Our history
In July 1953, it was learned that a church building at 2505 College Avenue in Terre Haute was for sale. Interested parties secured the details, then all pertinent information was brought before the elders and trustees of the two existing churches of Christ congregations meeting at 5th and McKeen Streets and at 5th Avenue and 14th Street. It was unanimously agreed that the property should be purchased with the view of establishing another congregation on the east side of town. Each congregation contributed and an amount was borrowed in order to purchase the property.
The new congregation, known as the College Avenue Church of Christ, first met on May 9, 1954, with a total of 53 charter members. When attendance reached the capacity of this building, 150 members, a new location was sought and land was purchased at our current location on College Avenue and Fruitridge. A building fund was started that raised $70,000, and a new building was constructed. The first worship service held was on December 2, 1962.
In 1967, we again grew to almost capacity, and on May 7 we started to have two Sunday morning services. Total attendance that day was 267. Between 1967 and 1990, attendance has fluctuated up and down as we have had members start new congregations on the northwest side of town and in Kansas City, MO, or move on to other positions in other cities or pass away. In 1990, our attendance had grown to about 80% of auditorium capacity, so another building fund was started to construct a larger auditorium with a seating capacity of 400, offices, and additional classrooms. The old auditorium was converted into a nice fellowship hall. On Easter Sunday, 1993, we held our first worship service in our new auditorium.
Through the years Eastside has been involved in various mission fields in Sweden, Taiwan, India, Thailand, and Panama. We have also been involved in domestic ministries such as Camp Wabashi, Shults-Lewis Child and Family Services, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Kids Hope USA, our own benevolent ministry programs, our college campus ministry, men’s and women’s jail and prison ministries, our Senior Seeker ministry, and others.
The Preachers who have served at Eastside are:
The new congregation, known as the College Avenue Church of Christ, first met on May 9, 1954, with a total of 53 charter members. When attendance reached the capacity of this building, 150 members, a new location was sought and land was purchased at our current location on College Avenue and Fruitridge. A building fund was started that raised $70,000, and a new building was constructed. The first worship service held was on December 2, 1962.
In 1967, we again grew to almost capacity, and on May 7 we started to have two Sunday morning services. Total attendance that day was 267. Between 1967 and 1990, attendance has fluctuated up and down as we have had members start new congregations on the northwest side of town and in Kansas City, MO, or move on to other positions in other cities or pass away. In 1990, our attendance had grown to about 80% of auditorium capacity, so another building fund was started to construct a larger auditorium with a seating capacity of 400, offices, and additional classrooms. The old auditorium was converted into a nice fellowship hall. On Easter Sunday, 1993, we held our first worship service in our new auditorium.
Through the years Eastside has been involved in various mission fields in Sweden, Taiwan, India, Thailand, and Panama. We have also been involved in domestic ministries such as Camp Wabashi, Shults-Lewis Child and Family Services, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Kids Hope USA, our own benevolent ministry programs, our college campus ministry, men’s and women’s jail and prison ministries, our Senior Seeker ministry, and others.
The Preachers who have served at Eastside are:
|
M.F. Cottrell
Gene Carrell Matthew Morrison Doug Jones Ray Hardin Willis Rush Verlon Harp Abe Miller Coy Sidell Matt Carver |
1954-1959
1959-1964 1964-1968 1968-1971 1971-1974 1974-1978 1978-1983 1983-2009 2009-2015 2015-Present |
The College Campus Ministers that have served Eastside are:
|
Greg Jackson
Mark Strahm Gerry Binford Mike Cloyd Ken Grubb |
1979-1985
1985-1990 1990-1995 1995-1997 1997-2003 |
The Youth Ministers that have served Eastside are:
|
John Rowley
Peter Reed Rusty Jordan Josh Morford |
1985-1987
1990-2010 2011-2015 2016-Present |
Elders who have served at Eastside are Cloyd Anthony, D. Manwaring, Wayne Lawrence, Audie Adams, James Ringer, Uris Jewell, Tom Craig, James Lane, O.L. Johnson, George Forsythe, James Thompson, Bill Turner, Ralph Wilson, Jeff Griggs, Leland Vickers, Mike Chumley, Jerry Goff, Ray Nightingale, Dennis Piety, Tom Woodason, Dennis West, Randy Stott, Frank Jones, and Phil Cornwell. Elders currently serving are Randy Stott,Tom Woodason, Frank Jones, and Phil Cornwell.
Deacons who have served at Eastside are Leverett Aarnink, Tom Craig, Charles DeLisle, Bernard Downey, Ivan Garrison, Earl Hemsley, Gerald Luxton, Walter Wilson, Duane Ritter, Frank Zepps, Tony Derr, Bill Turner, James Lane, O.L. Johnson, George Forsythe, Wilbur Adams, Bob Austin, Jack Creedon, Bill Hyslop, George Woodason, Ralph Wilson, James Thompson, Mick Adams, Randy Bauer, Mike Chumley, Jeff Griggs, Ralph Swanson, Jim Snow, Leland Vickers, Brian Goff, Mike Murphy, Larry Griggs, Jerry Goff, Ray Nightingale, Randy Stott, Ed Warner, Phil Cornwell, George Richardson, Dennis West, Tom Woodason, Eric Austin, Gordon Bryan, Steve Chapman, Frank Jones, Wayne Padgett, Mike Waldbieser and Bob Williams. Deacons currently serving are Eric Austin, Gordon Bryan, Wayne Padgett, and Ed Warner.
Deacons who have served at Eastside are Leverett Aarnink, Tom Craig, Charles DeLisle, Bernard Downey, Ivan Garrison, Earl Hemsley, Gerald Luxton, Walter Wilson, Duane Ritter, Frank Zepps, Tony Derr, Bill Turner, James Lane, O.L. Johnson, George Forsythe, Wilbur Adams, Bob Austin, Jack Creedon, Bill Hyslop, George Woodason, Ralph Wilson, James Thompson, Mick Adams, Randy Bauer, Mike Chumley, Jeff Griggs, Ralph Swanson, Jim Snow, Leland Vickers, Brian Goff, Mike Murphy, Larry Griggs, Jerry Goff, Ray Nightingale, Randy Stott, Ed Warner, Phil Cornwell, George Richardson, Dennis West, Tom Woodason, Eric Austin, Gordon Bryan, Steve Chapman, Frank Jones, Wayne Padgett, Mike Waldbieser and Bob Williams. Deacons currently serving are Eric Austin, Gordon Bryan, Wayne Padgett, and Ed Warner.
