Hazelwood Bible Chapel, MO

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For many years there was an open brethren assembly in St. Louis Co., Missouri known originally as the St. Louis Gospel Hall, and/or Kossuth Gospel Hall / Kossuth Avenue Gospel Hall that was active as early as 1936. By 1947, it was known as Kossuth Gospel Chapel. It was among the area assemblies that in 1949 started Dayspring Bible Camp, previously known as Masokobi. It rebranded by 1960 as Hazelwood Bible Chapel. It was originally known as the assembly in Kossuth. Several well-known laboring brethren were in fellowship with this meeting, including W. Ross Rainey, George Rainey and F.H. "Rick" Bovey. It met temporarily in 1960 at Northwestern Hotel, then at 8610 Latty. Hazelwood Bible Chapel may have folded from 1989-1990, and another group rebranded as "Believers Bible Fellowship" which met 1991-2005.

Location History

  • +1936-1959+: 4227 / 4215 E. Kossuth Ave., StL
    • 4227 (+1936-1948+) & 4215 (+1950-1959+) were likely the same location, the first was printed in the address lists as Kossuth & Harris Aves., the latter as the street address. It later hosted the Westminster CoG & Bread of Life H&D churches.
  • +1960: Northwestern Hotel, 4919 Natural Bridge, StL
  • 1960-1988+; +1991-2005+: 8610 Latty, Hazelwood

Correspondents

  • F.D. Hampson +1936+
  • George Prinster +1941-1944
  • Elmer H. Keppel 1944-1964
  • Emmett G. Ayers 1964-1971
  • F.W. "Rick" Bovey 1972-1977
  • Ray Cramer 1978-1979
  • Roy (sic?) Cramer 1980
  • Raymond Baumann 1981-1984
  • Tom Dalechek @ Belleville 1985-1988
  • Nathan Batchelder 1991-2005

AKA

  • St. Louis Gospel Hall +1936+
  • Kossuth Gospel Hall +1941-1943+
  • Kossuth Avenue Gospel Hall +1944-1946
  • Kossuth Gospel Chapel 1946-1960
  • Hazelwood Bible Chapel 1960-1988
  • Believers Bible Fellowship 1991-2005

Resident Workers

William "Ross" Rainey

  • L&L 1956-5: William Ross Rainey, 4321 Eichelberger St., StL, MO: "During February and part of March, I was in the Houston, Texas area. Apart from proposed visits to Indianapolis, lad., and Marble Hill, Mo., I expect to be ministering in the St. Louis area through the first week of July, part of the time in co-operation with the Kossuth Assembly."
  • LOI 1960-11: W. Ross Rainey, 7229 Bellner Dr., Hazelwood, MO: "Just now I am spending most of my time with the Hazelwood Bible Chapel. Construction of the new building is progressing and we hope to be in by December. Hazelwood and area abounds with children, manifesting a large Sunday school potential. Meetings in our temporary hotel quarters have been well attended with several residents attending the evening service. A few Sundays ago a young man confessed Christ, the consistent testimony of his wife being a prime factor. I have been gaining some good experience at the "Sunshine Mission" in downtown St. Louis, thanks to the kind invitation of brother William Buschart of the Hazelwood Bible Chapel. Later this month I am looking forward to speaking at IVCF at Washington University, and give thanks for the many open doors granted me."
  • LOI 1961-3: W. Ross Rainey: The work at the Hazelwood Bible Chapel is growing and we are much encouraged in our outreach into the community. Within six weeks, we have seen our Sunday school and preaching service

at 11:00 am, grow from an average of about 55 to as high as 127 in attendance, and this during bad weather. An older couple, searching for a fundamental church testimony, have recently been received into fellowship. On March 5 we plan to have a special dedication service for the new building with a week of special meetings to follow. Mr. Leslie S. Rainey of Northern Rhodesia is the anticipated speaker. Also, during the first week in May, Mr. August Van Ryn is expected to he with us for a special series of meetings."

