A Brief History of the Body of Christ In the Twentieth Century
The Healing of the Fellowship
The fellowship that William Sowders was leading at his death has become weakened and less effective through many splits and divisions. Virtually all of the men who led those divisions and splits have now died. But before their death, some of these leaders, such as Lloyd Goodwin, began to call for a healing of the divisions and a reuniting of the fellowship.
Nearly ten years before his death, Dr. Lloyd Goodwin began to proclaim the need for a healing in the fellowship. He said, "A healed beast necessitates a healed Body."
Dr. Goodwin taught:
...All through the scriptures God has been - at certain times, in division. Israel was divided into ten tribes and two tribes. God sent many great prophets to the ten tribes, as well as to the two tribes. Paul was separated from the original apostles, that he might go far hence to the Gentiles. After the passing of Brother William Sowders God scattered the (fellowship), but it is now a time of regathering. God confirmed this prophecy during the May 1990 Convention when Brother Goodwin was showing that the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel thirty-seven not only typified the nation of Israel, but the church, the Israel of God, as well. An unusual, powerful anointing came upon Brother Goodwin as he prophesied "BONE TO BONE! BONE TO BONE!" The Spirit of God was in his mouth. We were made to know that God, in His own time, will bring the bones, the members of the Body of Christ, together. That which was scattered must be regathered. The Body will be healed. (Lloyd Goodwin, Thirty Years, (Des Moines: Gospel Assembly Churches, 1993), 69-70.)
Indeed, there has been some healing. In 1954, a group of ministers and the trustees of the Shepherdsville campground broke from the larger fellowship, and refused to accept the leadership of Thomas Jolly. They continued to have camp meetings in Shepherdsville with a small group. But in the late 1970's or early 1980's Brother Alfred Daves, pastor of the church in Godfrey, Illinois, and a trustee of the Shepherdsville campground, reunited with the larger Gospel Assembly fellowship. Until today, the larger group that came from Brother William Sowders' ministry still meets annually at that campground.
At the death of Lloyd Goodwin, his brother, Vernon, was appointed the pastor of the Des Moines Gospel Assembly Church. Brother Vernon had a short, hard ministry, but he was blessed of God to see a beginning of the healing, with increasing communication and fellowship between the various divisions of the movement that originated with William Sowders. Ministers from different divisions reacted warmly to Brother Vernon Goodwin's charitable spirit. Sadly, Brother Vernon passed away in November, 1997, after only sixteen months as pastor. But his short ministry was effective.
Progress toward a healing in the fellowship continued unabated. Ministers from different divisions are beginning to fellowship and to communicate. Progress is slow, but if this is the Lord's work, it cannot be stopped.