It all began in November, 1993, when Robert Shingleton, a 10-year member of Jewel City Quartet, received a divine assignment to build a house of God...

When ministering in a church service one evening he felt the presence of the Lord during a solo. At the end of the song he humbled himself at the altar. He knelt there and wept and prayed for half an hour, heeding God's call on his life. The message was to leave the group and become a Shepherd for the Lord. Little did he realize that this was divine history in the making and the beginning of a ministry that would eventually reach a multitude of people.

Within two months and with twenty three people, on January 8, 1994 the first service was held in the old Action Chevrolet building which is now occupied by Shinnston Dollar General Store. They stepped out on faith, believing that God would provide the $800 rent, utilities and other expenses. This was the birth and the beginning of what has since been known as "Jewel City Church".

The church was financially poor, but spiritually wealthy. Only one month later they held a three day revival that turned into an eleven day series of meetings. Lives were instantly changed and the winning of souls had begun.

All of this created a problem which was actually a blessing. The church was forced to build a new facility within one year. As a search for a new location began, property was located just a quarter of a mile from where it all started. So, yet another historic day came to pass when construction on the new facility began in January 1995. This new church sanctuary was completed in August of 1995 and would hold approximately 250 people. There were four class rooms, a nursery, a Pastor's office, a small kitchen and fellowship hall. In 1997 a gym, new kitchen, bathrooms and a fellowship hall was added on. The new gym was also used for a Gospel Music Dinner Concert. We were privileged to have many well-known, Southern Gospel artists such as Gold City, The Kingsmen, The Pfiefers, The Crabb Family, The Perrys and many others

Even at that time, talk began of how the congregation was growing so much that they might just have to move the sanctuary into the gym. Yet another chapter was being written and a miracle birthed on that day in February, 2000 when renovations began, converting the gym into a new sanctuary. We held our first service on Easter, April 2000. Moreover, excitement and enthusiasm kept building as more and more people kept coming and the congregation really began to see the vision that God had given Pastor Shingleton to "Win the City to Christ" and for this church to become a city within a city!

On February of 2001, we began pouring approximately 1,300 yards of concrete for the new parking lot. Although it took most of the summer, we now have a concrete parking lot with wheelchair accessibility. And even now, parking is still a problem and we have to shuttle people from a local parking lot to the church.

When the congregation began to expand in a substantial way and reached 500.   A wall was taken out and the kitchen in July of 2001 and bathrooms were removed. Two hundred more seats were made available. At this time those seats are almost 75% filled to capacity.

Today, Jewel City Church has over 600 members and an average attendance of nearly 500, but its mission remains the same. It is a refuge for the hurting and lost. The church has always welcomed new faces, regardless of their past and present circumstances. Jewel City has allowed the Lord to lead in everything it has done since day one and will continue to give all the Honor and Glory to God for everything it accomplishes in the future.