The first Assembly of God church began as a village church work in 1928 when Assemblies of God missionaries, Rev Cecil M and Edith Jackson arrived in Singapore. As more were added to the church there was a constant need to relocate to large premises. In 1937, Rev and Mrs Lawrence McKinney were sent to Singapore to replace the Jacksons and embarked on a building project for a more permanent premise for the church. After months of prayer, a property at 1079 Serangoon Road was secured.

It was a bungalow, with a large compound, surrounded by an abundance of coconut and fruit trees. Pastor McKinney named it Elim Church Assembly of God because he was reminded that the Israelites, led by Mosses "... came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and threescore and ten palm trees; and they encamped there by the waters" (Exodus 15:27 KJV). On 20 October 1939, a Dedication Service was held.

During the Japanese Occupation in December 1941 when most of the missionaries had been evacuated, Pastor McKinney appointed lay leaders to take charge of Elim Church. They were Bro Lye Eng Hong, Bro Victor Manny, Bro Arthur P Abeysekera and Sis Yeo Bock Hoe. By the grace of God, the church continued with its usual morning and evening services with singing, prayer and the preaching of the Word till the end of the war. Ultimately, a remnant remained, as the church survived those turbulent times of suffering, death and many personal sacrifices.