Sandusky Church of Christ

Sandusky Congregation

by

Uncle Jim Kendrick



In thinking back over the activities of the Church here at Sandusky, I realize what the Lord said and meant in Luke 17:19, "When ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say we are unprofitable servants; we have only done that which it was our duty to do." A good wife, a wonderful group of brethern with whom to be associated, God's tender mercies and guidance, are responsible for all that has been accomplished here since the Church had its beginning. I do not know how much of the history of the Sandusky Church the readers may be interested in, but it is my hope that the following may help us to better understand some of its ups and downs.

Sandusky Church had its beginning in 1928 in the Odd Fellows Hall, which was at 537 Shelby Street. Five members were present at the first meeting, the preaching being done by Bro. L. G. Thomas of North Birmingham congregation. At the close of the meeting one came forward and was baptized, making the membership six. These Sunday afternoon meetings were continued for a time, with different preachers doing the preaching. After several months we began a Sunday morning Bible class followed by the worship service. This continued for about two years sometimes with preaching in the morning services, and sometimes not. Brother John T. Lewis held a one-week mission meeting at about this time, and consequently we had grown to about 12 members. At this time we had been in the Odd Fellows Hall about three and one-half years.

About 1932 which was during the depression days, the County Board of Education let us have a room in the old school building to worship in. It took quite a bit of work to get the rooms suitable for study and worship. We bought some chairs and equipment and moved in the old school building.

About 1932 which was during the depression days, the County Board of Education let us have a room in the old school building to worship in. It took quite a bit of work to get the rooms suitable for study and worship. We bought some chairs and equipment and moved in the old school building. We now had both morning and night services. I believe it was Brother Morton who preached for us at this time, and we began having a Wednesday night study class. Brother Morton was a member of the West End Church. We had been in the school building about 18 months when the school board asked us to move, saying, they had to have it back for school classes. So, back to the Odd Fellows Hall we went. We stayed there about 18 months. The county at this time began to dismantle the old school building and with the Odd Fellows Hall being upstairs, this left us in quite a situation, without a place to meet and worship. The school building was moved to the site where it now stands. This move caused some of our members to go to North Birmingham Church, some to the Ensley congregation and some to other Churches.

We soon saw the need for the Church in this community, and we began immediately to meet in one of the brethren's home. This we did for about one year. In 1937 we bought and moved into the old Methodist Church building. Brother J.G. Pruitt, then one of the Elders at North Birmingham Church started preaching, evening and Wednesday night services and studies. While on this building we bought two lots where the present Church building is location. We also started a building fund. Our membership at this time had risen to about 25. We borrowed $300.00 from the bank to elp pay for the old building we bought; the Church at West End payed half of the payments for us. After a while of struggling as best we could, never giving up hope, we were in a position to repay the money that the West End Church had helped us with. I went to the brethren at West End and told them we were ready to settle up with them, and Brother Crum whom we loved very much for his works sake, said to me, "You brethren don't owe us anything, just forget it." You can't imagine how happy this made us here, knowing that we still had brethren on whom we could depend in time of need.

There were members at this time who lived in the Adamsville community and we started the Church there, first by buying a building in about 1940. We lost several members to the Church in that community, of which we were happy to be a part of. By the year 1946 we had enough money in the building fund to start on our new building, which is now the fellowship hall. We went ahead and sold the old building for $1600. and with a little borrowed to go with it, in the summer of 1947 we moved into the new building. We had three classrooms in the basement at that time.

In 1949 we had 45 members. Several of these lived in the Mulga community and consequently the Church was started there. We gave up 15 members to the congregation. In 1950 we brought the house and lot on the southeast side of the Church building and repaired the house and made it livable, using it for the preacher's home. In 1953 we had to add more classrooms in the basement of the Church building, so we added three more classrooms and two bathrooms. By the year 1956 we had grown so that we needed more auditorium room and more classrooms too. So we built a wing on the northwest side of the new auditorium and the fellowship hall.

In 1957 the Hillview Church was started and I believe we gave up 22 members to the Church in that community. However our Church in ths community continued to grow until in the 1963 we still needed more classrooms, so we bought a lot on Dover Lane and built the new home for the preacher. We then used the old preacher's home for classrooms. In 1962 or 63 we bought two lots on the present time the new auditorium is built.

The Sandusky Church is now about 48 years old. We were about as strong as could be expected for our size and talent and ability which limited in many respects. We had much difficulty in the beginning moving from place to olace for about nine years. It was about this long that we were in the first frame building, or maybe it was 10 years. We built the first brick building on Pratt Highway and stayed there for 21 years.

Later in 1966, plans were made for the construction of a new spacious auditorium to be erected on the two lots northwest of the brick building on Pratt Highway. It was during this time that T. A. Thompson left Sandusky and Norman Parrish moved in. By 1967 plans had been drawn up, the contract awarded and construction started on this new auditorium, designed to seat 700 people including a balcony, was finally completed and adjoined to the first brick building.

We now have 185 members and I can tell you things sure do look different now from what they did back in 1928.

I will now attempt to name the preachers we have had here at Sandusky down through the years.First there was J.G. Pruitt, W.S. Thompson, W.W. Wade, Raymond McLeroy, Paul Shoulders, Charles London, T.A. Thompson, Norman Parrish, Dan Jenkins, Thurmon Hubbert, Kenneth Jarrett, and Steve Walker.

Let me say a word about some of the meetings and the men who preached in those mission meetings. We had men like John T. Lewis, Gus Nichols, John D. Cox, Gardner Hall, E.A. Emonds and many others who sacrificed their time and talent for the cause of Christ in this community. I will not attempt to name all the preachers who have held gospel meetings for us in our present building, however, here are a few that I recall- Gus Nichols, Homer D. Daniel, O.C. Lambert, G.C. Brewer, Edsel Burleson, W.C. Quillen, A.R. Hill and many others perhaps that have escaped my memory. The gospel has been preached and supported by Sandusky from the pulpit, radio, television, letters of correspondence, house to house and by person.

I feel that much good has been accomplished as a result of the Sandusky Church. Several congregations have been started by the brethren here. This is as it should be. God expects His people to be like bees-busy.

The Elders at this time are; T.D. Donaldson, C.A. Prater and Armon Randolph. The Deacons are Bill Brewer, Hershel Franklin, Roy Jernigan, Alvie Johnson, Howell Kennedy, John Parrish, Bill Quinn, Cecil Parker, Tom Roby and Elvis Townley.

As I close this history of the Church at Sandusky, I would like to say I have done my best to relate only those experiences that will edify and help someone. With love in my heart for every soul I know, and a prayer that many more souls I know, and a prayer that many more souls will be led to Christ by this congregation. As my years are fast drawing to a close I say to all of you, "God bless every heart that reads this brief bit if history."