No doubt there are many people who are a little apprehensive about visiting a new church.  We hope a few words will help set your mind at ease about visiting our congregation.

The church of Christ is a growing, friendly church.  We are a diverse congregation that reflects the fact that God's church is for all people.  The crowd often ranges in age from newborn babies (a nursery is available) to those who have seen most of a century pass.  We are very diversified professionally as well as educationally.  People of all races and nationalities worship and work together as God's children.

Every effort is made to allow visitors to feel comfortable.  You will not be singled out during the service in any way.  You will not be asked to make a "love offering"; in fact, no collections will be taken at all, except during the Sunday morning service when our members make their weekly contribution as an act of worship.  Visitors are not expected to participate.

Our services generally open with a brief welcome from one of the members.  The song leader then leads two or three songs.  An opening prayer is offered, followed by another song, and the preacher delivers a sermon from the Word of God.  All are encouraged to bring their Bibles and follow along as he leads the study.

At the sermon's end, the Lord's invitation is offered (Matthew 11:28-30) for any who desire to become a Christian or redidicate their lives to God.  There is never any coercion.  During the Sunday morning service, the communion os observed by partaking unleaven bread and fruit of the vine (1 Corinthians 11:23-29).  Members make a financial offering for the poor and the spread of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  The service last about an hour and concludes with a song and prayer.  Guest may sit quietly in the service, or they may participate.

A Brief Introduction To The Church of Christ.

The church of Christ is noted for its emphasis upon returning to New Testament Christianity and for its desire to unite all Christians into one body (1 Corinthians 1:10). We believe that the New Testament is the only rule for faith and practice in religious matters (2 Timothy 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11) and that it must authorize all that is done in Christian worship (Colossians 3:17; Revelation 22:16,19). Thus we try to strictly follow the New Testament. For this reason, only a cappella music is used in worship assemblies and the Lord's Supper is observed every Sunday.

We believe the Bible teaches that sinners are saved by faith, repentance, confession, and baptism (John 3:16; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9, 10). The church of Christ is organized with elders, deacons, preachers, and members as in the New Testament times (Philippians 1:1). We believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:30, 31), that the Bible is inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17), and that Jesus will return to take His kingdom (church) home to God (1 Corinthians 15:24). We emphasize sincere worship (John 4:24), every-member evangelism (Acts 8:4), godly living (Titus 2:11, 12), love for each other (John 13:33, 34), and helping those in need (James 1:27). We believe that it is possible to have religious unity in a day of division by simply following the New Testament pattern and putting aside human traditions.

To put it simply, the Lake City church of Christ is seeking to be the same church one reads about in the New Testament. We aim to restore its doctrine, its practice, its lifestyle, and zeal.

Brief History Of The Lake City Church of Christ

The church of Christ dates back to the days of the New Testament (Romans 16:16). It was founded by Christ on the day of Pentecost, A.D. 33 (Acts 2), just days after His ascension back to heaven. In the years that followed it rapidly grew to fill Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria, and finally the whole Roman Empire (Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:23). It was first established in America in the late 1700s, up in the New England states.

The congregation here had its beginnings in 1903. In June of 1905 it first met in a building where Oaklawn Cemetery is now located. In 1910 it moved to a nearby location, and then in 1919 it began to meet on the corner of First and Madison Streets. In 1954 the old auditorium building was built, and in 1965 the classroom building was built. On June 16, 1996 the first service was held in our present location, 656 South State Road 47.

Many men have preached for the congregation here. A list of those who have preached here since 1964 would include Roy Dicks, Melvin Barker, Larry Arnold, Ronald Coleman, Dexter Beaver, Paul Eubanks, Kerry Cain, Dean Kelly and Brooks Boyd. Ryan Tuten began his work with us in May 2001.

The congregation has existed here in Lake City for over 104 years, and with the building of the new building we are looking forward to continuing to hold forth the truth in love for future generations in Lake City, Columbia County, Florida, and throughout the world.