Jermaine & Maria Talton and their four boys moved to Quincy, Illinois a little over 3 years ago to fulfill the dream God had given them to see His church built in Quincy. Nations Family Church began with a hand full of people meeting together in their home. As it began to grow they rented a meeting room in Oakley Lindsey Center and then later moved to rent the small chapel at Sunset Apartments. In February Jermain was set into Eldership
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thought.” Isaiah 55: 8-9
In the spring of this year, God began to speak to us about it being time for us to find a new church home. We began to search for places to rent when God opened the door bigger and wider than we had ever dreamed. In May we purchased a wonderful new property for our new home, a place where we didn’t have to share space and work around other schedules to use it. This property at 2201 Locust Street had a church building that was ready to move into to, a two-story house directly behind the church that has five bedrooms, and a small two bedroom house and garage located on approximately ½ of a city block.
God not only meet our needs for the present, but He gave us room to grow! We had our first meeting in the building May 27th! A few short weeks later we had the first memorial service for a young father in our church who died in a car accident on his way to church. We have worshipped and praised together, mourned together, and rejoiced together. Since we began meeting in our new location God has added new people to our church family and each week we have had visitors coming. We began working on remodeling the big house preparing for the Talton’s to move in at the end of July. Working together on the house, yard work, and cleaning the church has brought us together to fellowship and get to know each other as a family over the summer. We have had people stop by to ask about the church as we have been working. Other churches in the city have welcomed us, encouraged us and have offered help with remodeling.
Having our own facility has made it much easier to meet together throughout the week. Youth group began meeting together in June. It is exciting to see the passion of the next generation as they share their faith and love for Jesus! The teens have invited friends and the group is growing. We get together for our Living Life Together Bible study meeting on Thursday evenings. This time together has helped to encourage one another and look practically at how to live life for Jesus. We are seeing growth in the church! We celebrated three people being baptized in September. We look forward to how God will continue to bless Nations Family Church and use us to see the city of Quincy and the people come to know Jesus!
They were continually devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42