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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH AT GARDEN CITY
The church of Christ first met in Garden City on December 16, 1951. Brother William D. Medearis spoke to an audience of 170 people from 17 different congregations of the church of Christ, who braved a six below zero temperature to attend. The elders of the Wayne church leased a storefront building at 27854 Ford Road for one year. Brothers Coleman Allmond, Bob Bunting, and Clifton Willis worked with the congregation until Brother Allmond began as the located preacher in June of 1953. He remained until 1964.
After meeting in the storefront building for a few years, a lot became available at the corner of Middlebelt and Bock, which was purchased by selling bonds. The congregation moved into their new building the first part of 1956. Due to an increase in membership, the church outgrew that building and an auditorium was added in 1962. The older building was converted into classroom space. An open house was held on August 12th of that year. Hobart Ashby moved here from St. Louis, MO in January 1965. Brother Ashby faithfully served the congregation until his death in 1982. Brothers Dennis Swindel, Lamar Matthews, Bruce Harris, and Fred Davis filled the pulpit for various lengths of time until 1996.
Brother Dan Goddard began his ministry here at Garden City the first Sunday in October of 1996, and remains in that position to the present. He came to us from the Collinsville, IL church of Christ.
Because of structural difficulties, our present building received a facelift in 2001, the year of our 50th Anniversary. A Homecoming Celebration was held June 23rd and 24th. A large crowd gathered for a Family Cook-out on Saturday. Four past preachers spoke on Sunday and many attended a dinner on the grounds, where a large tent had been erected. Many changes have occurred through the years. The faces of those who worship here have changedsome have moved away, new members have been added, and the rest of us are growing older gracefully. Some of our loved ones have passed away, but they will always live on in our memories.
Garden City has always been mission minded. We have never started a congregation, but have been involved in supporting several congregations at a time. Our main work has been to strengthen and help churches in Michigan. At the present time we are contributing to the personal support of one preacher and providing health insurance for another. In recent years we have supported the work in various locations around the world. We are helping Brother John Grubb, who works with the Chinese through Truth for the World, and Brothers Jack Honeycutt and F.T. Patton who do mission work in India.
Large contributions have been sent to India to construct buildings for worship and also for orphanages. We also support several local preachers in that area. Funds have been sent to various workers in the Lords church who have gone on missionary journeys. Several men attending preacher training schools have been helped by the Garden City church.
The future of the Garden City congregation is very promising, so long as we continue to live close to the Lord and love one another, as well as the church for which Jesus died. We must never become complacent with past accomplishments, but we must press on to accomplish even more for the cause of Christ.