  • LOI 1962-2: New Attendance Record of 130 for Hazelwood Sunday School: "W. Ross Rainey, 7229 Boellner Dr., Hazelwood, MO: "On May 12 and 13 I expect to be in Kansas at the annual conference of the Overland Park Bible Chapel. From June 9-16, I anticipate being the speaker at the Young People's Camp near Dallas, Texas.

Here at Hazelwood we continue to be encouraged in the Lord's work, The Friday evening "Happy Hour" with the boys and girls continues to grow and on April 1st we set a new attendance record for our Sunday morning preaching service and Sunday School... over 130..."

  • L&L 1963-1: "Presently (Dec. 1), I am busy with ministry here at Hazelwood and we rejoice and give thanks in all that our Lord has done and is doing. Our Sunday School is nearing the hundred mark, having started almost two years ago with just five boys and girls. The adult work is growing and several have been added to our fellowship over the past year. Also, four young people were baptized about two months ago, our first baptism in the new building. On Dec. 29th I leave for Memphis, Tenn., and expect to be with the saints there for a few days, having been invited for their New Year's Conference."
  • L&L 1963-6: "Early in May several weeks were spent in the Cleveland-Akron area, especially giving help to the new Fairlawn Bible Chapel in West Akron. Have been asked to return for ministry in the Assembly in November, Lord willing. Will be busy locally until early August, then go to Lake Louise, Ga. Since I've been asked to become one of the visiting faculty of Emmaus Bible School in January, 1964, am grateful for the time of ministry in local area and for course preparation during next few months."
  • L&L 1964-2: "Am seeing blessing in the home area since late November. On Jan. 20, I start a six-week ministry at Emmaus Bible School in Chicago. At Easter time have been invited to speak at the conference at Peterboro, Ont., and remain for further meetings, and from there plan to have meetings in Friendship Hall, Pittsburgh, Pa.

F.W. Bovey

  • LOI 1972-1: F.W. "Rick" Bovey: Eighteen Baptized In Missouri:

"In August we had an evening V.B.S. at Hazelwood Bible Chapel, Hazelwood, Mo., running for one week. Total attendance was just over 1,000, including almost 300 children and parents on the final night. As far as we can tell, almost all of these were unsaved. Follow-up is still under way. This summer we began our AWANA program for the first full year and have experienced numbers that our staff never expected.

Last week (Nov. 17) we had 125 boys and girls between ages 8 and 13. Again, the majority of these are unsaved. But even then, the children eagerly study the Word of God and commit it to memory. We have also started a number (6) of home Bible classes in the neighborhoods as a means of trying to reach those outside the body of Christ. We have had 18 baptized over the last years. Many of them came to know Christ this year."

General News

1940

  • HAF 1940-2: Work in the Homeland: St. Louis, Mo., Kossuth Ave. Gospel Hall: Edwin E. Zipprodt: "The Lord's people who gather in this place are again happy to report another year's work in which they have experienced God's goodness and mercy. They have enjoyed the Lord's blessing in the efforts made to maintain His testimony. The Sunday School work has been encouraging, and a number of strangers have attended our gospel meetings.

Six young people have confessed the Lord and taken their place at His table. In addition to this work in the Hall, we have been again privileged to carry the gospel in this city and in nearby country towns to many institutions-jails, missions, homes for the care of the poor and aged, and hospitals. These efforts have borne fruit, for we have seen precious souls turn from their sinful lives to trust Christ. Looking back upon the blessing of this past year, we go forward with renewed strength and courage, confident that our Lord will again go before us and give His blessing to His Word as we seek to buy up the opportunities these open doors afford us."

1943

  • L&L 1943-10: "Edward E. Zipprodt and co-workers, who are laboring with the Kossuth Ave. Gospel Hall, St. Louis, Mo., desire to extend sincere thanks in the Master's Name to everyone who has so kindly helped in enabling them to send out gospel literature to so many needy souls. Nearly 100,000 tracts, pamphlets, gospels, testaments, Bibles, wall mottoes, etc., were placed in jails, hospitals, barracks, missions, private homes and many other places. A detailed report will be sent to anyone interested. Address Edward E. Zipprodt, 5439 Cabanne Ave., St. Louis, Mo."

