A small group of Christian men and women who first saw the need and future possibilities of a church on the Hill severed their own church connections to bring this church to the Hilltop. Dr. J.H. Nichols first conceived the idea of giving the Hilltop community a Sunday school for the youth who clearly needed it.
Dr. Nichols and his wife started the first Mission Sunday School in a small store building located on 14th Avenue between 39th and 40th Street, currently the old Bike and Hike store. The first meeting was held March 6, 1910, with fifty-two people in attendance and Dr. Nichols as the first superintendent. Shortly after, Rev. E.T. McFarland, pastor of Memorial Christian Church, held an evangelistic campaign that increased interest among people of the neighborhood. Rev. W.B. Slater, pastor of the Moline Christian Church, also gave services in a similar manner.
On a lot on 14th Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets, a temporary building was erected, 25 by 60 feet. In March 1913, two lots at the corner of 15th Avenue and 36th Street were purchased, and the building was moved to the new location. A basement room 25 feet square was built and used for the primary and beginners departments of Sunday school and for social activities.
In the summer of 1913, a group interested in the Mission decided a church should be organized and petitioned Memorial Christian Church for a transfer. On June 14, 1913, the Fifteenth Avenue Christian Church was organized by J. Fred Jones, secretary to the Illinois Christian Missionary Society, with forty transfers from Memorial Christian Church as charter members.
One Sunday morning the 25 by 60 foot building was crowded with 406 adults and children, and thoughts of a new building were in order. A building fund was established on June 4, 1921, and an old-fashioned dig day was held as work began on the basement of the projected building, done by members, people from sister churches, and strangers. The first phase was completed on November 13, 1921, including a roof over the basement so it could be used immediately. Members then set a goal to raise an additional $35,000, the estimated amount to finish the full building.
In June 1927, a Finance Association was organized, and such a spirit of giving was instilled that by October 1928 enough money was in the fund (about $8,000) to make a special citywide appeal for support. This drive was extremely successful, adding another $7,000. A Rock Island bank agreed to provide the balance needed to start work on the superstructure. The dedication of the completed structure was held on May 19, 1929.
As one member said, "A seed falls upon fertile soil and grows." Surely the seed has grown at Fifteenth Avenue Christian Church over the years, due to the dedication and devotion of those first charter members. Our church will continue to grow as long as there are dedicated persons willing to carry on the work of the Kingdom of the Lord.