT ABOUT ITS HISTORY?
The Evangelical Church was born June 4, 1968, in Portland, Oregon, when forty-six
congregations and about eighty ministers met in an organizing session. Within two weeks a
group of about twenty churches and thirty ministers from Montana and North Dakota became a
part of the new church. These congregations and ministers had been a part of the Evangelical
United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church. The Evangelical Church in Canada
became an autonomous organization on June 5, 1970 as a result of the culmination of
negotiations with the United Methodist Church through its Commission on Structure of
Methodism overseas. The Canadian Church operated as an autonomous body until 1982 when,
after a number of years of church union discussions with the Evangelical Church of North
America, a founding General Convention was held at Billings, Montana, where the two churches
were united. While of very recent origin, the spiritual roots of The Evangelical Church go back to
the ministry of Arminius, the 17th century theologian, and to the Wesleyan revival. Certain
distinctives were promi- nent in motivating those who formed the new denomination, and those
distinctives continue to guide her life, program and devotion: Interchurch relationship limited to
Biblically sound spiritual fellowship.
- An itinerant system which reckons with the rights of individuals and the desires of the
congregations.
- Local ownership of all local church properties and assets.
The former Holiness Methodist Church became a part of The Evangelical Church in 1969,
bringing its local churches, ministry and membership, along with a flourishing mission field in
Bolivia. The Wesleyan Covenant Church joined in 1977, along with its missionary work in
Mexico and Brownsville, Texas, and its work among the Navajo Indians in New Mexico.
From the beginning the church has affiliated with the Christian Holiness Association and the
National Association of Evangelicals and has representation on the boards of these agencies. It
has official relationship, through board representation, with World Gospel Mission and the OMS
International. Through these two agencies and the mission in Bolivia, over 55 of the over 115
missionaries of the denomination have been appointed. In the field of literature, the church has
official relationship with the Aldersgate Publications Association.
The Evangelical Church continues to grow as congregations join, and as new church extension
projects are activated and new churches planted.
Pastor Jim
Mc Carty
About Pastor Jim Mc Carty
Dr. Jim McCarty
Educational Background
Capella University 2005 Ph.D Human Services
M.S. Special Education 2000 Penn State University,
Great Valley, PA
Master In Business Administration 1998 Eastern College,
St. Davids, PA
BS Education Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
Master of Divinity Asbury Theological Seminary
Wilmore, Ky
I was the oldest of five children born in the state of Indiana. I have been married for 35 years to Mary and have 4 adult children and 9 grandchildren
I received Jesus’ forgiveness at the age of 18 years when I realized that I needed forgiveness for my sins. I ask Jesus to forgive me and come into my life. Since that time his Holy Spirit has taught me many things. One of those things is the assurance that I have been saved.
You can email
Pastor: Dr. Jimmy McCarty