The Church began in Jerusalem two thousand years ago, but we began meeting in Decatur, Illinois 75 years ago. Here’s our story.
The Beginnings (1948-1951)
November, 1948
The first meeting of the congregation was on November 21, 1948, with four families present. Those four families consisted of a total of 13 persons; Forrest and Dorothy Hall and their young son, Ed and Elma Oliver, Cloyce and Buelah Walden, and Thurman and Clella Wright and their four children. They met at the Wright home in Macon, Illinois. The contribution on that Sunday was $18.56.
December, 1948
On the third Sunday of December 1948, services were moved to the YWCA in Decatur. The rental cost at the YWCA was $20.00 per week. Wednesday evening services were held in members’ homes. On the fourth Sunday in December 1948, Wendell Kelley, a young man from Urbana, Illinois, preached at the morning services at the church, which had been named the Central Church of Christ. The Kelleys subsequently moved to Decatur in July 1949.
October, 1949
In October 1949, services were moved to the Farm Bureau building, where the Illinois Power Plaza now stands. The rental fee was $5.00 per week. Thurman Wright, the Macon County Farm Advisor, undoubtedly made this possible.
During this period, students from the church in Urbana did most of the preaching, the most prominent being James Smythe. Charles Chumley conducted the congregation’s first gospel meeting in a tent erected on the corner of East Cantrell and South Jasper Streets.
East North Street (1951-1961)
In 1950, a building at 1042 East North Street (located one block south of Eldorado, now behind the Burger King restaurant) was purchased from the Assembly of God for $8,000. It was necessary to borrow $5,000 from Dr. C.O. Casey of Decatur to complete this purchase. (This was paid off in 1959.) The first services were held at the new location on the first Sunday of July 1950. That same month Earl West held a gospel meeting in the new building. James Smythe was the first preacher and was supported by the Lincoln Avenue church in Urbana and the Lindsley Avenue church in Nashville, Tennessee. W.C. Hagemeir preached for a short time in 1950. Members of the Urbana church preached intermittently until March 1951, when the church reached a major milestone. Edgar Clark, Jr. becomes the first full-time preacher in March of 1951, and the name of the congregation is changed to the East North St. church of Christ.
March, 1951
In March 1951, Edgar E. Clarke, Jr. moved here to devote full-time to the work. By that time, contributions were averaging about $100.00 per week. The name of the congregation was legally changed to East North Street Church of Christ in May 1951. In 1952, the church became self—supporting and terminated the assistance it had been getting from Urbana and Nashville. That same year it began making small monthly contributions to the Shults-Lewis Children’s Home. Those contributions have continued without fail to the present date. Also, in September of that year, it began sending $20.00 per month to help the church in Bloomington, Illinois. In 1953, the church began regular support of the mission effort in France and the “Herald of Truth” Radio Program.
October, 1956
Elders and deacons were appointed in October of 1956. They were: Clifford H. Moyer and Forrest Hall, elders; Wendell J. Kelley, Jasper Williams, Edward V. Oliver, William E. Bucy, and Willis Brian, deacons.
E.E. Clarke left Decatur and moved to Flint, Michigan. At this time, the weekly budget was $200.00, and attendance was averaging about 125.
February, 1957
The Robert Hampton family came to work with the church. In that year, a minister’s home was purchased at 1047 East Willard. Also, Fred Shappard was selected as the third elder. During this period, monthly support to Korean missions was added to the budget.
1959
A new building site of four and one-half acres on Sunnyside Road was purchased. The house on Willard Street was sold, the loan on the East North Street property was paid off, and First National Bank made a loan of $8,500 to buy the site. The purchase price was $16,000, and an additional $4,000 was spent to remodel the old house on the property for use as a minister’s home.
1960
Robert Hampton moved to East St. Louis, and in July of that year, John Tyler came from West Virginia. During the period at the East North Street location, David Bobo, Earl West, W.E. Kirk, Hugo McCord, Rue Porter, Neal Penny, Jack Duncan, Hoy Ledbetter, Guy Woods, and Ira North all conducted gospel meetings.
November, 1960
Plans for a new building were started, and the congregation entered a major new phase in its history.
