LFA History Timeline

1926 – Group of believers began meeting in homes around the Lufkin community and purchased a tent to begin tent revival meetings on the corner of Burke & 2nd Street.

1927 – First Assembly of God Church was founded in December with 29 members. Under the leadership of Reverend D.M. Rice, the church was asked by a courthouse official to begin meeting in a room of the Courthouse of downtown Lufkin because of the severely cold weather.

1928 – Purchased new lot at 407 Oak Street for $400 and began building new church facility.

1932 – During the Great Depression, the church could not support permanent pastors, but took in traveling ministers that came through town and paid them by providing meat and vegetables for the pastors and their families.

1936 – Reverend Henry & Betty Polk became pastors but soon after assuming the position, Henry fell to his death while building a house. His wife assumed his pastoral duties and proved to be very capable both as a pastor and a mother of 6.

1942 – As the country entered into war, Brother D.M. Rice returned as pastor of First Assembly and worked alongside the men and women of the church to build a new facility on the same lot as the previous church building.

1952 – Reverend Marshall Calloway became pastor and the church began to stabilize financially. A new fellowship hall and annex were built and the church purchased new seats. Sunday morning attendance grew to over 200.

1970 – Reverend Bob & Ann Lewis were voted in as the new pastors and almost immediately began building new facilities on Loop 287. Under his leadership, educational facilities were added, the parking lot was expanded and the Family Life Center was built.

1991 – Pastor Todd & Kelly Hudnall began serving as pastors and remained at First Assembly until November 2003. During his term as pastor, the church experienced well over 5,000 conversions and the church grew from the current Worship Center and Student Center were built and parking lots were added.

2004 – In November 2004, Andy & Cathy Salagaj became the Senior Pastors of Lufkin First Assembly. Today, LFA's 13-acre campus is home to a congregation with an average weekend attendance of over 1,100.

The story of Lufkin First Assembly continues today. Under the leadership and direction of Pastor Andy and Cathy Salagaj, God has blessed LFA with an even greater vision of reaching the lost of deep East Texas. Our story has yet to be completed. No matter what your background or history, we all have one thing in common, our story is unfinished. So we press on to establish an identity in Christ and build a place where life is not only found, but experienced. At LFA we are making history by saving lives. This is our saving history.