Christian Life Center

Kent Assembly of God, as it was originally known, was started in late 1949 by Rev. John Herman. The vision to reach the community of Kent was caught by a small group that met at the old Brady Lake Elementary School. As the Lord built the church, souls were saved, bodies healed, and many were filled with the Holy Spirit.

After significant growth the congregation built a building on property on Lake Street (presently Horning Building Supply Company). The Lord continued to bless this work; Brother Herman spent 14 years plowing the spiritual ground of Kent. We are grateful to him for his commitment and vision to see the church established in Kent.

Rev. Eugene Speich became the pastor in 1964 and led the church for nearly 5 years of ministry. In May 1969 Rev. Don Brascoe came to pastor the church. Under his leadership the congregation purchased the present five acre property on Rhodes Road.

God blessed the congregation as they built the present facilities with a greater vision for reaching Kent for Christ. The new facilities were dedicated to the Lord in September of 1970.

Near the end of 1971 Rev. Ron Galloway became the pastor of the church. Then in May of 1973 Rev. David McVicktor took the church through four and a half difficult years of ministry. Rev. Barry McClay then took the pastorate in 1978; he began an outreach to the Kent State campus and had a greater vision for the ministry of the church to the community. It was under his leadership that the name of the church was changed to Christian Life Center.

These men and the congregation which they led have all played an important part of the heritage which we now have at Christian Life Center. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:8-9, “The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose…for we are God’s fellow workers.” We thank God for those who have gone before us in God’s field of Kent.

Rev. Dr. David Bittinger, came to CLC in December of 1982. God has richly blessed our congregation under his leadership with our facilities being used to the utmost capacity. After 28 years at CLC, Pastor Dave and Liz resigned and are now serving as Senior Pastor to the Montgomery Assembly of God in Cincinnati. Rev. Joseph B. Serbin served as Interim Pastor from October 24, 2010 until May 22, 2011. In 1956, he was called to Cleveland First Assembly of God where he served for 5 years before going to the Akron Springfield Assembly of God. During the 40 years of his ministry produced the radio program “Maranatha” which went for over 20 years.

Sunday, May 1, 2011 the Church unanimously accepted the candidacy of Tom Poulin to lead the Church, as its new Senior Pastor.

Pastor Tom Poulin, attended University of New Brunswick, Civil Engineering, Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, Theology Diploma, Ordained from Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, and Ordained with the New York District of Assembly of God. Served as Senior Pastor Bethel Pentecostal Church, South Bolton, Quebec, Canada, Senior Pastor Cornwall Pentecostal Church, Cornwall, Ontario and traveled with "Watoto", an African Children's Choir.

He and his wife presently reside in Buffalo New York where he served as the Sr. Pastor of Expressway A/G, a post he has held for the past 5 years. Mrs. Cheryl Poulin currently works for CVS in Buffalo, New York as Assistant Manager. They have been married for 25 years with 2 grown children Jeffrey and Shanna.                        

The Church held a reception Saturday afternoon April 30 so the members could meet and greet the Poulin’s.  The vote was held on Sunday May 1, following the Sunday morning service that featured Pastor Tom Poulin.  The vote was overseen by the Assembly of God State Superintendent, Rev. John Musgrave, of the Ohio Ministry Network. The Christian Life Center congregation voted 100% in favor for Pastor Poulin. 

We look forward to the future growth of CLC as Jesus builds our church into a great ministry that is growing “Upward in our worship to God, Outward in evangelizing the world and Inward in training the Christian.”