October, 1961
A few years later, the loan on the E. North St. property was paid off, and 4.5 acres were purchased on Sunnyside Road. In April of 1961, building at the new site began, and the first service held on the new property was on Oct. 15, 1961. In June of 1976, a new lobby, offices, restrooms, kitchen, and large multi-purpose fellowship hall were added to the building.
Other property owned by the congregation was a home on N. Summit Ave. (acquired in February 1966) and a home on Summit Ave. (acquired in February 1975). Both of these homes have since been sold.
July, 1966
Max Patterson resigns.
May, 1967
A. J. Kerr began his ministry in September 1979. During this time, support is given at various times to France, Korea, Vietnam, West Africa, Iron Curtain countries, Australia, Holland, and World Evangelism. Local missions are supported at Bloomington, Clinton, Monticello, Carbondale, Pana, Taylorville, Lincoln, Illinois, and St. Paul, Minn. Also supported is the exhibit at the Illinois State Fair.
Support is given to Dennis and Toni Ruch in Viet Nam.
Sunnyside Road (1961-Present)
Just prior to starting its building program, the congregation suffered the severe loss of two of its Elders. Clifford Moyer died suddenly in January 1961, and Fred Shappard died the following May. However, the congregation decided to press on with its long-range plans.
Paden Construction Company was chosen as the general contractor, and in April 1961, grading was started for the new building. Most of the carpentry labor was provided by volunteer members of the congregation. The building was completed in time for the first service to be held on October 15, 1961. E.E. Clarke spoke at the official dedication service, which was held on November 19, 1961. During this period, the East North Street building was sold to the Greenwood Avenue Church of Christ for $15,000. This congregation later became the North Jasper Street Church of Christ, which is still in existence. The loan was made at the First National Bank to purchase the site. The total cost of the new building was $70,000 and carried a mortgage in the amount of $48,000. This was paid off in 1976.
November, 1962
Ed Bucy and Wendell Kelley were appointed elders. Verlyn Bay and Harley Randolph were appointed deacons.
October, 1963
John Tyler resigned from the ministry, and in January 1964, Max Patterson, along with his wife Billie and family, arrived to begin his ministry at Sunnyside Road.
February, 1964
William E. Crawford and Paul Moore were appointed deacons.
Throughout this period, the church supported Shults-Lewis Children’s Home, Korean and French Missions, the churches in Monticello and Clinton, the “Herald of Truth,” and Vietnamese Missions.
February, 1968
John “Jack” Molloy, Sam Shanklin, and Bob Trotter were appointed Deacons.
During this period, the church regularly supported the following foreign mission activities (but not necessarily all at the same time): France, Korea, Vietnam, West Africa, Iron Curtain Countries, Australia, Holland, and World Evangelism. Local missions were also supported in Bloomington, Clinton, Monticello, Carbondale, Pana, Taylorville, and Lincoln (all in Illinois) and in St. Paul, Minnesota. Also supported was the Illinois State Fair Exhibit.
Another noteworthy event during this period was the support of Dennis and Toni Ruch in Vietnam. This young couple from the Sunnyside Rd. congregation went to work in that country as missionaries. Also, during this period, a bus program was conducted for several years using three buses. In 1971, Verlyn Bay was appointed elder.
In this period, gospel meetings were conducted by Jack Duncan, Hugo McCord, Jerry Hill, Max Patterson, Charles Williams, W.T. Hamilton, Fred Mosley, Larry Swaim, Jay Lockhart, Charles Chumley, Kenneth Hoover, Alan Bryan, Ron Brotherton, Kip McKeen, and R.C. Thompson.
December, 1971
Verlyn Bay appointed elder.
A “JoyBus” program was instituted in the early 1970s and ended in the early 1980s. Three buses were purchased, and two routes were organized. During the most successful portion of this venture, 100+ children were brought to the church.
February, 1975
Also of note was the hiring of Greg Sims, who was hired as a full-time Youth Minister in February 1975. He stayed until July 1979, when he left to go into Christian School Administration in Rockford, Illinois. In February 1976, 217 Drexel Court was purchased as a second home for the youth minister.
