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Backes reaches back to 1859 for sermon for Pioneer worship service

Rev. John M. Backes, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Huntington, will lead the Forks of the Wabash non-denominational pioneer church service on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 9 a.m. in the ‘opera house saloon” (Show Arena at Hier’s Park).
Rev. John M. Backes, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Huntington, will lead the Forks of the Wabash non-denominational pioneer church service on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 9 a.m. in the ‘opera house saloon” (Show Arena at Hier’s Park). Photo by Cindy Klepper.

Rev. John M. Backes, pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Huntington, has reached back to 1859 for the sermon he will preach during the Sunday morning worship service at the Forks of the Wabash Pioneer Festival.

The sermon, "The One Thing Needful," was first given on Feb. 2, 1859, by revivalist Charles Finney.

The non-denominational service begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, in the "opera house saloon" (Show Arena) along Evergreen Road at Hier's Park.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.