1945

  • LOI 1945-4: Kossuth Avenue Gospel Hall, 4215 Kossuth Ave., St. Louis, MO: "Due to the death of brother George Prinster, who was serving as correspondent for the Kossuth Avenue Gospel Hall... I have taken over the responsibility to serve as correspondent. All correspondence should be addressed to Elmer H. Keppel, 4112a West Green Lea Place, St. Louis, Mo. Phone Mulberry 5041."
  • L&L 1945-5: St.L, MO: "Much blessing has been received throughout the past year from the thousands of tracts, books, booklets, etc., distributed throughout this territory by Ed ward E. Zipprodt and Co-Workers of Kossuth Avenue Gospel Hall. These precious silent messengers have been carried to jails, sanitoriums, homes, hospitals, missions and soldiers' barracks."

1946

  • L&L 1946-2: "Kossuth Gospel Chapel is the new name for the Kossuth Avenue Gospel Hall located at 4227 Kossuth Ave., St. Louis 15, Mo. Elmer H. Keppel, 4112a West Green Lea Place 15 continues as correspondent."
  • LOI 1946-3: St. Louis, Mo., Kossuth Gospel Chapel: "At the annual assembly meeting held Jan. 8, 1946, the assembly in the Kossuth Avenue Gospel Hall, 4227 Kossuth Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, officially changed the name of their meeting place to Kossuth Gospel Chapel. All correspondence will continue to be sent to Mr. Elmer H. Keppel... of this city, as formerly."
  • L&L 1946-6: Missouri: St. Louis: Kossuth Gospel Chapel, Cor. Kossuth and Harris Ave.

1960

  • LOI 1960-7/8: St. Louis, MO: Elmer H. Keppel: "On Lord's day afternoon, April 10, 1960, about 100 believers from the St. Louis area assemblies gathered for the ground breaking ceremony at the proposed site of the new Hazelwood Bible Chapel at 8610 Latty Ave., Hazelwood, Mo. (formerly Kossuth Ave. Gospel Chapel). This location is in a newly developed area."

1962

  • LOI 1962-2: New Hazelwood Bible Chapel Built By The Former Kossuth Assembly: The Hazelsvood Bible Chapel, 8610

Latty Avenue, Hazelwood, Missouri, built by the former Kossuth assembly had its dedication service early last year. This chapel has an auditorium 35' x 64' with a seating capacity of 224. The spacious chancel in the front includes a baptistry. There is a cry room where mothers with fretful babies can relax, and next to the cry room a library and study. Ample corridor space is provided for visiting between meetings.

The educational building across the corridor from the audisorium, 36' y 44', has eight Sunday School class rooms, a nursery, and rest rooms. The class room area has folding doors. In the basement an assembly room (34' x 60') seats over 150. The basement also includes washrooms and a furnace room. Mr. Elmer H. Keppel, 6055 N. Pointe Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, is the correspondent. Schedule of meetings is: B.B. 9:30am, Family Bible Hour 11am, Gospel meeting 7:30pm, Wednesday Prayer meeting 8pm."

This article is on the last page of the LOI issue, and also contains a picture of the sanctuary, as well as of the outside of the building.

Meeting Times

  • 1972+: Sun- S.S. 9:45am, FBH 11:00am, BoB 6:30pm; Wed- P&BS 7:30pm.

Also See

Sources

  • AAB's 1936-2005
  • Letters of Interest (LOI): 1945-4; 1946-3; 1960-7/8,11; 1961-3; 1962-2,5; 1972-1
  • Light & Liberty (L&L): 1943-10; 1945-5; 1946:2,6; 1956-5; 1963:1,6; 1964:2,9
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