West Palm Beach Church of Christ

Minister Dan Jenkins

Note:
Even though this congregation is in Florida, Dan Jenkins has Alabama roots. He preached at Sandusky for years before going to West Palm Beach. He and his wife have done missionary work in the Fiji Island.

The church of Christ was begun in 33 A.D. The promise that Jesus of Nazareth made to establish it (Matthew 16:18) became a reality after His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. You can read about the beginning of His church in the book of Acts, chapter two, when about 3,000 became "charter members". The church continued to grow with people becoming part of it every day (Acts 2:47). When persecution arose the church spread from city to city (Acts 8:4). Those who were Christians arrived in new cities to establish new congregations, identical to the one in Jerusalem, in new places. The whole world soon knew about that church (Colossians 1:23).

Beginnings of the local congregation
The Palm Beach Lakes congregation began in 1923, when several Christians met in the home of sister Lena Eades on Okeechobee Road. By 1925, the group had grown so that with a gift of land from a brother Chamberlain, one of the members, a meeting house was erected on Conniston Road.

At Conniston Road
The first meeting in the new building was on September 23, 1925. It was an exciting time for the church. The first full-time preacher at Conniston Road was Henry Clay Geer.

On North Olive Avenue
As the congregation grew, there was a need for larger facilities. A gift of land from sister Bertie Walden and a $10,000 donation from sister Eades made possible the erection of a new building and home for the preacher at 811 North Olive Avenue. The first worship services were held in the building in June 1949, while Iverson L. Boles was the preacher. The organization of the church was made complete on April 12, 1964, with the selection of four men as elders: Jean McMasters, Hayward Milton, Don Spurlock, and Alvin Witt. A few months later, four deacons were appointed: Johnny Davis, Bob Haines, Jerry Hopkins and Paul Jordan.

On 36th Street
In June 1963, five acres were purchased on 36th Street in West Palm Beach, and on December 6, 1964, ground was broken for a new church plant. The total cost of construction was $250,000 plus $40,000 for the land. The new complex opened on July 18, 1965, with Bill Hatcher as the guest speaker. The congregation had 256 members and W. Ray Duncan served as evangelist.

William (Bill) C. Hatcher began his work with the congregation in 1968. In 1972, Larry Grizzell joined the staff as Bill's co-worker for about a year. The church continued to grow and in 1974, Dean Reynolds and Kerry Cain joined the work. In 1980, Bill Hatcher gave up pulpit work to write and teach. Glann Lee preached for almost eighteen months. Part of that time, Gary McMahan was a co-worker. In January 1982, Dan Jenkins moved here to help in personal work and began pulpit preaching in May 1982. In 1989, Joe Holland started working full-time for the church, and in 1990, Ron Brackett began working with special emphasis on youth and the educational program. In 1997, David Sproule took over the work with our youth program.

Jupiter Congregation Established
With many members living north of West Palm Beach, it was decided to start a congregation in the Jupiter area. In October 1984, forty-seven members started that work and moved into their new building in 1989.

On Leo Lane
On August 19, 1997, construction began on a new facility. Open house was held in the new building on October 25, 1998. Five men (Stan Bronson, Don Dodd, Joe Holland, Jerry Hopkins and Dan McLeod) oversee the church at this time. In 2004, Josh Blackmer started working with our young people. There are presently 23 deacons. The Palm Beach Lakes congregation has grown to its present 502 members.

You are encouraged to come visit us whenever you can. Our deepest desire is for all mankind to return to the Bible, and be part of the church that began nearly 2,000 years ago. Come and see firsthand that You can be a Christian without being part of a denomination.