Religion a part of life.

Springfield has benefitted over the years from having been selected as the site for the international headquarters of a major religious denomination, the Assemblies of God. That group, formed in Hot Springs, Arkansas, moved here in 1918.

A large new printing plant was built in 1945; a modern, four-story office building in 1962, and, most recently, a distribution center and a graduate theological school.

That international office today (1980) serves over 50,000 ministers, 40,000 churches and 7,000,000 constituents in 100 countries.

The strong religious beliefs of Springfieldians have manifested themselves in various ways in the community, other than in church attendance.

At various times organized groups, or individuals, did not hesitate to speak out against those things that they felt went against those beliefs: liquor, comic books, dancing, pornography.

Others have expressed themselves through some of the many projects to help others, either on an individual church basis or through a strong Council of Churches which has developed programs to help the needy, the ex-convict, the alcoholic, the elderly and the refugee.