My wife and I along with our two daughters began pastoring the Elkton Church of God in 1986. At that time, the church was located in a store front that was in need of much repair. Once we painted and fixed up the place, the church began to grow.

By the early nineties, we outgrew the building and we started looking into other options. We prayed and fasted with a vision for the harvest. We looked at several locations to build, but nothing worked out. In the early spring of 1992, God spoke that He would bless our church on Pentecost Sunday if we continued to seek His favor. Several months later, a door opened that only God could open.

On Pentecost Sunday, we voted to purchase a Mennonite Church. In order to reach our community, we began to make our facilities handicap accessible with a ramp and handicap restrooms. We looked into several possibilities to add on to our structure, but we were landlocked.

In 2011, we began to have outdoor activities to try to reach our community. We soon began a building fund, in which God greatly blessed.

In 2013, we were approached by a realtor with about fourteen acres, two miles from the church, on a beautiful hill and access from two different roads. At the time, the price seemed high and we could not afford the property, so we began to pray for God’s favor. To make a long story short, the owners eventually accepted our offer, which was half of the original asking price. God is faithful.

We started improving the property and having outdoor singings, Vacation Bible School, Camp Meetings and other activities that would involve the community. We decided to place a pavilion and a fellowship hall on the property that would eventually turn into a multipurpose facility in time to come.

We also have long term plans to place a church on the property as God blesses.

God is faithful and He is blessing,

Pastor Sam and Nina Sponaugle

Ministry on the Margins at Elkton COG