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Who We Are
The following is a brief history of the Church at East Albertville. It was written by Carrol R. Sutton on 6/1/91 and appeared in the bound volume of THE INSTRUCTOR. Although some things have changed, such as the addition of a second wing to the building, our strong desire to be the type of Church that is read about in the New Testament has remained the same. We welcome and encourage you to visit us at any opportunity that you may have. We will be happy to help you in any way that we can.
A Brief History
It is my understanding that in 1948 (or early in 1949) a few
concerned Christians began meeting together in a union hall on First
Street in Albertville, Alabama. James and Pauline Pack, Hulon and
Zora Ponder, Clarence and Lessie Jackson and Fred and Ellen Doster
were among those who began meeting and worshipping together. Prior
to this, another group of Christians (including some of those
mentioned above) had met together for awhile and had disbanded.
After that group disbanded, the church which is now known as the
"East Albertville Church of Christ" began.
During the first
few years of its existence, R. F. Kilpatrick, H. C. Geer and Midas
Roberts were among those who preached for the church at East
Albertville.
In 1949 property
was secured at 1003 Baltimore Avenue (also in the eastern section of
Albertville) and a building was erected. J. W. and Rose Hill were
among the first ones to be baptized after the building was erected.
They were baptized on January 31, 1950. Lee Gunter worked with the
congregation from about 1952 (or 1953) until April, 1960. He was the
first preacher to be fully supported by the church. This began in
August, 1959. Hollis Creel worked with the congregation from 1960
until June, 1963 Carrol Ray Sutton began working with the church in
August, 1963 and continues to do so at the present time.
In the mid or
latter 1950's the church preached the gospel over WAVU, a local
radio station. In 1960 the church began a fifteen minute radio
program five days a week over WBSA, a local radio station in Boaz,
Alabama. It was soon expanded to a daily program, with a
thirty-minute program on the Lord's Day. This program continues to
be broadcast over WBSA. For about twenty years or so a weekly
article has been published in the Sand Mountain Reporter, a local
newspaper. "The Instructor," a monthly bulletin, published by the
congregation, is in its 28th year. It goes into most of the states
of the U.S. and into a few foreign countries. Presently, it has a
circulation of about 5,000.
The attendance
on the Lord's Day usually runs about 115 to 120. Over the last 20
years or so, three area congregations were started primarily by
disciples from "East Albertville" who were interested in beginning
new works.
Current Elders, Top Row, Left To Right Lionel Gary, Carrol R. Sutton, Rex Henson Current Deacons, Bottom Row, Left To Right Gerald White, Mike Pack, Jerry Tucker
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