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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FLATWOODS CHURCH OF CHRIST
Churches of Christ worldwide are dedicated to the principle of restoring
New Testament Christianity in every essential - in doctrine, practice, worship, organization, and name. The plea is to "speak
where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent." We urge a return to the church we read about in the Bible,
founded by Christ Himself.
The CHURCH OF CHRIST first met in Flatwoods,
Kentucky on March 29, 1959 at 2506 Argillite Road. The membership initially consisted of Greenup County residents who had
previously worshipped with churches of Christ in Ashland, Kentucky and Ironton, Ohio, and saw a need for planting a congregation
in the growing community of Flatwoods.
Some of the original families consisted of those of Ezra
Boyd, Rex Crum, William Finch, Allen Galloway, James Gibbs, Ishmael Napier, Bernard Mays, Joseph McCalvin, Chester Moore,
Sam Picklesimer, John Ramey, Vincent Stone, and David Williamson.
The original building erected was eventually outgrown, and a new building,
seating more than 500 people, was constructed in 1976 at 2100 Argillite Road. A special service to inaugurate the new facility
was conducted on April 18, 1976, with Dr. Adron Doran, gospel preacher and Morehead State University president, speaking.
In 1972 elders and deacons were first appointed. Men who have served
as elders of the church have included Allen Galloway, Joe Hawkins, Ishmael Naper, David Williamson, Bobby Gibbs, Clarence
Wheeler, David Bryan, Lowell Parsley, Verne Ragle, and currently Greg Conley, Greg Hall, J.C. Hughes, and
Mark Parks.
Those who have served the church as deacons have included Irvin
Combs, Winslow Roberts, Richard Cole, Leland "Bubby" Hart, Jack Isaacs, Dan Maynard, Marvin Preston, Henry Lakes, Ranie Wohnhas,
Charles "Buck" Wheeler, David Boggs, Chris Scott, Edgar Phillips, and currently are Darren Davis, John
Gambill, Calvin Maynard, Eric Maynard, Jerry Sturgill, Matt Vonderheide, and Steven Wallace.
Ministers who have served the congregation inclue John
Payne, Hunter Miller, Roy Doss, J.E. Alexander, Clark Elkins, Lacy Taylor, Irvin Kirk, Phil Kinzer, Mitchell Lollar, Mike
Tucker, and Dan Easter. The current minsiter is John M. Brown.
Many dedicated brothers and sisters have capably
and faithfully served as Bible teachers, and others who have served the church in numerous positive ways are too many to name!
From its
beginning in 1959, the Flatwoods church of Christ has continued to love, serve, and grow. A variety of programs have been
initiated: youth programs (including several full-time and part-time youth ministers), summer church camps, Bible classes,
bus ministries, vacation Bible schools, financial support of missions in America and throughout the world, preaching the gospel
by radio and television, gospel meetings, singing schools, special training classes, men’s days and ladies days, benevolence
to the poor and needy, visiting the sick and shut-ins, nursing home singing, and comforting the hurt and afflicted. Two other
churches have been established from Flatwoods: Olive Hill (1972) and Maysville (1976), Kentucky. An annual “Little School”
pre-school program is provided free to the community. A new multi-purpose facility has now been erected next to the current
auditorium.
For more
than forty years the Flatwoods church of Christ has sought to assist our community by reflecting the light of Christ to others
as a “city that is set on a hill” which “cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:16), by showing the love of God
to one another and to our neighbors, and by preaching the good news of Christ. And this we determine, with God’s help,
to continue to do.
-John M. Brown
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