In March 1967, a small group of Christians began meeting in a building at 117 South Walnut Street known as the Stephenson County Farm Bureau Building. Laymen and pastors from the Rockford area as well as from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, filled the pulpit. In November Rev. Gerald Hagelin was called to serve as the first pastor of the church. With a proposed budget of $11,620.00 for the new year of 1968, the church took a step of faith and purchased the building which belonged to the First Church of the Open Bible at 700 West Chestnut Street. The congregation continued to grow, and in April 1969, decided to conduct two morning services. Five acres of land on West Stephenson Street were purchased in April 1970, for future building and expansion. Just ten months later the $25,000 loan was paid in full, and on Easter Sunday 1971, the mortgage was burned. "TO GOD BE THE GLORY." Groundbreaking ceremonies took place in March 1972. In that same year, in order to complete the structure we presently enjoy, $118,300.00 in 2nd mortgage bonds were issued. Due to the faithfulness of God and His people, both of these debts have been retired well before their due dates. In December of 1972 Rev. Kenneth Freeby was called to be youth pastor. The first service in Park Hills Evangelical Free Church was held June 3, 1973. During that year the church experienced phenomenal growth both spiritually and numerically. Five more acres of land were purchased in anticipation of the next phase of expansion. Information taken from the 1986 Pictorial Directory