Our Hometown
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Church of Christ: 50 years in Newark In 1958, Charles Guyer, James George and David Bass, (members of the Lawson Rd. Church of Christ in Rochester) and residing in Newark, saw a need in the Newark community for a congregation of the Church of Christ. In January 1958, their families began worshipping in Newark at the Grange Hall, with 26 persons in attendance at worship service. In October 1958, James George and Charles Guyer discussed the purchase of a building and lot at 219 West Avenue - the old Pennysaver building. Harold Stiles was the acting attorney and worked with these men to purchase this property. The first worship service was held February 8, 1959 with 26 persons in attendance. Charles Guyer and Max Larwin, a Harding graduate, would alternate the preaching responsibilities each Sunday. October 1959, their first full-time preacher (Wendell Williams of Texas) was hired. The late Jack and Robbie Smith, residents of Lyons, began worshipping with the Newark congregation in July 1960. Wendell Williams served until January 1962. In July 1963, John Gibson from Polo, Illinois served the congregation as full-time minister. The attendance increased to 61 members and a new and larger building was needed. November 1963, the ground breaking began on the new addition to their building. The first worship service was held in July 1964. John Gibson relocated at the end of 1964. In August 1965, Fayne Bass of Texas began serving as minister until 1967. In May 1968, Paul Butterfield from Mount Carmel, Illinois began serving as full time minister. It was also in August 1968, Dean and Norma Jean Hartfiel (moving to the area from Maine), placed membership with this congregation. Paul Butterfield left in the summer of 1970. After his departure, there were several ministers to served this congregation. They were: Carl Thompson (fall of 1970 to September 1973), Brock Hartwigsen (November 1973 to December l975), C.L. Matthews (1976 to 1978), and James Saylor their last full-time minister (1979 to May 1988). Bill Saylor, James Saylor's father (1988 to 1992) and Al Hartwigsen (1993 to 1995), an elder serving the LaSalle Church of Christ in Niagara Falls, NY, assisted this church while they were without a minister. After almost eight years without a full-time minister, Earl Greene began serving the Newark Church of Christ in May 1995 and has continued serving now for 12 years. The Newark church has been active over the past 50 years in supporting local and worldwide evangelism, mission work in Taiwan, China, and India, Joseph Ruiz family, and the Midwestern Children's Home. In April 1996, the Church of Christ of Newark established the Western New York Lectureship, featuring evangelists, and teachers from central and western New York and Canada. In April 2008, Newark church will host the 12th Western NY Lectures. In 2000, the Family Life Center was established. The Church of Christ - Family Life Center is a non-for-profit 501(c)3 organization providing services to the communities of Wayne County. The Family Life Center is also one of the 25 organizations in Upstate New York to receive the Compassion Demonstration Capacity Building Grant through Foodlink this year, as well as an Emergency Food Pantry serving families year round. The Family Life Center provides:
The Family Life Center provides space and facilitates:
Rev. Greene said: 'Let us praise God for the efforts of all of those who have gone before. We hold in precious memory Earl Wilson, Jack & Robbi Smith, Fayne Bass, Dr. Wilson Dicker, Sister Van Enwyck, Elouise Van Hoot and George James. We praise God for those who remain faithful here today in this congregation, and to those who supported this church over the years. So let us pray that the word of God continues to be shared with our families, friends, neighbors and everyone here in Wayne County with another 50 years of service.' (Earl Greene is Church Minister and Director of the Church of Christ of Newark, Family Life Center, on West Avenue.) Copyright
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