Cable Road Alliance Church in Lima was dedicated on its current site, 2264 N. Cable Road, on Nov. 28, 1976.
LIMA — This weekend, a local church is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its humble beginnings in Lima.
Cable Road Christian and Missionary Alliance Church has many events planned to celebrate the occasion. According to Lead Pastor, Tim Lewis, “We are honoring our history and celebrating our future.”
Events scheduled for the weekend included a free movie night on Saturday evening featuring the movie, “Sing 2.” Local vendors provided an array of food for individuals and families to enjoy, including Kewpee Hamburgers, Pete’s Ice Cream, Tim Horton’s and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels.
The Sunday morning worship service, held at 10:45 a.m., will feature CMA President John Stumbo as the guest speaker. The worship service will be followed by a catered luncheon in the Family Life Center for attendees. A program has been scheduled during the luncheon to include a video, a professional mime performance by the Wang family and the presentation of a check to President Stumbo. The donation, according to Lewis, is “sizable,” and represents special donations that have been made to the “125 fund” by members and attendees of the church. Lewis was quick to clarify that these donations were “above and beyond” those already provided on a monthly basis to the CMA’s Great Commission Fund, which supports missionaries in other parts of the world. The Sunday events will conclude with Teresa Fuhrman blowing the shofar, a ram’s-horn trumpet used by ancient Jews.
The Great Commission Fund
The CMA Great Commission is based on Jesus’ command given in Matthew 28:18-20, urging his disciples to “…go and make disciples…and teaching them to obey…” The CMA Great Commission funds are used to support missionaries around the world.
These international workers receiving monthly support from Cable Road Alliance Church are located in Africa, Europe, southeast Asia and the Caribbean. Without the financial support they receive, many of them would be responsible for raising their own financial support, which could delay their ability to reach others.
In addition to the support of those in other countries, Cable Road Alliance Church provides financial support to local ministries, such as the Lima Rescue Mission and Heartbeat of Lima.
History of the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination
In November 1881, Reverend Albert Benjamin (“A.B.”) Simpson called a meeting, inviting Christians to support an aggressive spiritual movement to reach New York City’s overlooked non-believers. Simpson had spent many hours on the docks of the city, evangelizing immigrants who were arriving on ships. When Simpson’s wealthy parishioners protested the attendance at
their church of the unrefined new believers, Simpson resigned his pastorate and started a world mission society to make Jesus known to the masses. Simpson opened the Missionary Training Institute to prepare those called to overseas ministry, the first North American Bible college.
While Simpson did not intend to start another protestant denomination, he formed two organizations in 1887: The Christian Alliance and the Evangelical Missionary Alliance. The two groups merged in 1887 to become the International Missionary Alliance.
History of the Lima Christian and Missionary Alliance
According to historical records compiled by the late Dr. Armond V. Arnold and a historical summary provided by current Cable Road Alliance church secretary, Sherri Jordan, the organizational meeting for the Lima Christian and Missionary Alliance was held in the home of Adam and Anna Neiswander at 760 S. Broadway Street in Lima. The initial meeting was held on June 17, 1897.
In the early years, a group of dedicated men and women met in various locations, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The historical documents indicate that “sometimes two offerings had to be taken in one service to collect enough money for coal so that their storefront mission would have heat the next Sunday.”
In 1917, a permanent facility became a reality with the purchase of a small white church that was moved from a South Main Street property to a lot at 529 S. Elizabeth St. At this site in 1926, a brick sanctuary and basement were built.
The Lima congregation experienced rapid growth in the 1940s and by the 1950s the Alliance Church became the largest evangelical church in the Lima area. A three-story annex was built in 1956, more than doubling classroom space.
The vision of a CMA church in the Shawnee area came to fruition in the 1960s. From 1964 to 1965, the Lima constituency provided substantial monetary gifts and several members to help build and nurture the Shawnee Alliance Church.
Relocation of the church to Cable Road
In the early 1970s, efforts were made to purchase land for relocation. Choice acreage was obtained on North Cable Road in 1973 and 1974. Cable Road Alliance Church was dedicated on that site on Nov. 28, 1976.
Another milestone was reached at the church in 1997. On Feb. 23, the Family Life Center was dedicated. The FLC provided additional classrooms, office space, restrooms, a full kitchen and a gymnasium.
Pastoral staff
Seventeen individuals have served as lead, or senior, pastors during the past 125 years at what is now known as Cable Road Alliance Church. One well-known former pastor, Rev. Richard Jueckstock, was quick to give credit to his staff for the growth seen under his leadership from 1984 to 2001. The children’s ministry and youth ministry were both “extremely active” at that time with an average of 200 teens meeting at the church on Wednesday evenings. Jueckstock also credited U.S. Plastic Corp. founder Stanley Tam with having “a lot of influence” on the growth of the church because “he is such a soul-winner.”
The present lead pastor, Tim Lewis is committed to the church’s vision of, “inspiring, inviting and discipling people from all walks of life to accept and passionately pursue Jesus.” The current leadership team consists of Lewis, Associate Pastor Jason Snyder, Worship Director Vince Herrera and Connections Director Sara Nishimoto.
While many changes have taken place in the past 125 years, the core message of the church remains the same. As Jueckstock said, “It’s about building a relationship with Christ.”
