Our History
A Heritage of Faith: The History of Sparta Church of the Nazarene:
The Sparta Church of the Nazarene began its journey on February 16, 1946, when Rev. Denver Pease published a foundational notice in the Sparta Sentinel-Leader newspaper.
Providentially, this ambition coincided with a local need for fellowship. A small group of former Wesleyan Methodist church members had recently started weekly prayer meetings at the Sparta Library.
Sensing a divine direction, they responded to Rev. Pease’s call, leading to the church’s formation. Following this public statement, the Sparta Church of the Nazarene was officially established and organized on March 15, 1946.
The congregation’s first meeting was held just two days later, on March 17, in a local garage, where District Superintendent W.M. McGuire officially appointed Rev. Denver Pease as the inaugural pastor.
Early Growth and Establishing a Church Home:
The church quickly established its roots. On April 18, 1946, a building fund was launched with a donation for construction blocks.
By January 1947, the Nazarene Women’s Missionary Society (N.W.M.S.) and the Nazarene Young People (NYI or Nazarene Youth International) were organized.
The first dedicated church building, found at 179 Loomis Street, was completed and dedicated on June 12, 1947.
Rev. Pease concluded his leadership in 1949, and a new era of growth began that November with the arrival of Rev. William G. Richards and his wife, Edith.
The church bought an adjacent parsonage to house the new leaders.
In July 1954, Rev. Russell Spray and his family became the pastoral leadership.
As the congregation grew, a need for more space for Sunday School and youth activities led to the addition of a basement under the existing building.
Relocation and Expansion:
As the ministry prospered, the congregation eventually outgrew the Loomis Street location and began holding services at the Sparta Civic Center.
In March 1965, the original church was sold, and groundbreaking for a new building at the current location, 665 13 Mile Road, took place on August 1, 1965.
The first service in the new facility was held on January 2, 1966, and 62 members attended its dedication on May 15, 1966.
Substantial growth continued under Rev. Kenneth Anderson, who arrived with his family in July 1967. This growth necessitated the construction of a new fellowship hall.
The ground was broken on June 6, 1971, and the hall was dedicated on October 31, 1971, providing ample space for church dinners and community activities.
Sustained Evolution and Building Projects:
God continued to pour out blessings upon Sparta Church of the Nazarene and its many leaders throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
In 1984, Rev. Gaylord (Bud) and Mary Rich began their pastorate, a period marked by rich blessings and further building improvements.
The continued growth of the Sunday School and fellowship activities led to the construction of a significant addition — the Gaylord (Bud) Rich Fellowship Center, which began in 1989 with the help of hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
The Fellowship Center was dedicated on September 15, 1991.
Upon Pastor Bud Rich’s retirement in 1994, his son-in-law, Pastor Timothy R. Smith, and his wife, Nancy, began their quarter-century of faithful leadership.
The church celebrated its 50th Anniversary on March 17, 1996, recognizing many of the accomplishments God has faithfully achieved over the years.
Recognizing a need for a larger worship space, the church broke ground for a new sanctuary on March 16, 2003, and dedicated the completed space on November 22, 2003.
Pastor Tim Smith retired in December 2019, concluding 25 years of ministry at Sparta Church of the Nazarene.
The Ongoing Mission at Sparta Naz:
Despite the challenges of the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the church’s ministry persevered.
During this complex transitional period, Rev. Jerry Batterbee served as the interim Pastor at Sparta Naz, overseeing the necessary shift to limited, exclusively online services.
In June 2020, Rev. Tyler Hubbell became the current pastor, serving alongside his wife, Liz, and their four children: Phoebe, Phineas, Wesley, and Fletcher.
The Sparta Church of the Nazarene celebrated its 75th Anniversary on April 23, 2022, reflecting on decades of God’s work and the stories people shared about how their lives have transformed through their involvement in ministry at Sparta Naz.
Today, the Sparta Church of the Nazarene’s mission statement remains resolute: “To see God’s Kingdom come as it is in heaven, while we love God and others well.”
We invite you to become part of our ongoing story.