Our History

A Brief Overview

Equippers Church had its humble beginnings in 1938 under the leadership of Rev. James Menzie. Since then, Equippers Church has moved several times. In 1976, Equippers Church moved to its present location on Ridge Road in Hobart, IN. Throughout the years, Equippers Church has left a lasting legacy of faith by its primary focus on reaching the lost and seeing the transformational change in people's lives as a result of their newfound relationship with Christ.  

In October 2006, Pastor Ryan and Rebecca McDowell accepted God's call to pastor the church. Since then, God has blessed Equippers Church with much growth and revitalization. Following the Holy Spirit's leading, Equippers Church places a strong emphasis on reaching the lost through evangelism and missions, all the while helping people to grow in their faith through anointed preaching and authentic Christian community.

These are definitely exciting days! If you don't have a home church, we invite you to come and be a part of our family!

A Brief Timeline

A brief timeline highlighting key moments in our church’s history, from our humble beginnings to the exciting future God is leading us into.

Rev. James Menzie pioneered the church in 1938, seeing many souls saved and Sunday School attendance reach ninety during a 1939 evangelistic campaign. Forced from their rental space that year, the congregation met for two years in a two-car garage. In 1941, they purchased a building on Ridge Road & Washington Street, which served as their place of worship until 1955.

In October 1951, the church burned the mortgage papers on its building and welcomed Rev. R.J. Baggs as pastor. In 1954, they purchased new property on 10th and State Street in Hobart, began construction, and incorporated as Hobart Assembly of God, Inc. The congregation moved into the new facility on July 6, 1954, dedicating it on Easter Sunday 1959.

Rev. and Mrs. Frank J. Fortier became pastors in 1959, serving until 1978. In 1967, the church purchased five acres on Ridge Road, its present location. Two years later, the Ridge Road property was dedicated to the Lord with 38 people in attendance.

The mortgage on the 10th Street property was paid off in 1971. In 1974, construction began on a new church at the Ridge Road site, thanks to the sacrificial work of many members. On August 10, 1975, the congregation moved to the new building in a celebratory procession with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In 1976, Pastor Fortier passed away while preaching, and later that year, Rev. Gordon E. Falconer was installed as pastor. The new church was dedicated by Rev. D. Fred Leader. In 1988, Pastor Falconer left, and Rev. Bruce W. Washam was installed as the new pastor.

Rev. A. Raymond Hansen became pastor in 1992, followed in 2004 by Rev. J. Andrew Sanders. In 2006, Pastor Ryan and his wife Rebecca began their ministry at Hobart Assembly, leading a congregation of 60.

A second service was added in 2007, with numerous renovations to accommodate growth. In 2015, after prayer, fasting, and a successful Easter outreach, a third service was launched.

The church hired Jeffrey Parker Architects in 2016 to design a new worship center. In 2017, properties east and west of the building were purchased, and a building campaign was launched.

Construction began in 2021 on a 16,000-square-foot worship center after two successful financial campaigns. The first service in the new 550-seat facility was held on November 27, 2022, with the building dedicated on December 11, 2022.

The leadership team announced the decision to begin the process of changing the church’s name from Hobart Assembly to Equippers Church.