1963

 Tenth Anniversary - 1963

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Our Beginning

Every local church has a beginning and the beginning of each congregation differs from the other. This was true of Owensboro Christian. The congregation stands as a tribute to many people, churches, and ministers for months and years. over a period of many months and years.

Several churches and Christian groups were contacted and made aware of the need for a New Testament church in Owensboro. Thanks to some ministers in the. Men for Christ who had been in Owensboro and could see its possibilities, recommendation was made to establish a new work. Christ agreed to sponsor the new work. In April 1953 the Men for Christ agreed to sponsor the new work.

In September 1953 Brother Dave Rose moved to Owensboro as evangelist for the Men for Christ. Several contacts were made and first services were held at the Senior High School building. There were twenty-three present at this first service. Two were added by transfer.

Early in 1954 two lots in the Massie-Clarke subdivision were selected as suitable building sites for а

new house of worship. Upon final payment of the lots, plans were ready for the new building.

Construction was started in March 1955. It was completed and ready for use in June 1955. On June 19 the first service was held and Brother Ard Hoven, minister of the Broadway Christian, Church was guest speaker. There were thirty-three additions to the church that day. !

Uniting with the church on June 19 were several members from the Valley Grove Christian Church, located about five miles south of Owensboro. The Valley Grove congregation was growing smaller each year due to the large number of members that were moving to other areas. The congregation felt that more could be accomplished if services at Valley Grove were concluded and the members united with Owensboro Christian. This was done by a vote of the Valley Grove membership, and today approximately forty members of the old Valley Grove Church are now members of the Owensboro Christian located at 3300 South Frederica Street. The total attendance of former Valley Grove members is greater than it had been for many years.

As a gesture of goodwill and faith in this new church venture, the Valley Grove brethren, from funds left in the treasury and from the sale of the old building, purchased a new piano and organ for the church auditorium. They are still in use.