Our History

      In late spring of 1965,Brother George Bailey called his son, Reverend P. C. Bailey, and asked him to come to Villa Rica to have prayer meeting in his home.  Reverend Bailey had recently resigned as pastor of the Pentecostal Church in Rockmart, GA.  Reverend Bailey told his dad that he thought God had a work for him in Villa Rica and that he would be glad to conduct the prayer meeting.
     The very first meeting, held on July 10, 1965, was so large that the service had to be moved out in the yard.  God continued to bless with large attendance throughout the summer.  Some men would come early, go to the back of Brother George's property and pray before each service.  Someone suggested that they pick up a small rock and take it with them each time they went to pray.  Before long there was a large rock pile representing the solid foundation of this fellowship.  Winter was coming and they needed a place for the people to worship inside.  The old school house in Fullerville got up a petition to keep a church from being located in that area.  Brother Bailey decided to not rent the building because he did not want to start a church with bad feelings with the neighbors.  The church people were discouraged and felt things were not going to work out.  Brother P. C. Bailey had been through many battles with the devil and knew that God was on their side and everything was going to be all right.

      The Villa Rica Church of God had just finished building a new church and their old building was for sale, an answer from God!!!
     The building wasn't much to look at with block walls, no bathrooms, no water, no air conditioning, but to the people that were to call this building their church, it was beautiful.  They were able to buy the building and property for $2,800.  Brother Bailey let the church have the money and they paid him back the loan as money was available.
      Very shortly after purchasing the building an addition was started on the church.  Three Sunday School rooms and two bathrooms were built on the front and the building was completely bricked.  The inside of the building was paneled, new carpet installed and a new piano was purchased.  God continued to bless and the number of people increased.  Additional Sunday School rooms were added to the back.
     In 1973 the land joining the church's property on what was then, Sunset Drive, was purchased.  On July 22, 1975 a ground breaking ceremony was held for the building of a new sanctuary that would seat 400 people, a fellowship hall and 7 additional Sunday School rooms.  In November, 1975, the first service was held in the new sanctuary, which remains our current sanctuary. 

      Brother P. C. Bailey passed away in 1986.  Brother Al Humphries then filled the pastoral position for about 2 years, followed by Brother Phillip Fuller, again for about 2 years, and then Brother Freddie Baldwin for just under 1 year.  
     On October 5, 1991, Brother Charles Edward "Eddie" Allen, Jr., grandson of P. C. Bailey, took over as pastor of First Pentecostal Church and remains our pastor to this date.
     In 1995 we built our family life center, Curtis Center, named after Brother Curtis McAdams, a hard worker for the Lord. And then in 2007 the original church building was taken down and replaced by our youth center, Charles E. Allen Worship Center, named after Brother Eddie's father, a true man of God.
     God has really blessed the First Pentecostal Church of Villa Rica.  
The same Spirit that was with the people at that first prayer meeting remains with us today.  Brother Bailey had taught the Love of God to the people.  Time has passed, Brother Bailey and many of the saints have gone to meet the Lord, but people who walk into this beautiful building today say they feel love as soon as they enter.