Eager to discover a place where faith and community intertwine? Welcome to the Church of Christ – Lawndale in Houston. This church is more than just a building. It is a testament to the enduring power of faith in the city.
In the late 1920s a small group of Christians migrated to Houston. They believed a Church of Christ congregation was needed in the Black community. They started holding worship services in member homes in the Third and Fourth Ward. As the congregation grew, they moved services to local restaurants.
In 1932, the Heights Church of Christ sponsored gospel tent meetings. Evangelist Brother Marshall Keeble led these meetings in the Black community. These meetings led to several baptisms. The Heights congregation hired Brother Keeble for more tent meetings. This time it was at the corner of Waco Street and Lyons Avenue in the Fifth Ward. After many tent meetings, the first Church of Christ congregation in Houston’s Black community was established.
The new congregation started with about 81 members. These were from the tent meetings and other congregations. Originally named the First Church of Christ, it was renamed the Fifth Ward Church of Christ.
The Heights Church of Christ supported the Fifth Ward Church until 1943. Brother T. H. York, the first minister, donated his salary to purchase land. It was on the corner of Stonewall and Waco streets. Brother Emerson Woodard, a Houston architect, and his wife donated money and services to build the first sanctuary.
By 1940, the congregation had outgrown the building. A new sanctuary was built around the original. The original building became living quarters for the minister. Since 1940, the church has grown. It required two more sanctuaries in 1947 and 1971.
In 1942, Brother R. N. Hogan suggested the Annual National Lectureship. He was the congregation’s fourth minister. The lectureship aimed to synchronize preaching and teaching. It also fostered fellowship for preachers. The first National Lectureship was held in 1945 in Oklahoma City. In 1947, the Fifth Ward Church of Christ hosted the National Lectureship.
The Heights Church of Christ also helped establish other congregations. These include Conroe, Fidelity, and Highland Heights. Others are Kashmere Garden, Missouri City, and North Houston. The Church of Christ also helped North Wayside, Studewood, and Sugar Land. They supported Third Ward, Trinity Gardens, and congregations in Louisiana and Massachusetts. The Church of Christ – Lawndale is part of a rich history. It embodies faith, community, and growth. It welcomes all who seek spiritual enrichment and fellowship.