Westchester Church of Christ
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A Brief History of the 
Westchester Church of Christ

 1954-2004

     

1954    A small group of men and women who had moved to Westchester from various other areas began gathering together in their homes to hold worship services.

             Mrs. Vivian Randall, a member of this group, has attended here since. 

1958    The group, which was now composed of approximately five families, decided to meet at the YMCA on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains for Sunday morning worship services.  Sunday evening Bible study was held in the home of one of the members. 

1958        The first preacher for the congregation, Brother Richard E. Donley, was hired. 

1961        The first elders were appointed. 

1963    The first deacons were appointed. 

1964    Moved from YMCA to present building.  Dedication   services held on July 19th

            Mid-week Bible Study began and continues to present. 

            First telephone installed.  The number 761-6363 remains the church’s number. 

            Food Pantry and Clothing Give-Away began October 13th and continued until 2001.           

            Vacation Bible School began and continued until 1985. 

1966    The Westchester Church of Christ had been holding Bible study services on a weekly basis in Stamford.  In September the Stamford Church of Christ was established.  This was the first of many instances of the Westchester congregation’s participation in spreading the gospel in this region.

 

Agreement was reached with our next-door neighbor, the YWCA, to use their parking lot.  The agreement is still in effect.

 

Volunteer work at Ruth Taylor Nursing Home, Valhalla, NY was started.                                                                                                                                   

1969    A baptismal pool was installed.

 

1970    The congregation began oversight of and responsibility for the Spanish- speaking congregation in the Bronx. 

1974     Mortgage on building was paid off four years earlier than due. 

            Congregation began sponsorship of a missionary work in Rockland County, NY 

1975        The missionary from Rockland County was moved to Massena, NY to support the mission work there. This congregation still remains active with the work in          Rockland County. 

1977    Congregation struck by tragedy when our minister, Jim Alsobrook, died suddenly from a heart attack.   He was 34 years of age. 

1978  Purchased two vacant lots immediately north of the church’s property. 

1984    Porch on north side of the building was converted by men of the congregation into a classroom and nursery.

 

As a result of the work of an elder of this church who served as a medical missionary in Nigeria, we began monthly support of our first two foreign missionaries there.  Support has now grown to four.

 

1996    An elder and his wife traveling to the Ukraine to teach music reading to enable acapella singing, the musical form practiced by this church, resulted  in the church beginning support of a missionary in that country.  This support continues to date.

 

1997        Present minister, Brother Richard Boyd, and his family began work with the    congregation.

 

1998    Lads-to-Leaders, a training organization for boys and girls from 3rd grade through college was begun.  Young people from this congregation have competed at the national assembly of approximately 8,000 church members each year since and have won in several categories.

 

2000          Singing Workshop held.

 

2001        A major electrical fire at the church building rendered it uninhabitable.  Congregation rented meeting space from the YMCA until building was fully restored in 2003.

 

2002    Sunday afternoon singing on a monthly basis began at a local nursing home. 

2003    Vacation Bible School  begun again after a lapse of several years; repeated in          2004   

4/2004    Ministry for the Spanish-speaking begun. 

2004    Church hired additional minister for part-time work. 

The congregation began contributing to the support of an on-going work with   the impoverished people of Nairobi, Kenya.  Our present minister, Brother Boyd, was a participant in beginning this work in 1986.

 

Food Pantry Program resumed.

   
   
   
   
   
   

2004 - 50th Anniversary Celebration