SHARING OUR HERITAGE

To view the video shown at our 50th Celebration Luncheon, click here

 For a copy of Rev. Carpenters message click here

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

OUR CHURCH HISTORY

 Decade of the 60’s

• The first organization meeting for our Church was held June 11, 1961. C.J. Russell was appointed chairman of the steering committee.
• Community Christian Church became a Church on January 14, 1962 at a service held at Manchester United Methodist Church. Twenty seven (27) presented themselves for membership at that meeting. They came from Webster Groves and Maplewood Christian Churches.
• The first service of CCC was held in Trent Hall of the Trent Motel on January 21, 1962. After the service a recommendation for the first pastor of CCC was made by pulpit committee chairman John R. Norris. Also that evening the first youth group meeting took place (5th grade through high school).
• On March 1, 1962 Reverend Paul Walker started as our first minister (with his wife Alice). Church services were held in the Trent Room of the Trent Hotel (now Trends) in Ellisville in the early 60’s.
  
• Groundbreaking took place on February 20, 1966 for our sanctuary and fellowship hall, and work on it began the next day.
• Our first service in our first Church building was on March 5, 1967.
  
• On October 8, 1967 DeWitt Hall was dedicated in memory of charter member Charles W, DeWitt, Sr. who had faithfully served the Church from its beginning.
• In these early years the Church grew to about 100 members.

Decade of the 70’s

• The 1970’s were a time of real change and growth – in the Manchester area and our Church. In November of 1972, our first minister (Rev. Paul Walker) resigned. He moved on to Sikeston, MO.
  
• After a period of interim ministry, Rev. James C. Carpenter was called to become our minister on July 1, 1973.
• In November of 1974, our Disciples Women (CWF) held its first “Craft Bazaar”.
• In April 1975 construction began on a new administration/education building (the old farm house, used for children’s Sunday school, was taken down).
  
• In 1975 CCC was ranked 30th in the nation of Disciples churches, in adding new members (101).
  
• In February of 1976 the administration/education building was completed. (This is currently our nursery/pre-school/library/Inquirer’s class and office area).
• In November of 1976 Rev. Carpenter resigned and went to Midwest City, Oklahoma.
  
• In 1977-1979 our third minister was Rev. Lamoine Waldron. These were the last of some difficult years we had as a Church. We experienced a serious loss of members, and then began looking for a new direction.

Decade of the 80’s

• In 1980, Rev David Hyatt became our 4th Senior Minister.
  
• In 1981 Margaret Pereira and Heidi Cooke started our God’s Kids Choir.
  
• In 1983 Janice Walters was hired as Director of Christian Education for our children and youth.
  
• In 1985 construction began on a new education building. It was completed in 1986 and was named Packwood Hall – after a man who only attended our church once, but left us a major bequest at his death.
• In 1987 we celebrated our 25th anniversary.
  
• In 1988 Janice Walters resigned, in order to attend Eden Seminary and study for the ministry.  Disciples women frequently attended national retreats of CWF – quite often at Purdue University.  Our choir grew dramatically under the leadership of Bob Mulch and others.
• The 80’s were a time of renewal and growth. A second service was added all year round. A “Stephen’s Ministry” program was begun – to create “listeners” for those who needed it.

Decade of the 90’s

• In 1990 the front of the sanctuary was remodeled,doing away with the aluminum strips coming down and using more wood to tie in with the beautiful wood we already had. The chancel area was enlarged and widened to what it is today.
• In 1991 Janice Walters was hired once again, as our first Associate Minister, after being ordained earlier in the year. She was our first member to be ordained.
• In 1992 we celebrated our 30th anniversary with our founding pastor Paul Walker, his wife Alice, and some of the charter members in attendance.
• In 1994 we hired Marcus Lynn (a seminary student) to be our student intern/youth worker.
• In 1995 a “stable” (garage) was built for rummage sales and outreach support by the Disciple Women’s group. Rev Hyatt took a 10 week sabbatical.
• In 1996 we averaged 268 in worship services, and 151 in Sunday School. Marcus Lynn was hired as our second Associate Minister.
• In 1997 we celebrated our 35th anniversary.  We developed a Spiritual Gifts assessment program to assimilate members into the work of the Church. We also built a Habitat for Humanity house from June through November. This was the start of much work and service with Habitat.

2000-2012

• In the year 2000 our average worship attendance was 296 and 154 for Sunday School.
• In February of 2001 Rev. Hyatt resigned (after nearly 21years), and went to Lay Renewal Ministries, in St Louis.
• In 2001/2002 we had construction that took place which doubled the size of our narthex and added 3 new ministers’ offices.
• On September 1, 2002 Rev. Larry Thomas became our 5th Senior Minister. Later that month, Rev. Marcus Lynnresigned, and went to First Christian Church (DOC) in Versailles, Kentucky as Senior Minister.
• July 2005 Don Miller was hired as Director of Youth.
• In late 2006, Rev. Walters resigned as Associate Minister, and became Senior Minister at Florissant Valley Christian Church.
• In November of 2007 construction began on a new Family Life Center. The stable’s garage and the playground were moved. Also in November, Rev. Darla Glynn (Goodrich) became our new Associate Minister.
• On June 23, 2008 the Wunderlich Family Life Center was completed containing a gymnasium, class rooms, game room, big kitchen and restrooms – and a special storage area for “the stable”.
• Following “Katrina” in the Gulf, Don Miller was leading groups to go down and assist in rebuilding parts of the New Orleans area.
• In August of 2010 Don Miller resigned as Director of Youth, but continued his studies for ministry.
• As of October 15, 2011 Rev. Larry Thomas resigned, and went to University Christian Church (DOC) near the TCU campus in Ft Worth, Texas as their Senior Pastor.
• In November 2011, Don Miller received his Certificate of Ministry in the Christian Church (DOC).
• In January 2012, Rev. Jerry Keeney joined us as our Intentional Interim Minister, while our search for a settled Senior Minister goes on.

CHARTER MEMBERS
Date Joined - January 14, 1962

 Our Ordained Pastors 1962 - 2012

  
Rev. Paul D. Walker (Alice) 1962-1972
Rev. Edward L. Young - Interim Minister 1972-1973
Rev. James A. Carpenter 1973-1976
Rev. James E. Young - Interim Minister 1976-1977
Rev. LaMoine D. Waldron (Vera) 1977-1979
Rev. James E. Young - Interim Minister 1979-1980
Rev. David P. Hyatt (Bonnie) 1980-2001
Rev. Janice Walters, Associate Pastor (Don) 1991-2006
Rev. Marcus J. Lynn, Associate Pastor (Jennifer) 1996-2002
Rev. David A. Vernon - Interim Minister 2001-2002
Rev. Larry A. Thomas (Vickie) 2002-2011
Rev. Darla Goodrich, Associate Pastor 2007-present
Rev. Jerry Keeney (Nancy) - Interim Minister 2012-present

 Board Chairmen 1962 - 2012