On June 11, 1972, a meeting was held at the Lawrenceville Church of God for all people who were interested in starting a new church in the Northridge area. Twelve families attended that first meeting. Russell Dickerson volunteered to be the founding pastor of the new church and serve in a part-time capacity. Within a month a meeting location was secured, and the name North Hills Church of God was chosen.

We began meeting in the basement of the office building owned by Northridge’s Edwin Hoppes with only $138.00 in our account. It was a step of faith. Only a month after that, our church stepped out again and committed to tithing to two Church of God conferences—the Northeast Conference, and the General Conference—in support of other struggling churches. It reflected the generous Christian nature of our people.

Our search for land began that October, and 15 months later we received the deed to our present site—3.98 acres for less than $8,000. An impossible dream was coming true; we had no money, not too many people, and yet God had provided a future home. What can you build with zero dollars? We began a bond program in 1974 after we were laughed out of the banks. God succeeded, and we held the first service in our new church on March 7, 1976 with 125 people present.

There would be no North Hills Church of God if it weren’t for the faith of those who saw what God could do through them. We also received generous support from our fellow Christians at the Lawrenceville Church of God and the Church of God General Conference in establishing our church home. God worked wonderfully through us in the past, and He continues to work through us today. It’s exciting to have new people add to our history each day. There are bright days ahead.