June, 1976
A new lobby, offices, restrooms, kitchen, and a large multi-purpose fellowship hall are added to the building. As before, the major part of the carpentry and labor is done by the men and women of the congregation. Vernon Durbin takes responsibility for volunteer labor oversight. Jack Molloy, deacon, who is a home builder donates considerable labor of his construction crew in the erection of the roof and decking. This addition is finished by December 1978, at a total cost of approx. $209,000, financed by a $135,000 loan. This is repaid in 1990.
May, 1977
Don Gibson was appointed a Deacon.
1978
Another event of note in 1978 was the support of Jim Bullock in Gateway School of Preaching. Jim was one of the young boys raised in the congregation who now is a full-time preacher.
April, 1979
William Crawford, Don Gibson, and Hartley Carlton appointed elders. On the same date, David Karraker and Dan Shappard were appointed Deacons.
October, 1979
Rhinard Troup and his wife, Betty, begin working with the congregation.
August, 1979
Bob Burleson becomes Youth Minister.
September 1, 1980
Greg Swango, a member of the congregation, makes a career change and becomes Youth Minister, replacing Bob Burleson. He serves until July 1983.
December, 1981
Rhinard Troup resigned as pulpit minister in December 1981 but remained a member of the congregation for two more years.
Hartley Carlton resigns as an elder in October.
During this period, gospel meetings were conducted by Ray Christman, George Bailey, Hugo McCord, Mike Marsalis, and others.
January, 1982
Wayne Harvell and wife Judi come to work with the congregation. He serves until 1985, when he resigns to work in Christian Education.
November, 1982
A library is dedicated in memory of Jimmy Stearns, son of Truman and Marilyn Stearns and grandson of Benita Graham and Willie & Millie Mills.
August, 1983
Scott Zapalac replaces Greg Swango as Youth Minister until January 1984.
June, 1984
James Stinson, Tom Isenberg, and Hartley Carlton were appointed Deacons.
May, 1985
Wayne Harvell resigns to take a teaching position in Montgomery, Alabama.
October, 1984
Loren Rasbury begins work as Youth/Education Minister.
August, 1985
Ray Christman, a former full-time minister and member at Sunnyside, assumed the duties of Pulpit Minister while continuing his full-time secular work. This continued until 1989 when Ray moved. Loren Rasbury then became the new Pulpit Minister.
April, 1987
Hershel Franklin and Bob Teel were appointed Deacons.
January, 1989
Jeff Bay, Jim Casch, and Dennis Falkenheim were appointed Deacons.
July, 1989
Don Gibson resigned and retired to Arkansas with his wife Jackie.
In 1990 the mortgage on the building was paid in full, thereby relieving Sunnyside of that financial responsibility. The Drexel home was sold in the fall of 1990, leaving Sunnyside with only the residence on Summit Ave.
October, 1990
Hartley Carlton and Hershel Franklin, both deacons, were appointed as elders. On the same date, Bill Rhoades was appointed a Deacon.
1990
The Drexel house is sold and the mortgage on the building is paid in full.
October, 1992
William Rhodes and James Casch appointed elders.
Summer 1992, 1993, and 1994
Adam Hammitt from Harding University is the Summer Intern.
Summer, 1993
A Gazebo, designed by Steve Kelley, son of Wendell and Evelyn Kelley, is built by the members under the direction of Vernon Durbin. During the Summer and Fall, It is used for fellowships, picnics, and wiener roasts and is also an outdoor classroom.
Summer 1995 and 1996
Eric Wilson from David Lipscomb University is the Summer Intern.
December, 1995
Elder Verlyn Bay dies following a lengthy battle with cancer.
1996
Wendell J. Kelley resigns as elder.
June 12, 1997
Scott McElroy from Auburn University is the Summer Intern.
May, 1997
Loren Rasbury resigns, working with the congregation until July.
November, 1997
Greg Swango, former Youth Minister, returns with his wife Bonnie and family to assume the duties of Pulpit Minister.
December, 1997
Doyle Parker and Paul Woolard are appointed as deacons.
May 23, 1998
Jake Chism from Harding University is the Summer Intern.
March 14, 1999
Kyle Osborne a member of the congregation (with wife Mandi) is hired as the Summer Intern. Kyle stays with the position until December of 2002.
