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M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T |
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Big Tree Wesleyan Church exists for the Christ-given mission of winning the |
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unsaved to Christ, discipling believers, providing a climate or spiritual growth, |
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| equipping Spirit-filled Christians for worship and ministry serving the South | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buffalo area and beyond. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The history of Big Tree Wesleyan goes back to 1932 when Miss Marietta Fancher felt on her heart to start a Sunday school in the Big Tree public school basement and held prayer meetings in homes and garages in the Big Tree, Bayview, Scranton, and Carnegie area with those she could interest in the vision of reaching people in the area with the Gospel. Soon after the Sunday School was begun, the firemen at Big Tree invited the Sunday School to move to the fire hall. This was used until the property was donated and plans were made for a church. In 1937 by Mrs. J. Colwell donated land on Fairview Parkway that was for the purpose of building a Church. In 1938 a one room chapel was constructed with volunteer labor and named the Big Tree Bible School. Miss Fancher walked this whole area, visiting families witnessing, bringing children in until she went to be with the Lord in 1938, entrusting the work to others. Ministerial students from Houghton supplied leadership for the next three years. In May of 1946 the members of the Big Tree Bible School Association voted unanimously to join the Lockport Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and were accepted into the fellowship. The church struggled for many years. Leaders came to close the church but three ladies wouldn’t give up the keys. Pastor Gene DeGraff came and under his leadership it turned the corner at the brink of closing. Pastor DeGraff was part-time and resigned knowing that the church needed a full time pastor. Pastor Black came and with his leadership and untiring work the church enjoyed wonderful steady growth. Today we are grateful for the labors of all before us. We are committed to see continued growth of the body of believers through the work of the Holy Spirit |
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