About Us

Westside Church of Christ Jacksonville, Florida

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A Non-Denominational Christian Church

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In the summer of 1930 Brother Marshall Keeble, a noted preacher of the Gospel of Nashville, Tennessee, was called to Jacksonville to conduct a gospel meeting by the Riverside Park Church of Christ at 856 Margaret Street. The first meeting was held for one week under a tent on Ernest Street in what was called Mixon town on the westside. As a result of the meeting 15 or 20 precious souls were baptized into the body of Christ. Among these families were Troy & Jessie Butler, Robert & Katie Leaphart, Willie B. Butler, Sally Leonard, Jack & Pattie Hammond, Emma Tyson, Ethel Jerry, Charlotte Simmons, Martha Green, Letha & Herbert Nicholson, Annie Davis, Lucas Israel, Sr., Richard & Viola Foster, Rena Young, Revella M. Campbell and their children thus enabling the establishment of the first black Church of Christ in Jacksonville. As this small congregation began to grow they began holding services in a storefront building on Run Street. In its infancy, Bro. A. B. Millen was sent from the Riverside Park Church of Christ here in Jacksonville, to preach and teach the new converts for several years.
       The Westside Congregation has been blessed with many fine ministers. Brother Paul D. English was the first full-time minister to serve at Westside, followed by such great men of God as: Brothers James Cochran, Russell H. Moore, U. S. Greer, William Whitaker, Sutton Johnson, Columbus Grimly, A. Griffin, W. J. Butler, and E. W. Way.
       In 1934, the congregation moved to purchase two lots at 1534 McCoy Boulevard, on the corner of Dellwood Avenue. It was large enough to seat seventy-five to a hundred people and came with a nursery, four classrooms, one office and a house for the visiting minister on the next lot. The Westside congregation grew spiritually and in numbers. Several home preachers ministered to the church on a rotating basis. Some of those brothers were: Fred Butler, W. Wells, Lymas Butler, T.M. Butler, A. Millen, P.E. Butler, and S. Simmons of Birmingham, Alabama.
       In 1943 Bro. Marshal Keeble was called by the leaders of Westside to conduct another tent meeting. During this meeting many souls were saved. Among this group was Walter & Lessie Cox, Jr. That same year he began to train for the ministry under the leadership of E. W. Way, minister, and W. J. Butler, co minister.
      In 1952-1958 the Westside minister worked with the newly established congregations in High Spring, Trenton, Alachua, and Tallahassee. They traveled on a rotating basis every Sunday and on weekdays, preaching and teaching the lessons they were taught.
         In 1959 Walter Cox, Jr. began serving as the full time minister. Under his leadership numerous Gospel Meetings were held to strengthen and educate the congregation. We began to travel out of town, attending gospel meetings, sing-outs and conferences. Bro. Keeble made numerous visits with his sons serving as song leaders and preachers in training. The first volunteers to work with the young people were Sisters Juanita Ward, Mamie Dixon, Beatrice Hammond and Catherine Williams. They began working to prepare the youth to perform on numerous programs and in the newly started third Sunday Program. The 3rd Sunday fellowship meeting started between the Palatka, Odessa Street, Lincoln Villa, Eastside, Orange Park and Westside congregations. Bro. & Sis. Cox worked hard and faithfully with the church teaching bible classes, VBS, doing repairs around the building, transporting members to and from the church, and traveling out of town to work with the new congregations. Westside purchased a school bus and painted it green to make the Sunday pickup and to transport members to the meetings. From 1968 to 1982 Sister Revella Israel traveled with the Youth Singing Group to programs, and Youth Conferences. In 1983 to 1985 Linda Richardson directed the Westside Singers, followed by Vincent and Marian Gilmore in 1985 to 1994; presently the director of the Westside Singers is Mary Jane Dinish.
      In the beginning, our first finance brothers were Richard Foster, Frank Harris, James Jones, J. Locket, Frank Seward, H. Owens, T. McFashion, Cleo Williams, George Starks, Monroe Dinish, Lendward Griffin, Sr. Presently they are: Andrew Jackson, Sr., George Carter, Lendward Griffin, Jr., Harold Kelly, Adrian Allman and Ronnie Denson, Sr.
      On May 15, 1974 under the leadership of Walter Cox, Sr. the Westside Congregation moved to 2725 North Laura Street. We purchased and paid off a beautiful building with the seating capacity of 435, two office spaces, a kitchen, a large annex with classroom space, a nursery and 7 classrooms. Then later we purchased three houses across the street and renovated the lots for a parking lot.
    The first elders of the Westside congregation were: Brothers W. J. Butler, and Jack Hammond. Other elders who served faithfully were: Brothers Cecil Dowel, Aaron Debose, Herbert Nicholson, Charlie E. McClendon and Willie Temple, Jr. Our present elders are: Brothers Andrew Jackson, Sr., Lorenzo Williams, and Lonnie Stewart, Jr., who also serves as the associate minister.
     From 1979 - 1981 Zebedee Moore served as minister.
     From 1982 -1990, Terrance R. McClain, Sr. served as minister.
