Carthage, Texas

History Of The Northside Church Of Christ

The Northside Church was established in May 1978. Two families with the blessing, support and encouragement of the Church in Henderson began the work in Carthage. Horace and Mabel Hawley along with James and Betty Burke undertook the effort to establish a Church following the principles of New Testament Christianity. Bruce James was called to join the effort as an evangelist, which he gladly did.

Prior to the first assembly a meeting place was secured at 705 W. Cottage Rd. This house was transformed into an adequate facility by the removal of a couple of walls. There was room for fifty in the “auditorium” and three classrooms. There were eleven souls present at the first assembly on June 28th, a Wednesday night. Those assembled were: James, Betty, Russell and Lori Burke, Bruce, Stephanie, Brian and Scott James, Horace and Mabel Hawley and Clara Neal. The first Lord’s Day assembly saw 34 present. Included in this number were Tommie Ruth Hawley, Cindy Burke, Gene and Alice May all of whom were identified with the Church. From that first meeting the church continued to grow.

The first meeting place was secured at a cost of $20,000 and through the diligent efforts of the members and generous support of several Christians interested in the Cause in East Texas, was paid for in full on April 23, 1979. The following October earnest money was given to purchase the Old Catholic Church building at 301 W. Cottage Road. The brethren moved into these facilities in March 1980. The brethren having a mind to work cleared the debt on this property in July 1981. By June of 1994 the church had out grown these quarters and purchased the building of the Northside Baptist Church at 701 W. Cottage Road. In April 1998 a new auditorium seating 200 was added to this plant with increased classrooms, a commodious preachers study, work rooms, church office and additional parking. These facilities were cleared of debt in May of 2004.

Brother James continued his work as evangelist with the Church until June of 1986. Jim Vaughn came from Shreveport, LA to work with the Church until June of 1993. At that time Bruce James returned to Carthage to resume working with the brethren at Northside until the summer of 2001. Steve Ramsey worked with the Church in the interim until Ken Peden came in the Fall of 2002. In March of 2004 the congregation called Jeff Asher to come from Amarillo, TX and undertake the work of evangelist.

The Northside Church of Christ has continued to grow both numerically and spiritually. In the summer of 2000 four elders were appointed according to the qualifications for that office found in the New Testament. James Burke, Dale Hill, Bruce James and Jim Rhiddlehoover were ordained to the work of bishops, elders or pastors (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). After their appointment two deacons were ordained: Joe Fomby and Scott Goolsby. In 2003 Kerry Henry was added to the eldership. At present the Church is served by four elders and two deacons.

The Northside Church of Christ carries on an active program of evangelism in Carthage through the local media, several Gospel Meetings each year, an annual Vacation Bible School, a weekly bulletin, an active visitation program and this website. The Church currently helps support another evangelist financially in Highlands, Texas and has been very active in the last year in evangelism and benevolence in the Philippines.

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