| HISTORY |
T he Southside Church of Christ officially began on the first Sunday in October 1982 with 14 members in attendance. The first meeting place for the congregation was the historic Old St. Joseph’s
Church building. The idea for a congregation to serve the inner city originated during a monthly brotherhood meeting, Brother Clifford Davis, the founder of the “Back to the Bible Crusade,” along
with the elders of the Olga Ave and Cole Mill Road congregations, sponsored a soul winning campaign in Durham. During that time, several congregations supported the crusade, however, the Cole
Mill Road congregation served as the host and sponsoring congregation.
Brother William Stephens, of the Northside Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Florida was part of a delegation who traveled to Durham to help in the evangelistic efforts. Once it was decided to start
a new congregation in Durham. Brother Stephens agreed to become the minister of this fledgling congregation. Groups of faithful members of the Carver School Road (Winston-Salem) and the
South English Street (Greensboro) congregations supported the work by bringing bus loads each month to help encourage the members on Sundays. To this end, a Single’s class, the Ladies’ Bible
Class, Family Enrichment Class, and New Member’s class was established. An a cappella ensemble was also established in 1983 to help spread the gospel through song. Under the leadership of
Brother Stephens, God blessed the congregation to grow numerically and financially.
Due to renovation plans for the St. Joseph’s Historical Building, the congregation had to find a new meeting place. In 1987, the congregation rented a building on Angier Avenue and broke ground
for our new edifice in September 1990. In January of 1991, we met at Shepard Middle School to be closer to our anticipated meeting place. By the grace of the Almighty, we moved into our very first
church building in June 1991. Also by God’s grace, we have erected a fully equipped multi-purpose building at a cost of approximately $1.2 million. And, by God’s grace, we have just acquired 25
acres of land to complete and house some of our future projects listed below.
We were blessed to ordain six deacons in 1998. In 2003, the Lord blessed us to ordain four elders and three additional deacons. Several programs and committees were also established to address the
needs of the church. We have Koinonia Group Leaders, the Southside Ladies Involvement Ministry (S.L.I.M.) directed by our Women’s Counselor; an Educational Department; a Youth Department
director by our Youth Minister; a College Campus Program directed by our Assistant Minister. Some of our ministries include: Health, Community Outreach (manages a weekly community food
bank), Tutoring, Substance Abuse, Singles, Single Mothers, Marriage Enrichment and Blended Families, Grief Support, Door-Knocking, Angel Food Ministry (monthly distribution of discount food
items), Music, K-4 through 5th grade private year-round school and much more. Every ministry has been established with the sole purpose of addressing known needs as well as helping to save souls.
From our humble beginnings to the present day, the Lord has added more than 1500 souls through baptism, while several others have placed membership. Future plans include retaining and restoring
membership, the acquisition of other properties,expansion of our school. Quality Education of Durham (Q.E.I), soup kitchens, homes for the elderly and unwed mothers, additional staff, job
placement services and the building of a new sanctuary.
Church building. The idea for a congregation to serve the inner city originated during a monthly brotherhood meeting, Brother Clifford Davis, the founder of the “Back to the Bible Crusade,” along
with the elders of the Olga Ave and Cole Mill Road congregations, sponsored a soul winning campaign in Durham. During that time, several congregations supported the crusade, however, the Cole
Mill Road congregation served as the host and sponsoring congregation.
Brother William Stephens, of the Northside Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Florida was part of a delegation who traveled to Durham to help in the evangelistic efforts. Once it was decided to start
a new congregation in Durham. Brother Stephens agreed to become the minister of this fledgling congregation. Groups of faithful members of the Carver School Road (Winston-Salem) and the
South English Street (Greensboro) congregations supported the work by bringing bus loads each month to help encourage the members on Sundays. To this end, a Single’s class, the Ladies’ Bible
Class, Family Enrichment Class, and New Member’s class was established. An a cappella ensemble was also established in 1983 to help spread the gospel through song. Under the leadership of
Brother Stephens, God blessed the congregation to grow numerically and financially.
Due to renovation plans for the St. Joseph’s Historical Building, the congregation had to find a new meeting place. In 1987, the congregation rented a building on Angier Avenue and broke ground
for our new edifice in September 1990. In January of 1991, we met at Shepard Middle School to be closer to our anticipated meeting place. By the grace of the Almighty, we moved into our very first
church building in June 1991. Also by God’s grace, we have erected a fully equipped multi-purpose building at a cost of approximately $1.2 million. And, by God’s grace, we have just acquired 25
acres of land to complete and house some of our future projects listed below.
We were blessed to ordain six deacons in 1998. In 2003, the Lord blessed us to ordain four elders and three additional deacons. Several programs and committees were also established to address the
needs of the church. We have Koinonia Group Leaders, the Southside Ladies Involvement Ministry (S.L.I.M.) directed by our Women’s Counselor; an Educational Department; a Youth Department
director by our Youth Minister; a College Campus Program directed by our Assistant Minister. Some of our ministries include: Health, Community Outreach (manages a weekly community food
bank), Tutoring, Substance Abuse, Singles, Single Mothers, Marriage Enrichment and Blended Families, Grief Support, Door-Knocking, Angel Food Ministry (monthly distribution of discount food
items), Music, K-4 through 5th grade private year-round school and much more. Every ministry has been established with the sole purpose of addressing known needs as well as helping to save souls.
From our humble beginnings to the present day, the Lord has added more than 1500 souls through baptism, while several others have placed membership. Future plans include retaining and restoring
membership, the acquisition of other properties,expansion of our school. Quality Education of Durham (Q.E.I), soup kitchens, homes for the elderly and unwed mothers, additional staff, job
placement services and the building of a new sanctuary.