     On September 1, 1990 our present minister Willie C. "Pete" Jackson, II was hired. Westside continues to be heavily involved in administrative and community work. We are striving to move ahead by faith, and working to bring souls to Jesus by the service that we give. Bro. Jackson implemented the 5, 10 and 15 year plans. We set goals and purchased the two apartments adjacent to our parking lot along with the house and lot on 17th Street. We latter purchased a 27 acre lot on Bassette Road.
   The first ordained deacons were: Brother Monroe T. Dinish, III and George Carter. The deacons presently serving, Brothers Jerome Sanders, Lendward Griffin, Sr., George Carter, Lawrence Hill, Sr., Leon Hayes, were joined by Marvin Williams, Lorenzo Williams, and Johnny Wynn, Sr in February of 2002, and Lester Beans, Jr., Henry Lewis, Ronnie Denson, Sr, in 2003. Our former deacons are Monroe Dinish, and Larry Clark.
   The Westside congregation has one of the oldest existing youth ministries in the brotherhood. Our program began under the leadership of Nolan Butler in 1960, working with the youth Bible study, attending numerous gospel meetings and lectureships. As far back as 1967 to 1979, Brother Charlie E. McClendon, then elder, took on the task of Youth Minister, organizing youth Bible class, children's worship, and a nursery with sisters Dolly Jackson, Hattie Stewart, and Olivia Kelly serving as the lead teachers.
In 1982 Robert G. Birt was the first to be officially hired as the Youth Minister; organizing our first (W.Y.P.) Westside Youth Power, youth day, and youth basketball and baseball tournaments. Other brothers working with our youth were Robert Richardson, Monroe Dinish, III, and Larry Cark, Sr. On January 1, 2000 Marcus T. Watkins was hired as our full time youth minister. The youth of Westside flourished, hosting the annual Youth Gospel Meeting Youth Rally (with record breaking attendance), organizing the Children of Praise Singers (C.O.P.S.) directed by Gloria Watkins and renaming the Joyful Noise to the Children of Praise in Training directed by Patricia Colbert and Linda Richardson. The Children of Praise Singers have performed for 35 years strong in programs, at the conferences and in youth rallies. In 2001 our first Bible Bowl team was organized with Pam Denson as the coordinator. We received 1st and 2nd place trophies, rally ribbons and spelling bee recognitions. May of 2001 Deacon Larry Clark reclaimed the Job of Youth Ministry Director and began working with the young people traveling and attending youth extravaganzas with 86 youth and adults to the Valdosta congregation, the Albany congregation, and the Atlanta congregation. In 2005 Mario Robinson, Sr. and Ronnie Murray, Sr. were appointed as the Youth Ministry Directors to work as a team serving as trainers, and mentors. They continued their work with the youth in teen devo/tween devo, attending Youth extravaganzas, youth Olympics, conference and rallies.
   Sisters Catherine Williams and Mary Scrivens were our first volunteers to publish the church bulletin and keep church records, and they did so for 10 years. In September 1983 Linda Richardson was hired as a part-time secretary to type the bulletins, keep records of the membership and other office duties. She later accepted the job as full-time secretary. In 1997 Annette Clark was hired as part-time bookkeeper to keep the records of the weekly offering for income tax purposes, as well as other office duties. She later accepted the position as full-time bookkeeper. Due to growth and leadership changes Deacon Ronnie Denson, Sr. was selected to serve as the new Office Administrator. In 2002 Kathryn Robinson was hired as part-time receptionist to assist the leaders in schedules and to keep records and other office duties. Other former office administrators were: Deanna Maiden 2005, LaNorita Butler 2005 and presently serving is Gina Hogan 2005.
   In 2001 Brother Ronnie Murray, Sr was hired as the full time custodian with Brother Melvin Hamm as a part time custodian in 2005. Former servants were Frank Harris, Billy Cason, Robert Richardson, Mike Holzendorf and Leon Butler.
   As a result of hard work and prayer, the membership grew; holding two services each Sunday. It became apparent that Westside had outgrown its facility. So God blessed the congregation to be able to secure the location at 23 8th and Main Street.
      On March 18, 2001 Westside was bless to hold our first worship service in our new location with a large sanctuary to seat over a thousand. The facility included a full kitchen, a fellowship/social hall, an audio sound room, a bridal room, numerous storage closets, office space and more classrooms than our previous location.
    The church continued to enjoy growth throughout the years and was directly and indirectly responsible for the establishment of several other congregations: five in Jacksonville, one in Tallahassee, and one each in High Springs, Florida and South Carolina. We have and continue to support Missions in Triad, with Mahase Basundas, Southside, Haiti and South America.
       There have been many members to leave us and place membership elsewhere, and we have had members of other congregations to place membership here. Westside has also been blessed each year to have numerous baptisms.
      Westside Church of Christ has a rich history. We thank God for all the saints, past and present, which have and still are working to make this congregation a loving, family friendly and caring place. All honor, glory and praises to God our Savior.


	Come Visit Us! 23 West 8th St Jacksonville, Fl 32206 SERVICES Sunday Bible Study 9:00 AM Morning Worship 10:00 AM Evening Worhsip 6:00 PM Wednesday Bible Classes 7:00 PM Phone: (904) 353-5063 Fax: (904) 355-5504 Office Hours:10:00AM - 3:00PM Monday - Friday westsidefamily@msn.com