Every September in the small Southern Illinois community of Olive Branch, Trinity Assembly of God Church celebrates its homecoming. It is a time when members of the church, both past and present, commemorate the church's founding as a body that took place on Sept. 4, 1921.

"This year's a special one because it's our ninetieth year," according to Trinity Assembly of God Pastor Stephen Clardy. "It's a special time to reflect on how far the church has come in ninety years of existence." Clardy became the church's pastor 15 months ago making this upcoming celebration his second homecoming, a second opportunity to listen to other members share memories of the church's earliest days.

Memories are all that remain in reference to a fire at the church, and even those are beginning to fade. "I don't remember exactly when that was," Alan Foster said. At age 82, Foster is a lifelong resident of Olive Branch and a deacon of the same church that he has attended since he was 9 years old. "I would say that it would have been in the '40s. That would be my guess."

"Seventy-nine years," stated his wife Juanita, who believed that the fire was as far back as 1932.

Pastor Clardy said, "The church was rebuilt and in 1980 was refurbished and added onto."

Decades after experiencing their own disaster, Trinity Assembly of God Church was ready to respond when catastrophe struck Olive Branch this past spring.

"A lot of them from our church weren't directly in the flood," Clardy said. "But a lot of them knew people who were in the flood. They helped sandbag and the church participated in that effort. We also took hot food down to the community center for those who weren't in homes.

Our church is a place where people who are hurt can be helped and touched. One of the great testimonies to be truly saying you're [the church] is a body of Christ is by showing it, by helping people and loving people and being there for them in hard times."

While the town of Olive Branch is on the mend, Pastor Clardy said the church will continue to be involved in the community in a variety of ways. "We want to continually try to show Christ's hand extended to the community. Where we can help, we're gonna be there for people and try to touch hearts and lives of people who are hurting."

Through fire, remodeling and additions, "The building that's there now has withstood a lot of things," according to Clardy. "It's been preserved and it's in better shape now than it ever has been. But the core thing about the church that has never changed is the love and compassion for people, no matter who they are or where they come from."

Trinity Assembly of God Church will celebrate 90 years in Olive Branch, Ill. today with regular services followed by a potluck dinner, fellowship and a sharing of the church's history. For more information call 618-776-5766.