The congregation of Christ’s Church at Whitewater in Fayetteville will celebrate its 25th Anniversary Saturday, Sept. 13 with a covered dish dinner at 5 p.m. followed by guest speaker Paul Leslie Sr., special music, and a video presentation. Leslie is former associate and youth minister and current senior pastor at McDonough Christian Church.

Charter members, former staff and elders will join the anniversary celebration. Founding pastor Paul Carrier will preach on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the 11 a.m. service and former and current choir members will sing.

“For 25 years, Christ’s Church has remained focused on impacting the world for God and his kingdom,” said Stephen Carpenter, current senior minister. “Celebrating our past is a wonderful way to remember what God has been able to do through this church and what he will continue to do ...”

Christ’s Church was founded in September, 1983, as Kenwood Christian Church, by a small group of people from South Fulton, Clayton and Fayette counties. The group had begun meeting in the home of Alan and Elvina McEwen in Jonesboro for church services and to plan a new church.

The church began meeting in the sign area of Tri-City Realty on Jeff Davis Place, owned by the late Bob Disharoon, who served as an elder and as building chairman.

Members emptied, cleaned, and painted the sign building in preparation for the first Sunday service which 70 people attended.

Families were asked to buy a chair for each member of their family. Elders and deacons were selected. Money was given to purchase hymnals and carpet.

A baptistry was added. Items such as a sound system and choir robes were borrowed. A piano was given to the church.

An addition was built behind the baptisty to accommodate more Sunday school classes. As the church grew, more space was needed so a third addition was built.

During the church’s first month, they gave $200 to the building fund at Central Christian Church in Lawrenceville. Throughout their first year, they gave more than $16,000 to missions, sending groups to the local and foreign mission field, including Christianville in Haiti. Wayne Herget, whose family founded the Christianville mission, was ordained at Kenwood Christian.

By the end of the year, 100 charter members were in the congregation with over 200 in Sunday worship.

Carrier, who at that time was president of Atlanta Christian College and had been serving as one of Kenwood’s visiting pastors, was called to be the church’s senior pastor.

The church quickly outgrew its facilities, purchased land at the corner of Highways 279 and 314 and built a new facility. It was dedicated on March 9, 1986.

Highlights of the church’s ministry at this location included the Colonial Christmas program, deaf ministry, Pioneer clubs and graded choirs for children, and youth programs.

In 1994, the church opened its doors at its present facilities on Ga. Highway 85 South.

The church’s community outreach has included the Fayette Samaritans,its own clothing and food bank, Upward Basketball with over 200 kids from the community involved, Boy and Cub Scouts, AA and NA support groups, and the weekday preschool.

For the past two years, Christ’s Church has hosted “5th Quarter,” an outreach to teens at Whitewater High School after every home football game. It offers games, a bonfire, food, music, and more.

Members of Christ’s Church say they hope to continue their tradition of reaching out in love and meeting the needs of the local community.

For more information on the anniversary celebration or the church’s ministries, call the church office, 770-461-1487.

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