Many men and women who now pastor or are retired pastors, have at one point called the First Jesus Name Church in Weedpatch, California their home. God used Bro. Dearl and Sis. Rita Dawson in a powerful way to groom, shape and perfect the ministeries of those whose lives were put in their charge. I think perhaps Bro Bruce Campbell said it best when he said "The reason it's in me so much, is they never tried to put it in my head, they put it in my heart". Here's a look at a few of those "Oneness" men and women of God who are still clinging to those same instilled values and are proud to say "It All Started In A Place Called Weedpatch".
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Bro. Donnie & Sis. Joyce Smith Our church is named Jesus Assembly. We are located in Woodville, CA, which is located between Porterville and Tulare. This past December marked 41 years that Bro Smith has pastored. Bro. Smith started attending the FJN Church in Weedpatch in 1960 at age 13. I started church four year later, in December of 1964 at age 16, and was baptised by Bro. Boots Campbell. There was a men's quartet which consisted of Bro. Otis Turk, Bro. Boots Campbell, Bro. Larry Blackwood and Bro. Donnie Smith. Sis. Doris Smith, Sis. Kathy Turk, and I sang in a trio. It was so neat to see Bro. Boots play the big base fiddle. Sis. Vesta would played a triangle. The Choir was outstanding under the leadership of Sis. Rita and Sis Mavis Rice. After we married (1967) we became part of the boosters for FJN Christian School. Later Sis. Rita was instrumental in helping us start our small Christian school which we had for 17 yrs. She always included us in everything they did which was so fun for our students. We both attended Faith Heritage College and graduated in the class of 1983. Sis Joyce Smith |
 Bro. Gary & Sis. Joyce Jones Bro. Jones and I spent eleven years evangelising at the beginning of his ministry. We than settled in Vicksburg, MS where Bro. Jones served as the Pastor for a period of time before moving on to pastor in Miami, OK. for 12 years. We are currently back on the road evangelising. Bro. Gary Jones recieved the Holy Ghost in 1966 in a revival service at Weedpatch,Ca. He than began attending the F.J.N. Christian School after a long history of being expelled from the public school system. He not only was elected as the FJN Student Body President but he graduated with honors and in later years was invited back as a graduation guest speaker. Bro. Jones felt his call to the ministry & began preaching at the age of 18. Bro. & Sis. Dawson were his parents in the Lord. They instilled in him the truth of Gods' Word. After graduation, Bro Jones followed Bro. Boots & Sis. Betty Cambell to Racine, MO. to attend a campmeeting. It was there that Bro. Boots introduced Bro. Gary and I, we were married 4 months later. We are blessed with a son that is also a minister. Through the years, we have returned many times to Weedpatch to preach revivals for Bro. & Sis. Dawson. Bro. Jones and I both have so many fond memories of th F.J.N. Church at Weedpatch, CA. Sis. Joyce Jones |
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