100 Years in Elk City

    The church of Christ in Elk City began to meet for worship in the fall of 1901 in a rented hall on North Main Street. During the early summer of 1902 an evangelist from Texas known as "Weeping Joe Hardin" came to Elk City to hold a meeting.  This zealous, hard-hitting pioneer preacher saw the possibility for a permanent church in Elk City and resolved not to leave until a building program was started.  He was successful in uring the needed funds and donated labor for a frame building which was located at 108 North Washington.  The lot was given by Sister Jones, a widow.

    The congregation continued to use this building until 1925 when they purchased the old Methodist church building at the corner of Second & Adams.  After acquiring this building, it was enlarged, repaired and remodeled to make it fully meet the needs of the growing congregation.  In 1949 a new, spacious auditorium with a seating capacity of 650 was completed and dedicated to the service of the Lord.  Later a wing for classrooms was added in matching yellow brick.

    In the late 30's and 40's, the local minister was sent out to help establish new congregations during the summer months, and young ministers were hired to fill the home pulpit to give them experience in working with a local congregation.  Two of those who served during the summer were Billy Guymon and Howard White.  During the mid 60's a school of preaching was held on Saturdays with classes also being held for the wives of the students.  The teachers were:  Boyetts, Smiths, Trents, Gary Colley, J. Farber, Jerry Pospisil, Doyle Bloomer, Marion Fox, Lloyd Unsell, Lyndal Bolin and ElWanda Prather.

    Some who have served as elders:  In the 20's:  Mr. Pinkerton, Jim Schooler, W.T. Kent, J.D. Hall, Algernon Mansur, W.M. Albert, J.T. Gillentine.  In the 30's: John Tomlison, Harl D. Mansur, Paul E. Peeler, Arthur Castleberry.  In the 40's  E.L. Lowder, W.J. Kimball, J.E. Whitfield, Edgar Brady.  In the 50's:  Marion Cone, Elgin Jones, E.E. Norman, A.B. Fuchs.  In the 60's:  Grove Wilhite, Roy Marshall, E.L. Lowder, Bruce Wheeler, Russell Thompson, Eldon Whitfield.  In the 70's:  F.F. Conley, Bob Felton, Aud Kennemer, Harm Summers, Harold Weyhrenberg.  In the 80's:  Nick Wolfe, Jim Hale, Keith Fields, Earl Clark, Billy Clark, Newell Webb, Leon Tomberlin, Lawrence Lunsford, Leo Smith. In the 90's to the present:  Jerry Winingham,. Steve Richardson, Marvin Groves, Jim Richardson, Brad Whinery.

    Some who have served as the local minister:  Late 20's - '34 was C.E. McGaughey; '35-'37 was John Bannister; '38-'41 was Joe W. Laird; '42-'45 was Curtis Camp; '46 was Arthur P. Davis; the late 40's was A.V. Isbell; in the early 50's was Glendon Walker; '54 was F.F. Conley; '54-'56 was Ordis Copeland; '56-'60 was Don Kester; '60-'64 was Eugene Henderson; '65-'70 was W.R. Tittle; '70-'76 was Bill Craig; '76 was Lloyd Unsell: '77-'80 was F.F. Conley; '80 was Charles Billingsley; '80-'82 was Doyle Harris; '83-'90 was Michael Elrod; '90-'93 was Neil Cosgrove; '93-'08 was Tom Harguess; '94 was Chris Brock (Associate); '95 to present Rod Minor (Associate); '08 to present is Casey LaValley.

    Foreign mission works have included Hawaii, Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Ireland and different mission points in the US.

    Currently the church does about $7000 per month benevolence and mission work.  Children's homes:  Westview Boys' Home, Tipton Home; Colorado Christian Services, High Plains Children's Home.  Mission work:  Mel Latorre in Acuba, Brazil; SIBI Dean/International Min