HANGING ROCK — More than 50 years ago a barefoot preacher came through Lawrence County preaching Acts 2:38 and the oneness of the Godhead. Decades after his death his legacy lives, as the church he founded in 1963 continues its service and praise to God.

The Apostolic Church of God got its start in Pigeon Hollow and there weathered the death of Hankins and his successor, Taylor Jenkins. In January 1993, less than a year after Jenkins’ death, the church completed construction of a new church building in Hanging Rock and held its dedication service Feb. 6, 1993, offically becoming the Hanging Rock Apostolic Church of God.

And the church has remained true to its vision and is never failing in its praise to the Lord, current pastor Glenn Jenkins, said.

“I think keeping our small church going has been a steady work,” said Jenkins, who is not related to Taylor Jenkins. “A lot of times we look at things by numbers, but our church is about faithfulness. We have never been big, but we have always been faithful.”

The congregation, which averages 25 to 50 people each Sunday, is a good, God-loving group of people, Jenkins said.

Jenkins took over as pastor in September 2006. A member of the church for almost twenty years, he has served in a variety of leadership roles.

“I’ve just had a good walk with God,” Jenkins said. “I’ve met a lot of good people and have developed good relationships with them and God. The church is my second home, the congregation is my family.”

Leading the church is not a job, but a calling, Jenkins said. He said while many churches are run like a business, he and his board do not believe in running their church that way.

Even so, a church has to have a pastor and deacons, people in charge, Jenkins said.

Don Sturgill, a deacon who has been with the church 48 years, said the congregation is a good, friendly group of people and he is glad to be a part of it.

“I joined the church about two years after it started,” Sturgill said. “It’s the only church I’ve been in that preaches the truth of how to be saved. Brother Hankins read the second chapter of Acts right out of the book, for everyone to hear.”

Sturgill said Jenkins is also a good man, and the right man to join the past pastors of the church in continuing the Gospel Hankins started 50 years ago.

The church will host its 50th annual anniversary weekend celebration Saturday at 7 p.m. with special singing and preaching. The weekend is set to conclude Sunday with a potluck dinner and music from 1-4 p.m. at the Dawson-Bryant High School gymnasium in Coal Grove. Everyone is welcome to attend.