History

 

A Brief Introduction to the church of Christ 

 

A Brief Introduction to the church of Christ
Allen Webster
 
The church of Christ dates back to the days of the New Testament (Romans 16:16). It
was founded by Christ on the Day of Pentecost, a.d. 33 (Acts 2), not long after His
ascension back to heaven. In the years that followed, it rapidly grew to fill Jerusalem,
then Judea, Samaria, and finally the whole Roman Empire (Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:23).
In America, the first churches of Christ were planted in the late 1700s as the result a
movement begun to go back to the Bible and do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible
things by Bible names (cf. 1 Peter 4:11). 
 
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:30–31), that the Bible is inspired of
God (2 Timothy 3:16–17), and that Christ will return to take His kingdom home to God
(1 Corinthians 15:24). We emphasize sincere worship (John 4:24), every-member
evangelism (Acts 8:4), godly living (Titus 2:11–12), love for each other (John 13:34–35),
and helping those in need (James 1:27). We believe the Bible teaches that sinners are
saved by learning of Jesus, faith in Jesus, repentance of sin because of Jesus,
confession of Jesus, and baptism into Jesus (John 6:44–45; 3:16; Mark 16:15–16;
Romans 10:9–10; Acts 2:38). The church of Christ is organized with elders, deacons,
preachers, and members, as in New Testament times (Philippians 1:1). It has no
governing body on earth higher than the local congregation. 
 
The church of Christ is noted for its emphasis upon returning to New Testament
Christianity and for its desire to unite all Christians into one body (1 Corinthians 1:10).
We believe that the New Testament is the only rule for faith and practice in religious
matters (2 Timothy 3:17; 2 Peter 1:3), and that God’s Word must authorize all that is
done in Christian worship (Colossians 3:17; Revelation 22:18–19). Thus we try to strictly
follow the New Testament. We believe that it is possible to have religious unity in a day
of division by simply following the New Testament pattern and putting aside human
traditions. 
 
To put it simply, the church of Christ is seeking to be the same church one reads about
in the New Testament. We aim to restore its doctrine, its practice, its lifestyle, and its
zeal.

 

Brief history of Grand Junction church of Christ

 

John W. Sasser and his family canvassed the community in the spring of 1951 and located six members of the Church of Christ.  These six people were Mrs. Ruth Peeler, Mrs. Lucy Snellings, Mrs. Virginia Witherspoon, Miss Bessie Phillips, and Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Shappley.  The first worship service with this group was held in the Shappley home on the first Sunday in April 1951.  The group had the backing of the Middleton Church of Christ from the start. 

 

Back then, the worship services were held at 5:00 P.M. each Sunday. The membership increased so much that the Shappley home was no longer able to host services.  The mayor and board of aldermen granted permission to use the city hall has a place of worship.  Later, a plot of land was purchased from Mrs. Alice Witherspoon and her daughter, Mrs. Katherine Koonce..  The building was later erected by the summer of 1959.  There were several people and churches that promoted contributions to help defray the building cost.  J.P. Shelly and the Sons of Middleton and Hobson Lumber Company of Ashland furnished material at reduced price.  Dexter Stewart and Virgil Stewart did the masonry work, while Carl Gene Davis did the plumbing and electrical work.  C.H. Harris poured the concrete.

 

A small new addition was sometime later.  Two more classrooms and an updated bathrooms.  

 

Services are currently held at the Church of Christ in Grand Junction.  They are Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evenings.  Please see the "Home" page or "Contact Us" page to see the service times.  You are always welcome here.