History of the church of Christ that meets in Luverne

Around the turn of the the twentieth century, a few Christians began to meet in Luverne, the county seat of Crenshaw County.  Among those first members were W. J. Ellington, O.C. Rushton, Mrs. Ellington, W.T. Pace, and wife, RA Crenshaw, Mrs. W.T. King, Malachi Bell and wife, Mrs. Jeter, and Mrs. Francis.

The first meeting place was the courthouse. On August 18, 1902, a lot was purchased on Forest Avenue and a framed building was erected.  This served as a meeting place until March 13, 1949, when the church began to meet at the present location, 67 North Woodford Avenue (106 Woodford prior to E-911 address revisions).

The first auditorium, which now serves as a fellowship hall, was erected in the winter of 1948-1949.  The first educational facilities were constructed in 1957-1958.

The church purchased the W.A. & Mab Sport house on West Third Street for possible use as a preacher's home.  In 1967 the Sport house was sold and the lot adjacent to the church was purchased from Maslett Campbell on August 30, 1967.  This lot is our newly paved parking lot.

On September 13, 1968, a lot was purchased from F.G. and Pearl Mitchell and Charles T. Jr. & Audrey King.  A house was built on the lot in 1969 and is now the home for the preacher at 95 Ridgecrest Drive.

A building committee, consisting of Charles English, F.G. Ellison, J.K. Bell, Tom Harbin, and Rufus Helms, who served as chairman, was formed in the fall of 1972 to work on plans for the expansion of the original facilities.  The church began meeting in the new facilities on March 24, 1974.

Elders were first appointed on November 27, 1966.  They were David Mitchell, Gene Sanders, and Jim Sanders.  A short time later, Spencer Capps was added to the eldership.  The first deacons were appointed in 1973.  Men who served as deacons at various times during the eldership included R.C. Ellison, Rufus Helms, Sammy Kilpatrick, J.K. Bell, Wendell Mitchell, Bill Sikes, Ronnie Blackmon, Ronnie Coggins, Larry Hoffman, and Gary Leger.  Although the exact date is uncertain, there was no eldership from the early 80's until October of 2005.  At that time, brothers Larry Hoffman and Ray Frost were installed as elders. Brothers Jason Holladay, Mike McDougald, Dale Sanders, Darrin Sanders, Steve Sanders, and Frankie Sims were installed as deacons.  A short time later, Darrin Sanders was added to the eldership.

Ministers who have served the congregation included brothers Buffington, Archie Shiver, Samuel Jackson, W.T. Grider, Willard Willis, Gene Henderson, Jimmy Glenn, Frank Maddox, Max Duer, John Mills, Charles (Kayo) Sipper, Glynn Durham, Bob Raby, Ed Rezach, Dwight Lawson, Tom West, Jim Baugh, Kenny Payne, Lee Jamieson, and Jason Hilburn.