On Sunday, March 5, 1978, a new fellowship met for worship in a converted phone company building on East Street in Culpeper.  Glenn C. Oldaker had come to Christ many years before under the ministry of evangelist Gipsy Smith, Jr., during a tent meeting held in Culpeper in 1915.  He attended Moody Bible Institute, then traveled as an evangelist with his wife, Ruth, who sang with him and taught children's Bible stories.  After his wife's death, "Brother Oldaker", as Glenn was known, founded the Christian Bookshop, and later helped to begin the Culpeper Christian School under the leadership of Peter Goodfield.

    For some time prior to the first meeting of Culpeper Christian Assembly, two other men, John Musselman and Mason Hutcheson, had been praying that the Lord would raise up a non-denominational, Bible-teaching church for Culpeper.  In early February, 1978, Mason stated to these men that "the Holy Spirit had convicted his heart that now was the Lord's timing for a local fellowship to come together at the Christian Meeting House."

    Soon afterwards, the Bookshop hosted a series of special meetings with Pastor Bob Jones, Jr., who exhorted those present to join together and form a local church.  One week later, Oldaker, Musselman, Hutcheson and Goodfield met for prayer, at which time it was unanimously felt that it was the Lord's will that a regular Sunday meeting be formed at the Meeting House, beginning with March 5.  It was further agreed that they would allow the Holy Spirit to direct them.  No constitution or formal organization would take place until the Holy Spirit convicted them of the proper direction to take.

    The preaching responsibilities were shared in rotation among the four men, with a fifth added.  Brother Rufus Myer, who served at Elkwood Community Chapel, would preach on the fifth Sundays.

    The diversity of Church backgrounds in the leadership early set the tone for CCA to be a nonsectarian assembly which recognized the wider body of Christ, welcoming all who knew and loved the Lord Jesus Christ.  A number of families from the SonHouse youth ministry also began coming to CCA at that time.  It was a unique mix of old and new in an evangelical church.

    On September 16, 1979, an installation service for the first church officers was held.  The elders were Glenn Oldaker, Mason Hutcheson, John Musselman and Peter Goodfield.  The deacons were Sandy Young, Ed Cutright, Terry Ludlow and Peter Stover.  Nona Goodfield was Treasurer.

    In 1981 Sandy left for Dallas Theological Seminary.  During that time, Ron Shultz, Sr., who had served many years as a Free Methodist pastor, was added to the elder board.

    In January, 1987, the church extended a call and commissioned Sandy Young as its first full-time pastor/elder.  Ken and Karen Scott led our music ministry.  We added a second service.  Bo Kilby and Will Spillman were called as elders.

    What began with 16 families the first year and a budget of less than $16,000, has become 60 families and a budget of over $100,000.  We have purchased land, and commissioned design teams to plan for a future facility, as the Lord wills.

    Perhaps our greatest privilege as a church is to have seen a number of our people called to serve the Lord in full-time ministry:  Dirk and Shirley Mroczek (to the Ukraine), Jay and Pam Moon (with SIM to Ghana), Peter and Chris Stover (JOY/FM and FEBC, Philippines), Chaz and Connie Campbell (CBM Ministries), and Sandy and Jan Lu Young.

    With mixed sorrow and joy, we have seen over the years several of the faithful go home to the Lord:  Brother Oldaker, Brother Myer, Ron Shultz, John Musselman, and Joyce Hutcheson.  It is to those, who have run the race before us, that we remember especially.