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[[Image:garywooddusk.jpg|right|thumb|204px|Garywood Assembly of God]]
'''Garywood Assembly of God''' is a large church in the western Jefferson County suburb of [[Hueytown]].
'''Garywood Assembly of God''' is a large Pentecostal church at 2730 [[Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive]] in [[Hueytown]]. It was founded as '''El Bethel Assembly of God''' in [[1947]] during a tent crusade by evangelist [[Dorine Justice]], who stayed on as pastor for the first year. The current pastor is [[Jeff Leatherman]], who has led the church since [[2013]].


== Founding ==
Between [[1950]] and [[1979]] there were eleven different pastors, during which time church growth was slow. Attendance increased from around 250 to nearly 1,500 during the 1970s and 80s, with numerous outreach efforts. The church's annual Easter Drama debuted in [[1977]] and has remained an annual tradition. The [[Garywood Camp Meeting]] has brought well-known spiritual leaders to the area. And the radio outreach program "[[Garywood Alive]]" has since grown into a weekly television program.
Garywood Assembly was founded in [[1947]] during a tent crusade by evangelist [[Dorine Justice]]. The church began with just 14 members. Justice served as pastor for the first year. Between [[1950]] and [[1979]] there were eleven different pastors, during which time church growth was slow. In [[1979]], Pastor [[John A. Loper]], then an official with the Alabama District of the Assemblies of God, accepted the pastorate. During this time the church's radio outreach, ''Garywood Alive,'' was aired. This soon evolved into a television outreach as well.


== Annual events ==
The church constructed a new 450-seat sanctuary in [[1972]]. In [[1981]], construction began on a new 1,600 seat sanctuary which opened on Easter Sunday [[1982]].
The church is known throughout metro [[Birmingham]] for its annual Easter Drama, which began in [[1977]] and produced each year since, except for 2005. The church also hosted an annual Garywood Camp meeting, which for many years was billed as the largest "spiritual gathering" in Alabama, featuring well-known figures Vestal Goodman, Marvin Gorman, Jesse Duplantis and John Kilpatrick (of Brownsville Revival fame).


== Attendance ==
In [[2003]] Garywood's congregation overwhelmingly voted to buy property on [[I-459]] near [[McCalla]] for relocation. Original plans for the site included a 2,500-seat state-of-the-art auditorium, large facilities for youth, children's ministry and greatly expanded capacity for [[Garywood Christian School]]. However, the church sold the property to [[Colonial Properties Trust]] in [[2006]] for the [[Promenade Tannehill]] shopping center. The church currently plans to use the proceeds of the sale to build a new facility approximately one mile away from the first site, near the interchange of [[I-459]] and [[I-59|I-20/59]].
Under Loper's pastorate, attendance at Garywood grew from 250 to nearly 1,500 people, making it one of the largest churches in Alabama as well as one of the fastest growing churches in the nation. In [[1981]], construction began on a new 1,600 seat sanctuary. It opened Easter Sunday [[1982]] to a capacity crowd.


== Property acquisitions ==
For economic reasons the move has not taken place.
In [[2003]] Garywood's congregation overwhelmingly voted to buy property on [[I-459]] near [[McCalla]] for relocation. Original plans currently include a 2,500-seat state-of-the-art auditorium, large facilities for youth, children's ministry and greatly expanded capacity for [[Garywood Christian School]]. However, the church sold the property to Colonial Properties in 2006, and now plans to use the proceeds of the sale to build a new facility approximately one mile away from the first site.
 
==Pastors==
* [[Dorine Justice]], [[1947]]-[[1948|48]]
* [[Paul Gilbreath]], [[1971]]-[[1979|79]]
* [[John Loper]], [[1979]]-[[2013]]
* [[Jeff Leatherman]], [[2013]]-


==References==
==References==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Garywood_Assembly_of_God&oldid=116326934  Garywood Assembly of God]. (March 19, 2007). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed March 21, 2007.
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Garywood_Assembly_of_God Garywood Assembly of God]" (March 3, 2010) Wikipedia - accessed October 18, 2010
* Garrison, Greg (October 7, 2012) "Garywood Assembly of God Pastor John Loper announces retirement." {{BN}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.garywood.org Official Website of Garywood Assembly of God]
* [http://www.garywood.org Garywood Assembly of God] website
 
[[Category:Assemblies of God]]


{{GFDL}}
[[Category:Assemblies of God churches]]
[[Category:Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive]]
[[Category:1947 establishments]]
[[Category:1972 buildings]]
[[Category:1982 buildings]]
[[Category:Churches in Hueytown]]

Latest revision as of 14:10, 11 May 2023

Garywood Assembly of God

Garywood Assembly of God is a large Pentecostal church at 2730 Allison-Bonnett Memorial Drive in Hueytown. It was founded as El Bethel Assembly of God in 1947 during a tent crusade by evangelist Dorine Justice, who stayed on as pastor for the first year. The current pastor is Jeff Leatherman, who has led the church since 2013.

Between 1950 and 1979 there were eleven different pastors, during which time church growth was slow. Attendance increased from around 250 to nearly 1,500 during the 1970s and 80s, with numerous outreach efforts. The church's annual Easter Drama debuted in 1977 and has remained an annual tradition. The Garywood Camp Meeting has brought well-known spiritual leaders to the area. And the radio outreach program "Garywood Alive" has since grown into a weekly television program.

The church constructed a new 450-seat sanctuary in 1972. In 1981, construction began on a new 1,600 seat sanctuary which opened on Easter Sunday 1982.

In 2003 Garywood's congregation overwhelmingly voted to buy property on I-459 near McCalla for relocation. Original plans for the site included a 2,500-seat state-of-the-art auditorium, large facilities for youth, children's ministry and greatly expanded capacity for Garywood Christian School. However, the church sold the property to Colonial Properties Trust in 2006 for the Promenade Tannehill shopping center. The church currently plans to use the proceeds of the sale to build a new facility approximately one mile away from the first site, near the interchange of I-459 and I-20/59.

For economic reasons the move has not taken place.

Pastors

References

External links

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