Central Church of Christ

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On Sunday, Oct. 3, 1909, the elders of the Cowart Street Church of Christ in south Chattanooga decided to try to plant a church in the downtown area. They rented the Masonic Lodge at 7th and Cherry Street for Sunday and Wednesday services. Twenty-six Christians attended the first service on October 17, 1909 and the Central Church of Christ began and continued with regularly meetings there. In 1910 the Central church hired its first full-time minister, G.C. Brewer, who served until 1915. Over its 103 year history, Central has had various full-time and part time ministers. Its present minister is David Schonhoff, who has served since 1994.Since 1984 the Central church has also overseen the campus ministry at UTC. The Christian Student Center provides students with a Christian environment away from home. It holds weekly devotionals and Bible classes, regular service projects and yearly retreats and mission trips. Craig Allison presently serves as campus minister and Wanda Mance serves as house-mother.Building on its past, Central is involved in diverse projects. Within Chattanooga, Central supports the Greater Chattanooga Childrens Home and Christian Services, the Martin Boyd Home, Inner City Outreach and the Search T.V. program. Central also directs various service programs for the downtown area.Abroad, Central is involved in a variety of mission works, concentrating most of its efforts in Granada, Nicaragua and Pedapudi, India. Several Central members, both ministers and some of the elders have assisted in these and other mission locationsIn 2013 the Central Church of Christ celebrates its 104rd anniversary. It is led by three godly elders and thirteen deacons, two ministers and a number of godly people who teach and serve the membership through various programs. The Central membership is composed of a variety of ages and backgrounds all united together in harmonious service to Christ.