New Hampshire Avenue Gospel Chapel, MD

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Early History

From a January 1954 issue of "Light and Liberty" on the life of Benjamin Bradford, "In the Nation's Capital, Mr. Bradford and Mr. Sam McEwen found an open door in cottage meetings and later in tent meetings. As a result of their labors, souls were saved and an assembly planted in 1916, now the Chillum Heights Assembly."

The assembly now meeting at New Hampshire Avenue Gospel Chapel, Silver Spring, Maryland began in April 1916 at Frank Gustava Ruebsam’s house at 5224 Illinois Avenue, NW, in Washington, DC. The assembly moved in January 1917 to N. Fillmann’s home, 1422-22nd Street, SE, Washington, where it remained for a time.

Bible Readings were held each Lord’s Day at the homes of C.W. Birkett and F.G. Ruebsam alternately, previous to the Breaking of Bread, which was the outcome of Gospel tent meetings for two consecutive summers (1915 and 1916) by Evangelists Benjamin Bradford and Samuel McEwen. Their ministry was followed by F.B. Hanle in the fall of 1916 and the spring of 1917.

The assembly moved to a rented building at 1420 H Street, NE, and later to a rented building at 245-15th Street, SE. In 1938, the assembly constructed a chapel at 5720 South Dakota Avenue, NE, in Washington.

After the chapel at South Dakota Avenue was sold, the assembly services were held in the SDA’s church building on Riggs Road in Adelphi, Maryland on a rental basis, during the construction of the New Hampshire Avenue Gospel Chapel at 12608 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, still its current location. Among those who assisted with the building's design, included Donald William Kuester (1921-1963), who while serving as Sunday School superintendent, held influence over determining the size of the building, its style of architecture, and interior finishing, before drowning in a sunken submarine while on a Navy mission.

The first services in the present building were held in the chapel on May 24, 1964, and according to Letters of Interest (1966-June/July), "the following Sunday, a number saved in the Sunday school, who were waiting with real anticipation for the new building, were baptized. 

Formal dedicatory services were held June 6 and 7, 1964, conducted by Alfred P. Gibbs and George M. Landis, both of which who had also ministered at the opening of the Chillum Heights building in 1938. Mr. Gibbs continued with special gospel and ministry meetings, and Mr. Landis followed later with special ministry of church truth.

Lloyd Wineberg, Thomas Hall, and Dr. Marlow Olsen were leading brethren for many years. The Sunday Schools have always been important in the assembly. Dorothy Peter (Aunt Dot) is especially remembered for her Sunday School interests. The superintendents have included Lloyd Wineberg, Lou Wieland, Don Kuester, Fred Corley, Ira Mitchell, Ron Gaskins, Rick Markley, Dan Solanki, and Doug Crow. Sunday School picnics were initially held once a year, then twice a year the Saturday before school closed and a week after it opened in the fall.

In the 1960's, a gospel radio program, "Your Bible and Mine" was broadcast locally over AM and FM each Sunday morning on WDON-1540 at 8:30 a.m.

The assembly presently has an Awana club that meets thru the school year for primary school children, as well as a Good News Club, sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship for primary thru middle school children. Additionally, there continues a Sunday School ministry, as well as a youth group.

Locations

Washington D.C.

  • Frank Gustava Reubsam's home @ 5224 Illinois Ave., NW 1916
  • Nicholas Fillman's home @ 1422-22nd St., SE (Twining City) 1917+
  • 1420 H Street, NE
  • 245-15th Street, SE +1927-1938
  • 5720 South Dakota Avenue, NE 1938-1961
    • aka New Hampshire Ave. & McDonald Place

Maryland

  • SDA building @ 924 Riggs Road, Adelphi, Maryland 1962-1964
  • 12608 New Hampshire Avenue 1964-2021+

AKA

  • H Street Gospel Hall
  • Fifteenth Street Gospel Hall +1927-1938
  • Chillum Heights Gospel Chapel 1938-1964
  • New Hampshire Avenue Gospel Chapel 1964-2021+

Correspondents

  • Frank G. Reubsam 1916-1937 (1874-1937 D.C.)
  • Lloyd Wilbert Wineberg 1937-1983+ (b. 1896 Punxsutawney, PA - 1987 Olney, MD)
    • for certain started as correspondent by 1943. Employed as a U.S. Gov't auditor in 1930. Raised in the assembly at Punxsutawney with his parents. In fellowship with the D.C. assembly by 1920.
  • Samuel James Rea, Jr. +1985-2001 (b. 1924 Doylestown, PA - d. 2001 Silver Spring, MD); Served in the U.S. Army 1943-1946, enlisting from Philadelphia, while living in Hatboro, PA. His father (1876-1966) was an itinerant evangelist in fellowship with Hatboro Gospel Hall, PA.
  • Clarence Witmer 2004-2018+
  • Michael Bryan 2004-2020+
  • Jijo Antony +2020+

Alumni

Also See

Sources

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