After a series of prayer meetings conducted by Omaha First Church of the Nazarene, it was thought to be the Lord's will to hold a revival in the central part of Omaha, with the intent of organizing a central church in the city.
The first Central church was located at 24th & Dodge Streets, and truly was centrally located. Many of its first attendees and members used the many trolley car lines to come to church activities. it was a beautiful church, too, with red carpet on the floor and wooden chairs, also painted red, for the children. The building had a kitchen in the basement and when the Nebraska District Assembly convened at Omaha Central the following year, 1928, some of the women prepared meals for all who wanted to eat there. That first district assembly was momentous for Omaha Central for a number of reasons: although the church was just eight months old, it could already report a membership of 28 and an average Sunday School attendance of 90; Rev. Harmon Schmelzenbach, the great missionary to Africa, was one of the speakers that year (he stayed with the Larsons while in Omaha); lastly, Omaha Central's founding pastor, Rev. Marvin S. Cooper, was elected district superintendent!
Central's first building was a rented space. When the building's owner decided to sell it in 1932, we were forced to make a move to 43th and Hamilton Streets. The next building, though owned by the congregation, was actually a portable tabernacle rather than a permanent building, designed to be moved to go to various sites to hold revival meetings.
It was very primitive, with dirt floors and straw covering. Side walls could be opened to let in air (also flies) and heating provided by two stoves. The building had no plumbing; fortunately, the Smiths lived across the street, and donated the use of their facilities during services. Despite primitive conditions, the church prospered. Central held its first Vacation Bible School, with an impressive enrollment of 45. Average Sunday School attendance had grown to 131 the church combined forces with a sister church in Benson to put on a special Christmas program. A revival held in the 1930s, drew over 200, which was a record attendance that stood for many years before being topped.
Sensing God's calling them back into a more permanent building, Central moved to 41st and Charles Streets around 1940. Central was given the great honor of playing host church to coast-to-coast convention sponsored by the Department of Foreign Missions in 1948. Speaking at the meeting were Dr. C. Warren Jones, Miss Fairy Chism of Africa, Rev. Lyle Prescott of Cuba, Rev. Everett Howard to Cape Verde Islands and Rev. Honoratio Reza of Mexico.
In 1950, Central Church experimented with radio by broadcasting its own program called;The Church Triumphant; over radio station KOWH (Omaha's first FM station). The program featured the pastor, which at this time was Rev. A.G. Parmenter, and an 18 voice choir.
Feeling the need to build another sanctuary, land was selected and purchased at 82nd and Blondo Streets in 1959. In 1960, Jack and Mary Margaret Nash were called to be Central's new pastoral family. From 1960 to 1963, Central was a homeless congregation; some have called these years our ;wandering in the wilderness; time. Meetings were held all over the city, sometimes at the South Omaha YMCA, the Sidles Company auditorium or other locations. Wednesday prayer meetings were generally held in the basement of the parsonage, then located at 84th and Franklin Streets. Contractor and builder of our present structure was Coe Peppers, father of Janet Campbell.The building was completed and dedicated on March 8, 1964. Subsequent additions to the property occurred in 1980 with the building of an education wing. The three lots to the south of the main sanctuary along Blondo Streets.
Central's recent history was marked by the ministry of co-pastors Fred and Sheryl Tedder. Fred, a South African, was called to central in the summer of 1988. During his tenure the church became more effective through the equipping of its members for Christ's service. Sheryl was active on many fronts, providing powerful sermons from the pulpit, helping to organize monthly missionary emphasis meetings, and equipping others and organizing the church's active evangelism explosion program. Fred and Sheryl Tedder moved on to a work in South Africa in 1999.
Several themes have emerged at Central over the years: service, equipping evangelism, music and work with teens. Central has, over its 75 year history, been a sending and equipping church. It has helped people find the Lord and has sent them on to full-time service, some as ministers and some as missionaries, but also as teachers and professors. Central's past included experimental quarters, that were perfect for evangelistic efforts, quite appropriately, as Central itself was born from a camp meeting revival. Central certainly loves music. It has been the site for many public concerts, including a series of cantatas written and performed by its former ministers of music, Almeda and Jackson Berkey. Many challenges loom ahead for Central Church. In this brief look backward, we see the church's strong foundation for evangelism and doing the work of the Kingdom. We sense the dedication of our forefathers will continue into the future and that many good days lie ahead for Omaha Central Church of the Nazarene. (revised 10/01/04)