OUR STORY
Peoples Church has a long history here in Cincinnati. Founded in 1906 by a small group of people who met at Fourth and John St. to celebrate God, it was first called “Christian Catholic Apostolic Church.” The people’s passion exploded in 1907 when Nancy Starret, a member, visited the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, California and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit and brought back the Pentecostal teaching to the church. They changed their name to “Christian Assembly.”
In 1933 the church joined the Assemblies of God and adopted the name First Christian Assembly of God (FCA). The 1970’s ignited a new passion in the church through the Charismatic renewal as FCA’s doors were opened to a new generation of people. Healings and Salvations took place and the barriers of race and class were being removed. Under the leadership of Pastor Clyde Miller, the church remained in the heart of the city, a decision that has had significant impact in the kingdom of God and for the city. In 2001, Chris Beard became FCA’s lead pastor. Rocked by an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer titled, “A City Divided by Race,” and convinced by the Holy Spirit that God’s will is for churches to look like heaven on earth, Chris and the church staff began to pray that God would help them reach this vision.
The church grew from a 98% white commuter church into a church that is approximately 25% African American and 25% International. The staff, board and leadership teams are racially diverse and are continuing to learn what it means to be a reconciling church. In 2012, the church voted to change the name of the church to Peoples Church. A name that reflects the thirty plus nationalities worshipping and working together in God’s mosaic. Everything we do, and all that we are, is moving us toward a greater understanding of God’s purpose; to be one reconciled church, a church that worships and prays together, a church which is racially and generationally rich, a church who loves God and all peoples wholeheartedly, and passionately contributes to growing God’s Kingdom.
In 1933 the church joined the Assemblies of God and adopted the name First Christian Assembly of God (FCA). The 1970’s ignited a new passion in the church through the Charismatic renewal as FCA’s doors were opened to a new generation of people. Healings and Salvations took place and the barriers of race and class were being removed. Under the leadership of Pastor Clyde Miller, the church remained in the heart of the city, a decision that has had significant impact in the kingdom of God and for the city. In 2001, Chris Beard became FCA’s lead pastor. Rocked by an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer titled, “A City Divided by Race,” and convinced by the Holy Spirit that God’s will is for churches to look like heaven on earth, Chris and the church staff began to pray that God would help them reach this vision.
The church grew from a 98% white commuter church into a church that is approximately 25% African American and 25% International. The staff, board and leadership teams are racially diverse and are continuing to learn what it means to be a reconciling church. In 2012, the church voted to change the name of the church to Peoples Church. A name that reflects the thirty plus nationalities worshipping and working together in God’s mosaic. Everything we do, and all that we are, is moving us toward a greater understanding of God’s purpose; to be one reconciled church, a church that worships and prays together, a church which is racially and generationally rich, a church who loves God and all peoples wholeheartedly, and passionately contributes to growing God’s Kingdom.