First Church of the Nazarene of Gainesville, Ga was organized on January 6, 1946, by District Superintendent Bill Davis, with fourteen charter members. Rev. Hugh Mincey was the first pastor of the church, and the meeting for organization was held in his home in Chicopee at 3:00 in the afternoon. The church was named Chicopee Church of the Nazarene. The first church building was a house across the bridge on Atlanta Highway, north of Chicopee, purchased for around $2,000. This building served as the worship and education center for the church until the spring of 1956.

In the fall of 1955, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Fletcher Digby, property was purchased and construction begun at 953 Washington Street. The first services were held in the basement of the new building in the spring of 1956, but services were not held upstairs until December 22, 1957. On January 26, 1958, the new building was dedicated by District Superintendent Mack Anderson. Rev. Paul Barnes was the pastor. At that time the name of the church was changed to Gainesville First Church of the Nazarene.

Under the leadership of Rev. Thomas E. Rash, the current nine-acre campus on Otlia Drive, just off of Highway 53, was purchased in 1991. A beautiful brick structure that can accommodate up to 300 worshipers in the sanctuary and 150 people in the Christian Education rooms was dedicated on June 27, 1993.  

To truly embrace our goal to be a Christ-centered center for our community, we are building a new outdoor space. We will have a 60' x 60' pavilion that will be a spot for our friends and neighbors to have events and grow in connection with one another. The next phase of this project will include a new playground to ensure that children have a safe space to play.  The pavilion should be finished by January of 2024.

Rev. Hugh R. Mincey
1946-1948
 Rev. Dorace W. Nichols
1948-1949
 Rev. Fletcher M. Digby, Jr.
1949-1957
 Rev. Paul Barnes
1957-1959
 Rev. Hugh R. Mincey
1959-1962
 Rev. Terry Soles
1962-1973
 Rev. Robert E.Maner
1973-1975
 Rev. Ray D. Moore
1975-1978
 Rev. Howard Porter, Jr.
1978-1983
 Rev. Gary J. Gulley
1983-1989
 Rev. Thomas E. Rash
1989-1993
 Rev. Lon Heighton
1994-2002
 Rev. W.E. McCumber (Interim)
2002
 Rev. Jason Day
2002-2004
 Rev. W.E McCumber
2004-2010
 Rev. Don Moore (Interim)
2010-2011
 Rev. Gary Huff
2011-2021
Rev. Ryan Watt - Worship Pastor
2018-2021
 Rev. Josh Warren
2018-2021
Rev. Ryan Watt - Senior Pastor
2021-2023
Cassie Yanez - Associate Pastor
2022-2023
Trevor Knudsen - Associate/Youth Pastor
2021-Present