Glennallen Community Chapel was founded by Vince and Becky Joy after they moved to the area in January 1946. Along with Glennallen Chapel, the Joys also started Cross Road Medical Center (then called Faith Hospital) and Alaska Bible College (which moved to Palmer in 2011). Construction on the first building for the chapel began January 26, 1946 and the chapel was dedicated on December 24, 1946. In 1947, the Sunday School program started with only three teachers – one for young children, one for older children, and one for adults.
In May of 1956, Faith Hospital was completed and was first located at one end of the original chapel building. A new log building for the chapel was started and on October 25, 1959 it was dedicated. In the winter of 1962 work began on the Sunday School addition to the log building and was completed on March 29, 1964. On March 19, 1965, the steeple was placed on the chapel with its tip being 45 feet in the air.
In the Spring of 1965, Glennallen Chapel began broadcasting its services on KCAM. This continued until around 2011. In September of 1966 Alaska Bible College started using the Sunday School rooms for their classes. In 1969, a trailer was gifted to GCC to be used as a bookstore. The bookstore only operated until 1970. A new parsonage was started in November, 1971 and completed in April, 1972. Over the next few years, several ministries were started including women’s groups and Bible studies, youth groups, a community outreach ministry, and a men’s outreach which was started by Park Kriner. In May 1982 the Men’s Prayer Breakfast was started, which is still being held today.
In 1975 the property that the current church building is on was purchased. In September of 1976, the congregation voted to have 25% of all offerings to go toward missions and in October of 1980 the first missions policy was adopted. The first missionary to be sent out from Glennallen Chapel was Helen Forshee who went to the Philippines in March of 1982. During that same month, a building fund was established for the new church building. Building for the current chapel started in December of 1984 and was completed in the summer of 1987. The dedication of the new church building was August 30, 1987. The front lawn of the chapel was landscaped by the US Army in July of 1990, thanks to a member of the church who was stationed in Fairbanks at the time.
The Awana Cubbies and Sparks classes were started in September of 1985. Glennallen Chapel still hosts this ministry for all children in the area. In 1993 the first annual church camp-out was held. This is another event that is still continuing.
There have been 11 different pastors at Glennallen Community Chapel throughout its history. Vince Joy, who founded GCC, was the first pastor and served from 1946-1961. The current pastor, Nate Weimer, has been serving here since 2004.
In May of 1956, Faith Hospital was completed and was first located at one end of the original chapel building. A new log building for the chapel was started and on October 25, 1959 it was dedicated. In the winter of 1962 work began on the Sunday School addition to the log building and was completed on March 29, 1964. On March 19, 1965, the steeple was placed on the chapel with its tip being 45 feet in the air.
In the Spring of 1965, Glennallen Chapel began broadcasting its services on KCAM. This continued until around 2011. In September of 1966 Alaska Bible College started using the Sunday School rooms for their classes. In 1969, a trailer was gifted to GCC to be used as a bookstore. The bookstore only operated until 1970. A new parsonage was started in November, 1971 and completed in April, 1972. Over the next few years, several ministries were started including women’s groups and Bible studies, youth groups, a community outreach ministry, and a men’s outreach which was started by Park Kriner. In May 1982 the Men’s Prayer Breakfast was started, which is still being held today.
In 1975 the property that the current church building is on was purchased. In September of 1976, the congregation voted to have 25% of all offerings to go toward missions and in October of 1980 the first missions policy was adopted. The first missionary to be sent out from Glennallen Chapel was Helen Forshee who went to the Philippines in March of 1982. During that same month, a building fund was established for the new church building. Building for the current chapel started in December of 1984 and was completed in the summer of 1987. The dedication of the new church building was August 30, 1987. The front lawn of the chapel was landscaped by the US Army in July of 1990, thanks to a member of the church who was stationed in Fairbanks at the time.
The Awana Cubbies and Sparks classes were started in September of 1985. Glennallen Chapel still hosts this ministry for all children in the area. In 1993 the first annual church camp-out was held. This is another event that is still continuing.
There have been 11 different pastors at Glennallen Community Chapel throughout its history. Vince Joy, who founded GCC, was the first pastor and served from 1946-1961. The current pastor, Nate Weimer, has been serving here since 2004.