There Is Room in the House of God for Everybody
First Pentecostal Church (FPC) sits on the southeast side of Wichita, Kansas, just off Interstate 135 at the corner of Hydraulic and MacArthur Road. From the building at 1755 E. MacArthur Road, Bishop J. Marrell Cornwell leads a congregation affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI), an Oneness Pentecostal body. The greeting that opens the church's home page - "There is room in the house of God for everybody" - captures both the welcome and the doctrinal confidence that defines the place. The vision, plainly stated by the leadership, is to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world.
FPC's worship draws from the Pentecostal tradition: a focus on apostolic doctrine, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, holiness, divine healing, and Bible-saturated preaching. Guests can expect a warm greeting at the door, a friendly handshake, and what the leadership describes as "sound doctrine." Anyone who walks in for the first time will find a visitor's card on the guest tables in any of the foyers; filling one out is the easiest way to arrange a follow-up conversation later in the week.
A Weekly Rhythm of Services With Spanish and French Translations
Worship follows a steady weekly rhythm at FPC. Sunday brings two gatherings, a 10:00 a.m. morning service and a 6:00 p.m. evening service. Wednesday nights add a 7:00 p.m. service that closes out the week's gathering calendar. To reach the building from I-135, drivers take the Hydraulic-MacArthur exit and head a short distance east. Anyone who needs directions ahead of time can call the church office at 316-529-0600.
Because Wichita is a multilingual community, every service runs with simultaneous in-service translations in Spanish and French. Members and visitors whose first language is Spanish or French can follow the sermon, prayers, and altar portions in real time through interpretation provided by the church.
Livestream and the FPC App
Those who are traveling, sick, or simply at home can worship with FPC through two live stream options. The congregation broadcasts every service on YouTube at @fpcwichitaks and on Facebook at @fpcwichita. Both platforms also carry the full archive of recent services for catch-up viewing. When Facebook's stream falters, the church recommends switching to YouTube, which tends to be more reliable; lowering video resolution on either platform helps with buffering. A "Through the Bible" playlist and other teaching collections sit on the same YouTube channel for on-demand study.
First Pentecostal Church also has its own mobile app, available on the Apple App Store for iPhone and on Google Play for Android. The app brings the calendar, livestream link, giving portal, prayer forms, and church contact information into one place, with push notifications when something is coming up.
A Free Home Bible Study Across Wichita and Beyond
One of the longest-running outreach efforts at FPC is a free Home Bible Study for anyone in the greater Wichita area. A person interested simply fills out a form; someone from the church then comes to their home to teach a Bible lesson at the kitchen table. The in-person home study is a tradition the church is proud to keep, especially for neighbors who might not yet feel ready to walk into a sanctuary.
For those who live too far away, the same teaching is offered online through "Through the Bible," a series taught by Bishop J. Marrell Cornwell. A PDF study guide with the lesson notes can be downloaded at no charge.
The church extends its reach with two flagship multi-language Bible study USB sets, both sold through the bookstore. "Exploring God's Word" is taught in English by Bishop Cornwell, in Spanish by Rev. Rigo Martinez, in Russian by Rev. Vasilli Rogatch, and in Tagalog Filipino by Rev. Jesse Fortaleza. "Search for Truth" is taught in Mandarin by Rev. Caleb Tan and in Portuguese by Rev. Michael Walmer.
The FPC Bookstore and the Bible College Library
An unusual feature of First Pentecostal Church is the depth of its teaching library. The online bookstore is the church's own publishing arm, with categories for Bible Studies, Bible College Series, Conferences, Doctrinal Conference, Preaching Series, and Teaching Series. Payments are processed through PayPal, and no PayPal account is needed to make a purchase.
