For three
months in the spring of 1982, founding Pastors Pasco (Pat) and Mary
Ann Manzo held a Bible study at his parents' home at 7 Elvira Street
in North Providence. The very first night an awesome thing happened.
They set up 26 chairs and 26 people came! After a few services,
there were so many people in attendance that the house became full.
They prayed that God would lead them to a building.
On the first Sunday of June in 1982, NPAG officially began Sunday
services at 1995 Smith Street in North Providence. RENT FREE! At
first it was quite a sight. There was an eight-foot broken down
bingo machine up on the wall, which they replaced with a cross to
the glory of God. Everyone pulled together and remodeled the place,
and soon it was a beautiful house of the Lord! They stayed there a
year and a half; never having a bill, or even having to pay for a
light bulb. The town custodian maintained the whole building. David
Livingston said, “The Lord's work, done the Lord's way, will always
have the Lord's provision.”
One memory that stands out was the time spent at the altars on
Saturday nights. Prayer is what made NPAG what it was and still is
today. One night a desperate, suicidal woman came into the prayer
meeting. God divinely intervened. She was saved the next day and is
still a member today.
In February of 1983, God spoke to Pastor Manzo’s heart at a
Saturday night prayer service. God then told him that the church
would acquire land, over 100 people would be in attendance and God
would provide finances to begin building by the end of May. True to
His promise, within three months, NPAG had acquired the land at 244
Lexington Avenue, $10,000 cash was raised for the foundation and 102
people were in attendance at the second Sunday service in May! All
the men of the church worked hard together to clear the land of its
trees, and the ladies kept the food coming. Wood construction began
in September of 1983.
The church was refused a mortgage from four different banks but
God had spoken. The church decided to build by FAITH and purchased
by credit. As the bills piled up, Pastor Manzo went to a fifth bank.
As he walked out of the bank, the Lord said, “You're all set. He's
going to give you the mortgage.” He announced it to the church
people that the loan would be accepted even before knowing it in the
natural. God calls these things as if they were before they come
into being (Isaiah 42:9). Miraculously, on January 1, 1984, just
four months after the first piece of wood was delivered, they held a
New Year's Day service in the beautiful new sanctuary! Praise God!
After 25 years of faithful service, founding Pastors Pat and Mary
Ann Manzo resigned their position as Sr. Pastors of NPAG. On January
7, 2007, Pastor Tony Palow was installed as the new Sr. Pastor of
North Providence Assembly. The story of NPAG continues to be His
Story, and we believe THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
o u r o r i g i n s . . .
© 2 0 1 0 N o r t h P r o v i d e n c e A s s e m b l y
. A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d
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