October 1, 2000
William “Bill” Crawford resigns as an Elder.
May, 2001
Jeremy Stroop from Lipscomb University is the Summer Youth Intern.
August, 2001
Doyle Parker is appointed Elder, and Jim Howard, John Sykes, and Wendell Watson are appointed Deacons.
April, 2002
Teresa Howard resigns as church secretary, and is replaced by Mary Sloan.
May, 2002
Jeremy Glover is appointed as the Summer Youth Intern.
May, 2002
Paul Woolard resigns as Deacon.
May, 2003
Ryan Aherin from Harding University is the Summer Intern.
December, 2003
Jason Wilder is appointed as Associate Minister.
July, 2005
Mary Sloan leaves post as church secretary.
June, 2006
Doyle Parker resigns as Elder due to job retirement and moves to Florida.
June, 2007
Greg Swango was appointed Elder; Gregg Scott and Chris Shaffer were appointed as Deacons.
November 11, 2007
William “Bill” Rhoades resigns as Elder.
January 27, 2008
Jason Wilder resigns as Associate Minister to take a similar position in Athens, TX.
February 24, 2008
Wendell Watson resigns as Deacon. Gary Bingamon is appointed by the Elders as the new church Treasurer.
June 11, 2008
Donna Bingamon begins to work as a church secretary.
April 5, 2009
Greg Swango announces his resignation and retirement from full-time ministry.
April 25, 2009
Teachers’ Workshop held—Dr. Jerry Bowling from Harding University spoke.
June, 2009
Logan Skidmore was named as the Summer Youth Intern
July 6-10, 2009
Jason Wilder, former assistant minister at Sunnyside, brought several teens here from Texas to do service projects in Decatur.
September 14, 2009
Nick Genter starts as the pulpit minister at Sunnyside with his wife, Amanda, and their daughter, Emily.
January 3, 2010
Steve Derryberry was installed as an elder, and Duane Dunlap was installed as a deacon.
April 24-27, 2011
A Gospel Seminar, “How Does God Answer Prayer?” with Gary Hampton.
May 15, 2011
Children of the King play “Arkeology” performed.
June, 2011
Summer Intern Kyle Reeves begins as a Summer Youth Intern.
June 10-11, 2011
Family Retreat held at Camp Warren.
July 8-9, 2011
Men’s Retreat-Bennett Springs State Park.
August 1-5, 2011
Youth Service Week. Teens spent the week helping members with jobs around their homes.
November 13-16, 2011
Gospel Meeting with Andy Erwin.
January 22, 2012
Brian Dennison was hired as an outreach/youth intern minister.
May 12, 2012
Ladies’ Day at Sunnyside with Teresa Hampton. (Sisters Blooming in Blessings)
October 7-10, 2012
Gospel Meeting with Andy Erwin.
November 16-17, 2012
Sunnyside Retreat at Camp Warren.
January 27, 2013
Hartley Carlton resigned as an elder after many years of service.
March 3, 2013
Door Knocking campaign begins after morning services.
November 2, 2013
Ladies Day at Sunnyside, “Seeking Spiritual Beauty”-Holly Schilling, speaker.
June 19-21, 2014
Evangelism Workshop held at the Decatur Civic Center.
July 5-13, 2014
The door-knocking campaign was held.
July 26, 2014
Annual Corn Roast held at Sunnyside. Clinton, N. Jasper St., and Morningside churches of Christ were our guests.
August 31, 2014
All Decatur congregations met at Sunnyside for evening services. A finger-food fellowship was held afterward.
September 7, 2014
The elders announced that Nick, Amanda, and their family would be leaving Sunnyside.
April 10, 2016
Bobby Price begins his preaching career at Sunnyside as the pulpit evangelist.
May 05-07, 2017
Gospel meeting with Wissam Al-Aethawi
March 15 – July 05, 2019
All services were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 13, 2020 – January 10, 2021
All services were canceled again due to COVID-19 in the congregation and city.
January, 2022
Bobby Price announces he is resigning.
July 31, 2022
Bobby & Laurel Price’s last day at Sunnyside.
August 01, 2022
John McKeel begins as the next preacher at Sunnyside.
