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Get to Know Us

Faithfully serving Brawley since 1928.   

Assembles of GOD

The Assemblies of God was founded in 1914. Today there are close to 13,000 churches in the U.S. with nearly 3 million members and adherents. There are 85,393,883 Assemblies of God adherents worldwide, making the Assemblies of God the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.

The U.S. Assemblies of God national office is located at 1445 N. Boonville Avenue, Springfield, Missouri. It houses the Fellowship's executive and administrative offices, service divisions and departments, and warehouse.

What we believe 

Two years after its founding, the AG established 16 doctrines as a standard to reach, preach and teach its people. These doctrines became our Statement of Fundamental Truths.

Our Team.

Coming Soon. 

pastor

Andrew (Andy) & Keitha Mccandless

Pastor Andy, alongside his wife Keitha, began their ministry as interims after Rev. Paul and Janice Tedesco stepped down from their roles as pastors of Brawley Assembly. Pastor Andy was a full-time Jr. High math teacher who decided to retire from teaching to pursue his calling into the ministry. Pastor Andy and Keitha had been the lay Youth Pastor's and on the worship team at Brawley Assembly of God (BAGC) from 2002-2006.

 

From 2006 - 2016 Pastor Andy and Keitha helped as interims in several churches, returning to BAGC in 2016. Pastor Andy and the church, through participation with City Serve, were able to completely furnish the Ministry House where Pastors and Missionaries may have a free, comfortable, and homey place to stay while they are itinerating. Many have used the Ministry House and loved it. Keitha leads worship, Women's Ministry, and is also currently a full time teacher. Their children and grandchildren live in Washington and Idaho. 

Concrete Wall

our
history

1928 / Church Beginnings

Evangelist, Mrs. Drenda Allison, had a tent meeting, which later formed a congregation and "The Pentecostal Church" was formed. From the tent, the church moved to a building at 2nd and C Streets. As the church grew, the congregation decided to buy land and build their own church at 124 West A Street. Services were held in a fumigation tent until an unfortunate fire burned it to the ground. The congregation decided to build a building out of adobe bricks. (2 of these adobe bricks are on display in the back of the church) Most of the bricks were made by the women of the church, due to the end of WWI and The Great Depression. 

1932 

Rev. Grady and Lucille Fannin pastored for one year at the start of the Great Depression. Church Affiliation with the Assemblies of God (AOG).  

1933 

On August 30, 1993, a meeting was called to officially organize the church with the Assemblies of God denomination. The name chosen was, "The Pentecostal Assembly of Brawley, CA." Rev. J. Makinson was Pastor when the church was organized and affiliated with the AOG. 

1933 - 1937

Rev. Robert Perryman helped to construct the adobe brick church at 124 West A Street. 

1937 - 1941

Rev. Sam Turner also helped to complete the construction of the adobe church and many special revivals were held during these years. 

1942 - 1947

Rev. and Mrs. H.A. Wallace came to pastor the church. While here in Brawley the property on "A" Street was sold and the Japanese Methodist Church at 7th and "C" Street was rented. 

1947 - 1954

Rev. and Mrs. N.E. Carlson moved to Brawley from Colorado. During their 7 years of ministry in Brawley, a radio ministry was started as well as a bus ministry reaching out to the community of children here in Brawley. In 1950 the property at 7th and C Street was bought, and the name of the church was changed to "Assembly of God Church of Brawley, CA." In 1952, the church parsonage was built. 

1954

Rev. and Mrs. Vernon Ragsdale pastored for about one year. He was known for his great teaching and preaching from the Bible. 

1955 - 1957 / 1969 - 1970

Rev. Henry and Earlene Fowler pastored the church at two different time periods. In 1955, when the Fowler's first came to Brawley, they were able to plan and purchase the lots west of the parsonage and prepare for the building of the new church. In 1969, the Fowler's returned to minister for a little over one year. 

1957 - 1959

Rev. Joseph and Genevieve Marr and their family started two years of a church building project in 1957. First, they began to tear down the upper part of the old building in order to use the materials from it to start the building of the new church. The basement of the old building was used to have services as the construction continued. The ground was broken in late 1957 for the new church building and it was completed and dedicated in June of 1958. 

1959 - 1969

Rev. Byron and Mary Lou Owens blessed Brawley with almost 10 years of ministry. During these 10 years more property was purchased for parking and continued improvements were made to the church facilities. Paster Owens also had a radio ministry and began the "Faith Promise" Missions giving plan for our Assembly of God Missionaries. 

January 1971 - March 1972

Pastor John Surratt. 

May 1972 - June 2011

Rev. Michael and  (Sister) Susan Lasky pastored Brawley Assembly of God for 39 years. In 1978, they implemented the building of the 2-story multipurpose and Sunday School room addition. In 1973, the bus ministry was revived and both children and adults were bussed to church. A kitchen was added to the multipurpose room in 1980 and the sanctuary was remodeled. The Lasky's and their three children lived in the parsonage for the first 17 years of their ministry, which at that time was sitting on the grass just to the East of the sanctuary. In 2002, the parsonage was moved across the street to the eat of the church. 

Sister Susan blessed the church with her gifts and talents in the areas of playing the piano and leading worship, women's ministry, and teaching wherever needed. Pastor Lasky and Susan have made long lasting friendships and relationships with the people of Brawley and Westmorland, and all throughout the Imperial Valley.

During their 39 years of ministry, they had 4 Associate Pastors: 

1977 - 1979 Phillip Taylor 

1988 - 1990 Michael Rouhotas 

1992 - 1993 Richard Tevis 

2002 - 2010 Richard Rodriguez 

Three of these Associate Pastors continued into full-time ministry as Pastors and Missionaries. In June of 2011, Pastor Lasky and Susan announced their retirement. Over the next 10 years they were asked to be interim pastors at several churches throughout the Imperial Valley where God continued to bless them. In 2021, they returned "home" to Brawley Assembly of God, where Susan is a vital member of our worship team, and Pastor Lasky is an honorary board member, and fills in preaching when needed. Their years of experience have been an encouragement to Pastor Andy and Keitha McCandless. 

2011 - 2016 

Rev. Troy and Ginnette Doudy started their ministry soon after returning from many years of service on the mission field of Nicaragua. In 2016, Pastor Troy and Ginnette announced that they were planning to return to the mission field in Peru. They are currently supported by Brawley Assembly of God. 

Nov. 2016 - March 2021

Rev. Paul and Janice Tedesco became the Pastors of Brawley Assembly on Cattle Call weekend of 2016. They came to the church with 50+ years of ministry already in place. Janice helped with the piano and singing on the worship team and with Women's ministry. When the COVID shut down occurred, Pastor Paul and Janice met the unprecedented challenges with a positive attitude and started recording all services. In 2020, the sanctuary was remodeled with new carpet and chairs replacing the pews. In 2021, Pastor Paul and Janice returned to Florida. 

Associate Pastor

2017 - 2020 Joshua and Cassie Clawson 

March 2021 - Present 

Pastor Andrew (Andy) and Keitha McCandless began their ministry as interims after the Tedesco's. Please see above for about information. 

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