By Assistant Minister

Gary Davis

Special to the Tribune

A Lewisburg congregation will celebrate 100 years of faith with special events starting Saturday, and continuing until Friday, June 7.

The 2nd Avenue Church of Christ traces its history back to 1913, when people started meeting for worship in a house on Glaze Street, now known as Limestone Avenue. At that time some of the ministers were Bro. Jim Gant, Bro. Jim Hall, and Bro. Fishback. One or two souls were baptized into Christ each year. Some of the old brethren, (now deceased) were,Bro. George Liggett, Bro. Will Collins, Bro. Andy Grandberry, Bro. W. Kennedy, Bro. Andy Wakefield, Bro. George Elliott, Bro. Tom Liggett, Bro.West Wakefield, Bro. D. Sowell, Bro. Holbert Burns, and Bro. John French.

In 1920 a lot was bought from John Darnell on what is now Verona Road with an old school building on it. This was an old public school property, and had been used as a public school for the black people. It was called the Verona Road Church of Christ.

Some of the faithful brethren there were Bro. P. B. Black, Bro. Roy Mayberry, Bro. Ben Mayberry, Bro. Grant Mclean, Bro. Eady Mayberry, Bro. Harvey Ewing Sr., and Bro. Newton Dysart.

In 1944, a new building was built at that same location, and on the first Sunday in June 1945 the first service was held there. Bro. Henry Bryon, now deceased, was the minister. The first Sunday in June became our annual "Homecoming Day" with a weeklong gospel meeting. As the congregation grew, Wednesday night Bible class was started by the late Bro. Sam Amos and Sis. Laura Dysart.

In 1959, a lot was purchased from Bay Roberts on what is now Second Avenue and the church was built by Bro. Scobey. Before the church was built, service was held under a tent for two weeks, 20 souls were baptized into Christ, and preaching was done by Bro. Quincy Carter. The first worship service was held in the new building on Oct. 11, 1964, with Bro. Fred Dowell as the minister. The Elders and Deacons at this time were Bro. Harvey Ewing Sr., Bro. J. B. Mayberry, Bro. Elbert McClain, Bro. Newton Dysart (all deceased), Bro. Claude Duke, Bro. Mayfield Hightower, and Bro. Doyal McClain, who moved away. The church now sets aside the second Sunday in October as "Fellowship Day."

In 1975 we were able to purchase a bus from the funds started by Bro. Will Ed Jones of Detroit who donated 29 acres of land in Belfast.

In 1987, we were able to build an addition onto our present structure, giving the congregation more classrooms and a large fellowship hall. A cornerstone was also added.

In 1996, we were able to pave our parking lot. Serving as trustees were Bro. Gary Davis, Bro. Berry Duncan, Bro. Harvey Ewing Jr., Bro. Billy Hill, Bro. Charles Robertson, Bro. Fred Robertson, and Bro. Johnny Hurt.

On Dec. 14, 2008, we installed three Elders, Bro. H.V. Ewing, Bro. Gary Davis, and Bro. Gregory Yeargins. Dec. 14, 2008, was Bro. Michael Brown's last Sunday as minister of the Second Avenue Church of Christ.

Other ministers since that time were Bro. James Caldwell, Bro. Henry Johnson, Bro. Larry Murdock, Bro. Andrew Bulter, Bro. Darrell Holt, Bro. Charles Browning, Bro. Ellis Allen, and Bro. Michael Brown. Bro. Bruce Frierson is our current minister. He and his wife Murenda live in Columbia. Our assistant minister is Bro. Gary Davis. He and his wife Valerie live in Belfast.

We at the Second Avenue Church of Christ continue to do many faithful works within the congregation as well as in the community. Many souls have been added to the church, and although many faithful members and ministers have come and gone we still continue the legacy that our congregation was founded upon with one goal and one goal only: to save and uplift the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Celebrations for the 100th Anniversary of the 2nd Avenue Church of Christ will start at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 1, with a Song Fest.

The week-long Gospel Meeting starts with morning worship at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 2. There will be lunch after the service, and afternoon services will start at 2:30 p.m.

From Monday through Friday, there will be a service every night at 7 p.m. Former minister Michael Brown will be carrying out the Gospel Meeting. Everyone is welcome to join us at 720 2nd Avenue North for good preaching, good singing, and wonderful fellowship.