Chapter 1 - In 1941, Lima First Church of the Nazarene was a thriving congregation. The church was encouraged to multiply by dividing and starting a sister church. Lima's natural dividing line was just north of the Pennsylvania Railroad - a good place to start another work.

In April of that year, the Victory Church of the Nazarene was established in a storefront at 815 N. Main St. By 1942 there were 37 members and an average attendance of 60. The congregation successfully completed a building campaign in 1947 and became the Grand Avenue Church of the Nazarene. The church continued to grow, and in the 60’s a Sunday School and office annex were added to the building.

The location of the Grand Avenue Church had a severe parking shortage. The sanctuary seated about 250 and the Sunday School had little room for growth. Rev. Wayne Sharpes arrived from Overland Park, Kansas in the fall of 1975. In 1976, a building committee was formed to purchase land and lay plans for a new building. In 1978, the congregation (now called Lima Community Church of the Nazarene) moved to the newly built facility on North Cole Street.

Chapter 2 - In 1986, Rev. Sharpes began his Doctorate of Ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary. His process at Fuller taught him that "doing church" was more than just strong preaching and Sunday School. Lima Community became a full-service church that defined its mission and saw itself as a hospital for hurting people. In 1991, a Family Life Center was added and dedicated debt free. In 1996, a new worship sanctuary was built for the hundreds of new adults attending services.

Dr. Sharpes led with great vision and focus during his 22 years of service. In 1997, when he retired, his son, Dave (then Executive Pastor), was elected pastor. Pastor Dave led the church in the vision to reach lost youth as they started the process to build the AXIS, a building for student ministry. Pastor Dave’s passion for the lost was to carry forward beyond his tenure which came to a conclusion in January of 2003. The AXIS was dedicated on May 4th, 2003.

Dr. Dan Huckins accepted the call to Lima Community Church on July 20, 2003. He brought with him a passion for vision, purpose and leadership. In 2004, the entire church sought God’s will and purpose for Lima Community Church. After intensive study of the Word and much time spent in prayer, we discovered God’s purpose:

“Our purpose is to be a community that serves others in our region and the world by sharing the transforming grace of Jesus Christ, developing spiritual maturity, and equipping them for ministry, in order to magnify God.”

Now in 2005, Lima Community continues to look ahead with excitement to what God has laid before us. Now begins Chapter 3.