East Jackson Church of Christ

       The history of the churches of Christ dates back to the establishment of Christ’s church through the apostles as is recorded in Acts 2.  The history of this congregation of the churches of Christ dates back to August 1927 under a tent on Hays Ave. near Orchard St. The late evangelist, Marshall Keeble came to Jackson and conducted a gospel meeting under a tent at that location.  Fifty-eight persons responded to the gospel call and were baptized into Christ and thusly began the congregation.

 This congregations’ first meeting place was on Hale Street.  Later, the church moved into its own building on the corner of Hunt and Cumberland Streets, where it was located for many years and known as the Cumberland Street Church of Christ. 

            In June of 1956, this church, with the financial assistance of the Central Church of Christ and the Allen & Edgewood Church of Christ (then known as the Highland St. Church of Christ) moved Bro. Walter H. Vance from Memphis to Jackson, Tennessee to serve as this church’s first full-time minister.  This was after two years of driving back and forth, working to develop the congregation.

The church soon outgrew its building on Hunt and Cumberland Streets. Property was purchased and in April of 1961 ground was broken for a new brick building with a seating capacity of about 300, and with 4 classrooms and minister’s office at the corner of Middleton and Payne Streets.  The church moved into its new building in September 1961.  In 1964, the church built a 7-room brick house at the corner of Berry and Coleman Streets to be used as a preacher’s home.  In 1968 additional property adjoining the lot on which the church building is located was purchased and in 1969 the church launched out into an expansion program that enlarged the auditorium to seat 400, and added classrooms, office space, paved parking lot and other facilities.

In 1972 the church was set in order with the ordaining of elders and deacons to oversee and serve the congregation.  In 1973 this congregation, looking to the future brought a piece of property on Denmark Road for plans for a new church building and a new congregation in the Denmark community.  This congregation, the Denmark Church of Christ, was established in 1980 with a new building, 50 members, and Bro. James C. W. Dixson serving as their first full-time evangelist.

The church continued to grow numerically and spiritually, as evidence by the ordination of additional deacons in 1981.  In January 1982, Gordon L. Newsome, Sr. came to serve as part-time associate evangelist to W.H. Vance, Sr. and then as full-time associate in January of 1988.

In 1984, the church purchased and relocated to the former worship facilities of East Chester Church of Christ, 1461 East Chester Street.  It then became known as the East Jackson Church of Christ.  In the first assembly in the new facility, August 5, 1984, the Sunday School attendance was 219, the Sunday morning worship attendance was 516, and the contribution that day was $2,387.

Bro. Vance’s health had been failing him.  Therefore after 34 prolific years of faithful service, he retired as full-time evangelist and became evangelist emeritus.  Bro. John Marshall was called upon to take on the mantel of the pulpit ministry of the East Jackson Church of Christ.  He served for three faithful years as co-evangelist with Gordon Newsome Sr.  

In June of 1992, further elders and deacons were ordained.  In June of the following year, Bro. John Marshall relocated to Decatur, Georgia.  June of 1994, Lovell C. Hayes, a protégé of the late Marshall Keeble, came from Springfield Illinois and now serves as pulpit minister and as co-evangelist with Bro. Gordon Newsome.

 In 2000, the church met its need for additional classes and an area for fellowship meals by constructing a multipurpose building and fellowship hall.  In May 2003, a tornado hit the east side and downtown areas of the city of Jackson. Among the buildings destroyed was the facility of the East Jackson Church of Christ. The congregation worshipped in a local school building for several weeks.  The Campbell Street Church of Christ made their facilities available to the congregation of the East Jackson Church of Christ, to worship while plans were being made to rebuild on our East Chester site.  The multipurpose building was repaired and the congregation returned to its’ site in November of 2003.  The multipurpose building was expanded and housed the congregation’s activities until the building of a new facility was completed. 

On Sunday, January 9, 2005,  the congregation began worshipping in its new and present facility where it continues the stated mission of “Bringing Them In To Build Them Up To Be Of Benefit, All To the Glory of God, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.”