About Our Church
We Believe...
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In one God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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That the Bible is the inspired word of God and contains all truth necessary to salvation.
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That man, apart from God, is inclined to evil and is lost.
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That forgiveness through Jesus Christ is offered to everyone; and that whoever repents and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is saved from sin.
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That believers are to be sanctified wholly through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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That the Lord Jesus will return, the dead shall be raised, and that all shall come to final judgment.
The Hendersonville First Church of the Nazarene began with a revival meeting under a tent on the corner of Third Avenue and King Street in 1947. It was organized with 17 charter members after a five-week campaign. Evangelist Paul Horn preached the first two weeks while the Reverend W.H. Gentry directed the music of the meetings. Reverend Gentry continued the meetings for another three weeks.
At the close of the meetings, the Reverend C.E. Shumake, District Superintendent of the North Carolina District came and organized FCN and appointed W.H. Gentry as pastor on August 18, 1947. Because of the cold weather, Mayor Edwards let the group meet in City Hall until spring and warmer weather.
Within months, Rev. Gentry received monies to purchase land and to build a church. The land was purchased on First Avenue, and plans were made for the first building, which started with a basement for a meeting place. The crowds came, resulting in the largest Nazarene Church in North Carolina with a membership of 286.
February 2, 1970 we celebrated our first anniversary in the new church on the corner of First Avenue and Washington Street.
September 1984, Rev. W. H. Gentry concluded his pastorate of thirty-seven years. The Reverend and Mrs. Riley Lawrence began pastoring our church and growth continued to a membership of 400.
Pastor Lawrence retired after thirteen years of faithful service to the Hendersonville Church. In October of 1997, the Reverend Robert J. Andress began serving as interim pastor. God blessed during this time of transition and brought great unity to our church.
Reverend Scott Wade began pastoring at Hendersonville in August 1998. Rev. Wade pastored our church for five years, leaving us on May 25, 2003, to pastor another church in Illinois. We will miss his leadership, wisdom, and teaching of God's word.
On October 26th, 2003, the membership called the Rev. & Mrs. Harry Widener to be our new pastoral family. Rev. Widener brought great love and guidance to our fellowship. Rev. Widener retired in January 2009.
In March 2009, Rev. Sherman Waters was called as our new pastor. We look forward to his leadership, and what great things God is going to do for our church.