Bible College alone covers at least twenty-nine teaching tracks, many of them anchored by Bishop Cornwell. Foundational sets include "Overcoming Faith," "Preparing For Your Ministry," "The Study of Revival," "Apostolic Doctrine," "Principles of Christian Growth," "Building Christian Character," "Developing Future Leaders," and "Spirits." Doctrinal classes walk through "Understanding Daniel," "Gleanings from Genesis," "Through the Bible," and "The Work of Ministry." Family and ministry classes round out the catalog with "God's Purpose in the Family" and "Family Relationships," taught by Dr. James Hughes and Dr. Chelsea Nguyen.
Each year the church brings in guest teachers for the annual Doctrinal Conference. Past guest speakers include Dr. David K. Bernard, Rev. Talmadge French, Dr. Daniel Segraves, Rev. Ron Wofford, Rev. Terry Pugh, Rev. Raymond Woodward, Rev. J. H. Osborne, Rev. Harold Hoffman, and Dr. Jeremy Painter. Their conference messages, paired with Bible College sets like "Rightly Dividing" and "Unlocking Biblical Truths," are sold as USB recordings.
The Teaching Series follows a similar shape. Rev. Gordon Winslow's "Kingdom Choices," "Crowned With Favor," "The Secret Place," and "Victory in Crisis" collections draw from messages taught during the church's annual January Fasting and Prayer Week. Rev. Raymond Woodward contributes "A Word Revival" and "Vessels of Honor." Rev. J. H. Osborne's classic three, four, and five-night teaching sets anchor the back catalog.
The Preaching Series gathers classic Bishop Cornwell sermon albums, including "Death, Judgment, and Eternity," "The Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ," "A Biblical Approach on Endtime Prophecy," and "The Danger of Being Out of the Will of God."
Apostolic Doctrine in Plain Language
The doctrinal shape of the church comes through in Bible College #12, titled "Apostolic Doctrine," taught by Bishop J. Marrell Cornwell. The seven lessons walk through baptism, the doctrine of the blood, the oneness of God (in two parts), the coming of Christ, eternal security, and repentance. Other foundational classes - "Understanding Salvation," "The Discipleship Profile," "Personal Renewal," and "Building Christian Character" - build out the picture of a holiness-Pentecostal church that anchors itself in apostolic identity, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the study of Scripture as the rule of faith and practice.
Prayer Requests, Praise Reports, and Online Giving
Three simple forms connect worship to daily life. A prayer request can be submitted with one of three privacy levels: a request the congregation and livestream audience can hear, a request that stays within the prayer room, or a request seen only by the FPC prayer team. A separate Praise page collects praise reports from members and visitors alike, which the church uses to encourage the rest of the body. Online giving is available through the Tithe and Offering page. The leadership frames giving as an act of worship - gratitude to God for the grace received in Jesus Christ, expressed through tithes and offerings that fund the vital ministries of the local church.
Leadership and Denominational Connection
Bishop J. Marrell Cornwell is the pastor and presiding bishop of First Pentecostal Church. He is the principal teacher of the Bible college material, the author of most of the foundational Apostolic Doctrine classes, and the voice behind many of the sermons in the Preaching Series and the "Through the Bible" online study. He is also a regular teacher at conferences and appears in extended interviews on the church's YouTube channel.
The congregation operates under the umbrella of the United Pentecostal Church International, the Oneness Pentecostal body that connects FPC to a wider network of apostolic churches across North America and around the world. That connection shapes both the doctrinal vocabulary used in the Bible college classes and the order of services on Sunday morning.
Planning a First Visit
Services are held Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., at 1755 E. MacArthur Road. In-service translations are available in Spanish and French. Livestream is available on YouTube and Facebook for those who are traveling or unable to attend in person, and the FPC app brings the same access to a phone. Hand-sanitation stations are placed at the entrances and in the sanctuary. Visitors can pick up a guest card at any foyer to receive a follow-up visit or phone call after the service. For prayer requests, praise reports, home Bible study arrangements, online giving, or general questions, the church can be reached by phone at 316-529-0600 during the week.