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.

Resident Workers

W. Ross Rainey

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."

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
- later Saints of God Missionary Baptist

Correspondents

F.D. Hampson +1936+
George Prinster +1941-1945
Elmer H. Keppel 1945-1964
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

News

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."

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."

Meeting Times

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

Also See

Who's Who at Hazelwood Bible Chapel, MO notable alumni
Visiting Ministry at Hazelwood Bible Chapel, MO itinerant reports, etc.

Sources

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

Hazelwood Bible Chapel, MO

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